The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the cut-off marks for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025. The results offer key insights into the selection thresholds for various defence academies including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA) for both men and women.
Here is the detailed list:
| Sr. No | Name of the Academy | Minimum Qualifying Marks in Each Subject | Marks Obtained by Last Qualified Candidate (Written Exam) | Aggregate Marks of Last Recommended Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IMA | 20% | 124.11 | 249.61 out of 600 |
| 2 | INA | 20% | 109.23 | 238.50 out of 600 |
| 3 | AFA | 20% | 132.51 | 263.67 out of 600 |
| 4 | OTA (Men) | 20% | 80.01 | 162.84 out of 400 |
| 5 | OTA (Women) | 20% | 98.06 | 193.01 out of 400 |
According to the latest released data, the minimum qualifying standard in each subject remains fixed at 20% across all academies under the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination. However, the marks secured by the last qualified and recommended candidates vary across the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
For the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the minimum qualifying standard in each subject is 20%. The last qualified candidate in the written examination secured 124.11 marks, while the aggregate marks of the last recommended candidate stood at 249.61 out of 600.
For the Indian Naval Academy (INA), the minimum qualifying standard is also 20% in each subject. The last candidate to qualify the written examination secured 109.23 marks, while the final aggregate cut-off for the last recommended candidate was 238.50 out of 600.
The Air Force Academy (AFA) recorded the highest written examination marks among the three major academies. The last qualified candidate secured 132.51 marks, with the final aggregate marks of the last recommended candidate standing at 263.67 out of 600.
For the Officers Training Academy (OTA), the written examination is conducted for a maximum of 200 marks, while the final aggregate is calculated out of 400 marks. In the OTA Men category, the last qualified candidate secured 80.01 marks in the written examination, while the final recommendation cut-off stood at 162.84 out of 400.
In the OTA Women category, the last qualified candidate secured 98.06 marks in the written examination. The aggregate marks of the last recommended candidate stood at 193.01 out of 400.
The CDS examination serves as one of the principal entry routes for graduates aspiring to become commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces. The academy-wise cut-offs underline the importance of securing strong scores in both the written examination and subsequent stages of the selection process.
