NDA Defence Exam Official Guide

NDA Defence Exam Syllabus

NDA Defence Exam Counselling & Updates

PS

Updated on 04 Sept 2026 16:31 IST

By Pratishtha Sharma, Editor

The NDA Syllabus 2026 covers the subjects and topics included in the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination conducted by UPSC. The written examination has two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Candidates should understand the complete syllabus and exam pattern before starting their preparation.

Particular Details
Exam Name National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Level National Level Defence Entrance Exam
Purpose Admission to NDA and Indian Naval Academy
Services Army, Navy and Air Force Wings of NDA; Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme
Exam Frequency Twice a year
Application Mode Online
Exam Mode Offline (Pen and Paper Based Test)
Question Type Objective Type / Multiple Choice Questions
Written Exam Papers Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT)
Mathematics 120 Questions, 300 Marks
General Ability Test 150 Questions, 600 Marks
Total Written Exam Marks 900 Marks
Exam Duration 2½ hours for each paper
Negative Marking Yes
Eligibility Passed or appearing in Class 12/equivalent examination
Army Wing Class 12 pass/appearing from any stream
Navy & Air Force Wings Class 12 pass/appearing with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
Age Limit Generally 16½–19½ years; exact date-of-birth range is specified in each notification
Marital Status Unmarried candidates
Selection Process Written Examination → SSB Interview/Tests → Medical Examination → Final Merit
Training National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, followed by service-specific training
Official Website upsc.gov.in
Admission & Guidance

NDA Defence Exam Counselling & Updates

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NDA Syllabus 2026

The NDA written examination consists of two papers. Mathematics tests candidates on mathematical concepts, while the General Ability Test (GAT) covers English, General Knowledge, Science, Social Studies and current affairs.

Candidates should prepare according to the latest UPSC notification because the examination pattern and syllabus can be updated.

NDA Mathematics Syllabus 2026

The Mathematics paper covers topics such as:

  • Sets and Venn diagrams
  • Relations and functions
  • Number system
  • Arithmetic
  • Quadratic equations
  • Matrices and determinants
  • Trigonometry
  • Analytical geometry
  • Differential calculus
  • Integral calculus
  • Differential equations
  • Vector algebra
  • Statistics
  • Probability

Candidates should practise numerical problems regularly to improve calculation speed and accuracy.

NDA GAT Syllabus 2026

The General Ability Test consists of English and General Knowledge sections.

English

The English section tests candidates on areas such as:

  • Grammar and usage
  • Vocabulary
  • Comprehension
  • Sentence formation
  • Correct use of words

General Knowledge

The General Knowledge section broadly covers:

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • General Science
  • History
  • Geography
  • Current events

Candidates should follow current affairs regularly and revise basic concepts from school-level subjects.

How to Prepare for NDA Syllabus 2026

Candidates can follow these preparation steps:

  1. Read the complete UPSC syllabus.
  2. Divide each subject into smaller topics.
  3. Create a daily study schedule.
  4. Study Mathematics regularly and practise numerical questions.
  5. Improve English vocabulary and grammar.
  6. Revise Science, History and Geography.
  7. Read current affairs regularly.
  8. Solve previous-year NDA question papers.
  9. Take timed mock tests.
  10. Analyse mistakes and revise weak topics.

NDA Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The written examination consists of Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Both papers are objective-type papers.

The exact marks, duration, question distribution and marking scheme should be checked in the latest UPSC NDA and NA notification.

Official Website

https://upsc.gov.in/

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QA

Commonly asked questions

Q: 1. What subjects are included in the NDA syllabus 2026?

The NDA written examination includes Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).The NDA written examination includes Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT)

Q: 2. What topics are covered in NDA Mathematics?

Mathematics includes topics such as algebra, trigonometry, calculus, analytical geometry, statistics, probability and vector algebra.

Q: 3. What does the NDA GAT syllabus include?

GAT includes English and General Knowledge. General Knowledge covers areas such as Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and current events.

Q: 4. How should I prepare for the NDA syllabus?

Follow the official syllabus, study consistently, practise previous-year papers, revise regularly and take mock tests under timed conditions.

Q: 5. Where can I check the official NDA syllabus?

You can check the latest NDA and NA syllabus and examination notification on the official UPSC website.

Pratishtha Sharma

Editor

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