The NDA written examination has two objective papers, each of two and a half hours: Mathematics for 300 marks and the General Ability Test for 600 marks, which makes 900 in all. The SSB then carries another 900 marks. A wrong answer loses one third of the marks for that question, and calculators and logarithmic tables are not allowed. Everything below is taken from UPSC’s National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 notice, the latest NDA notice at the time of writing.
Last verified: 12 October 2026. UPSC repeats the same scheme from one notice to the next, but always check the notice for the cycle you apply under.
What is the NDA exam pattern?
| Part of the selection | Code | Duration | Maximum marks | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: Mathematics | 01 | 2½ hours | 300 | Set in Hindi and English |
| Paper II: General Ability Test. Part A English | 02 | 2½ hours for the whole paper | 200 | English |
| Paper II: General Ability Test. Part B General Knowledge | 02 | (same paper) | 400 | Set in Hindi and English |
| SSB test and interview | none | Stage I on day one, then four days of Stage II | 900 | Held by the services |
The Commission may fix qualifying marks in any subject, and a candidate must secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in the written examination and in the SSB. Marks are rounded off to two decimal places, and the notice lists tie-breaking rules.
How does NDA marking work?
- Every question has four alternatives. For each wrong answer, one third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
- If you mark more than one answer, it is treated as wrong, even if one of them is correct, and the same penalty applies.
- A question left blank carries no penalty.
- Calculators, mathematical tables and logarithmic tables may not be used. Only the metric system of weights and measures is used in questions.
- You must write the paper yourself. A scribe is not allowed.
The practical lesson: timed practice with negative marking matters as much as knowing the syllabus. Our guide on how to prepare for NDA turns this into a study plan.
What is the NDA Mathematics syllabus?
The notice divides Mathematics into eight areas. The list below summarises each one in plain words.
| Area | What the notice includes |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Sets and Venn diagrams, relations, complex numbers, binary numbers, arithmetic, geometric and harmonic progressions, quadratic equations, linear inequations, permutations and combinations, binomial theorem, logarithms |
| Matrices and determinants | Types and operations, determinants and their properties, adjoint and inverse, solving linear equations by Cramer’s rule and the matrix method |
| Trigonometry | Angles in degrees and radians, ratios and identities, sum and difference formulae, multiple angles, inverse functions, heights and distances, properties of triangles |
| Analytical geometry (2D and 3D) | Coordinates, lines, circles, parabola, ellipse and hyperbola, points in three dimensions, direction cosines, planes, lines and spheres |
| Differential calculus | Functions, limits, continuity, derivatives and their applications, increasing and decreasing functions, maxima and minima |
| Integral calculus and differential equations | Integration methods, definite integrals and areas, order and degree of a differential equation, first-order equations, growth and decay problems |
| Vector algebra | Vectors in two and three dimensions, dot and cross product, work done and moment of a force |
| Statistics and probability | Frequency distributions, graphs, mean, median, mode, variance, correlation and regression, probability, conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem, binomial distribution |
What is in the General Ability Test?
Paper II is split into English and General Knowledge. Part A is meant to test your understanding of English and workmanlike use of words, covering grammar and usage, vocabulary, and comprehension and cohesion in extended text. Part B covers Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events. UPSC also says that the topics in the syllabus indicate scope and are not exhaustive, so questions on similar topics may appear.
UPSC gives the approximate weightage of each section within the 400 marks of Part B. This is rarely quoted on rival pages, and it is useful for planning.
| Section | Subject | Approximate weightage | Topics named in the notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Physics | 25% | Properties of matter, motion and Newton’s laws, work, power and energy, heat, sound, light, magnets, electricity, everyday devices |
| B | Chemistry | 15% | Physical and chemical changes, elements, compounds and mixtures, air and water, common gases, acids, bases and salts, fertilisers, atomic structure and valency |
| C | General Science | 10% | Living and non-living things, cells and tissues, growth, human body, epidemics, food and balanced diet, solar system, eminent scientists |
| D | History, freedom movement and civics | 20% | Indian history and culture, freedom movement, Constitution and administration, five-year plans, Panchayati Raj, modern world history, United Nations |
| E | Geography | 20% | Earth, latitudes and longitudes, rocks, oceans, atmosphere and climate, regional geography of India, resources, ports and trade |
| F | Current events | 10% | Recent events in India and the world, prominent personalities, culture and sports |
The weightages are marked as approximate in the notice. Physics, history and geography together account for roughly two thirds of Part B, which is a good reason to give them steady attention.
Sources for the NDA scheme and syllabus
What does the UPSC notice not tell you?
The notice gives topics but not question counts, so it cannot tell you how many questions a given topic usually brings. Some coaching sites publish topic-wise counts, but a count is only as good as the papers behind it. We have not published one, because the right place to build it is UPSC’s official archive of previous papers: download the last few papers, tally the questions by section, and see for yourself where the marks lie. Do that tally once and your study plan becomes your own.
It also does not describe the SSB tests beyond the structure, which is Stage I (OIR and PP&DT) and Stage II (interview, GTO tasks, psychology tests and conference), assessed by three assessors with no separate weightage per test. Our SSB interview process guide explains the five days.
Where does this fit in the NDA calendar?
NDA (II) 2026 was notified on 20 May 2026 with a last date of 9 June 2026 and an examination date of 13 September 2026. For 2027 the UPSC calendar lists NDA and NA (I) with notification on 2 December 2026, a last date of 22 December 2026 and the examination on 11 April 2027, and NDA and NA (II) on 19 September 2027. Eligibility is covered in our NDA eligibility criteria guide, and the defence exam calendar shows all exams together.
If you want to talk through a study plan against this syllabus, free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757.
NDA syllabus and exam pattern: common questions
FAQs
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Ask on WhatsAppWhat is the NDA exam pattern?
Two objective papers of 2½ hours each: Mathematics for 300 marks and the General Ability Test for 600 marks (English 200, General Knowledge 400). The SSB adds 900 marks.
Is there negative marking in NDA?
Yes. One third (0.33) of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Marking more than one answer counts as wrong. A blank answer carries no penalty.
What is the NDA Mathematics syllabus?
Algebra, matrices and determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry of two and three dimensions, differential calculus, integral calculus and differential equations, vector algebra, and statistics and probability.
What is the weightage of General Knowledge topics in NDA?
UPSC gives approximate weightages for Part B: Physics 25%, Chemistry 15%, General Science 10%, History and freedom movement 20%, Geography 20% and Current Events 10%.
Is the NDA paper available in Hindi?
The Mathematics paper and Part B of the General Ability Test are set in Hindi and English. The English part is in English.
Can I use a calculator in the NDA exam?
No. The notice forbids calculators and mathematical or logarithmic tables inside the examination hall.
Preparing after Class 12 or in Class 11 and 12? See our classroom NDA coaching in Dehradun page, or call or message us on WhatsApp at +91 70170 31757.
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