UPSC CDS PYQs are available for all three papers (English, GK, Mathematics) from both CDS I and CDS II going back to 2010 on the official UPSC website. Since CDS is biannual, candidates have access to two paper sets per year.
Why CDS PYQs Are Essential
- GK questions reveal recurring theme patterns – Defence news, Physical Geography landmarks, and Constitutional provisions appear every cycle
- English PYQs show UPSC's preferred question formats (error spotting, para jumbles, comprehension style)
- Mathematics PYQs reveal the exact difficulty ceiling – never higher than Class 10 level
- Benchmark your score against historical written cutoffs to gauge SSB shortlist probability
CDS PYQ Papers – Year Wise Availability
| Year / Cycle | English | GK | Maths | Answer Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDS I 2024 | Available | Available | Available | Official (upsc.gov.in) |
| CDS II 2024 | Available | Available | Available | Official (upsc.gov.in) |
| CDS I & II 2023 | Available | Available | Available | Official (upsc.gov.in) |
| CDS I & II 2022 | Available | Available | Available | Official (upsc.gov.in) |
| CDS 2019–2021 | Available | Available | Available | Official (upsc.gov.in) |
| CDS 2015–2018 | Available | Available | Available | upsc.gov.in / Sarkari247 Archive |
How to Access CDS Official PYQs
- Visit upsc.gov.in → Examinations → Combined Defence Services Examination → Previous Question Papers
- Select year and cycle (CDS I / CDS II) to download PDFs for all three papers
- Official answer keys are available for all years and both cycles
- Use Sarkari247's CDS PYQ section for topic-tagged GK question analysis
Subject-Wise PYQ Strategy
| Subject | PYQ Strategy |
|---|---|
| English | Identify repeated grammar rule areas; build vocabulary from antonym/synonym PYQ lists |
| GK | Tag questions by topic; note which chapters from Lucent GK are tested most frequently |
| Mathematics | Classify by type (Arithmetic/Geometry/Trigonometry); drill weakest category first |