NDA 2026 Exam Pattern

The NDA Exam 2025, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), consists of two stages: a written exam and an SSB interview.

The written exam consists of Mathematics and a General Aptitude Test (GAT). A total of 270 questions are asked, carrying 900 marks. A minimum of 25% marks are required in each subject.

The exam also has negative marking. Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for an SSB interview, which consists of two stages: mental ability and personality assessment. Final selection is based on both the written and SSB scores.

NDA 2026 Written Exam Pattern

The NDA written exam consists of two major papers:

Paper 1: Mathematics
Paper 2: General Ability Test (GAT)

Both papers are conducted on the same day. Each paper is 2.5 hours long and the questions are objective (MCQ) type. Both papers are available in both Hindi and English.

Paper 1: Mathematics

The Mathematics paper tests the candidate’s mathematical skills and ability to solve problems accurately. This paper consists of 120 questions, totaling 300 marks. The topics covered are from the Class 11 and 12 curriculum. Below are the main topics:

Algebra
Trigonometry
Linear Equations
Statistics
Calculus
Geometry
Numbers and their Properties

Paper 2: General Ability Test (GAT)

The GAT paper is divided into two sections:

English: This section evaluates the candidate's understanding of the English language, including grammar and vocabulary.
General Knowledge: This section covers various subjects as follows:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Mathematics
- History
- Geography
- Political Science
- Current Affairs

This paper consists of 150 questions, totaling 600 marks.

NDA 2026 Syllabus and Question Distribution

The total duration of Paper 1 (Mathematics) and Paper 2 (GAT) is 5 hours, and the total marks are 900. Paper 1 consists of 120 questions and Paper 2 consists of 150 questions.

Paper	Subject	Number of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
Paper 1	Mathematics	120	300	2.5 hours
Paper 2	General Ability Test (GAT)	150	600	2.5 hours
Total		270	900	5 hours

NDA 2026 Marking Scheme

The marking scheme is also important in the NDA exam, so you can understand how marks are awarded and how to avoid negative marking.

Mathematics

Correct Answer: +2.5 points
Incorrect Answer: -0.83 points
Untargeted Question: 0 points

General Ability Test (GAT)

Correct Answer: +4 points
Incorrect Answer: -1.33 points
Untargeted Question: 0 points

Preparation Tips for the NDA 2026 Exam

Time Management: It is very important to use your time wisely. Allocate time for both Mathematics and GAT and study keeping your strengths and weaknesses in mind.

Solve Previous Year Question Papers: Solving previous year question papers gives you experience of the exam pattern and helps with time management.

Avoid Negative Marking: Avoid guesswork. If you don't know the answer to a question, skip it to avoid negative marking.

Mock Tests and Timed Tests: Taking mock tests gives you practice in time management and working in a realistic exam environment.

Cover the Entire Syllabus: Understand the syllabus for both Mathematics and GAT thoroughly and focus on all important topics.

Difficulty Level and Subject Weightage in the NDA 2026 Exam

Mathematics: Moderate to high difficulty, requires strong conceptual understanding and speed.
GAT (English): Moderate, tests language proficiency and comprehension.
GAT (General Knowledge): Moderate, covers a variety of topics and may be difficult on current affairs.