UPSC National Defence Academy (UPSC NDA & NA) 2026: Official Notification, Pattern, Syllabus & Mock Tests

UPSC NDA is the gateway for 10+2 passed male and female candidates to join the premier tri-service training academy for Army, Navy, and Air Force officer cadres.

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Examination Overview

UPSC NDA is the gateway for 10+2 passed male and female candidates to join the premier tri-service training academy for Army, Navy, and Air Force officer cadres.

Exam Name	UPSC National Defence Academy (UPSC NDA & NA)
Conducting Authority	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Level	National
Frequency	Twice a Year
Mode of Examination	Computer Based Test (CBT) / Written Examination
Language of Exam	English, Hindi & State Regional Languages
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in/ ↗

Important Dates & Events

Timeline confirmed from official notices issued by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Event / Milestone	Important Date / Status
NDA I Exam	April
NDA II Exam	September

Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

Written Exam: 900 Marks. Paper 1: Mathematics (120 Qs, 300 Marks, 2.5 Hours, -0.83 mark). Paper 2: General Ability Test - GAT (150 Qs, 600 Marks, 2.5 Hours, -1.33 mark). GAT is divided into English (200 M) and General Knowledge (400 M). Followed by SSB Interview (900 Marks).

Examination Parameter	Scheme Details	Remarks / Evaluation
Question Format	Multiple Choice Questions (Objective MCQs)	4 or 5 options per question
Evaluation Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT) / Offline OMR Sheet	Centralized Evaluation System
Negative Marking Scheme	Standard 1/3rd or 1/4th negative deduction	Penalized for incorrect responses
Language Medium	Bilingual (English & Hindi) + Regional State Languages	Language toggle available in CBT
Normalization	Equipercentile or Percentile method across shifts	Multi-shift normalization applied

Selection Process & Stages

Candidate progression through sequential recruitment tiers:

Stage 1

Preliminary / Tier 1 Examination

Comprehensive objective screening test covering core aptitude, reasoning, general knowledge and language skills.

Stage 2

Mains / Tier 2 / Skill Test

Advanced written assessment or post-specific technical/descriptive examination determining the final merit order.

Stage 3

Document Verification & Medical

Scrutiny of original certificates, category credentials, age proofs and required medical fitness examination.

Eligibility Criteria (Age & Educational Qualification)

Army Wing: 12th Class pass of 10+2 pattern. Air Force & Navy: 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Age: 16.5 to 19.5 years (unmarried male & female).

Parameter	Eligibility Condition	Relaxation Norms
Educational Criteria	Army Wing: 12th Class pass of 10+2 pattern. Air Force & Navy: 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Age: 16.5 to 19.5 years (unmarried male & female).	Recognized Board / University required
Age Requirement	As specified in official notification (General Category)	SC/ST: +5 Years \| OBC: +3 Years \| PwD: +10 Years
Citizenship	Citizen of India	Subject of Nepal/Bhutan as per Central/State rules
Language Proficiency	Regional / English & Hindi working knowledge	Applicable as per State / National jurisdiction

Detailed Syllabus by Subject

11th and 12th standard Mathematics (Calculus, Trigonometry, Vectors, Matrices, Probability). GAT covers English Grammar, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Events.

📖 General Studies & Current Affairs

Current National & International Events
Indian History & Freedom Struggle
Indian & World Geography
General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Indian Polity, Constitution & Governance
Basic Economic Concepts & Budget Highlights

🔢 Quantitative & Numerical Aptitude

Simplification, Number System, HCF & LCM
Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Profit & Loss
Simple & Compound Interest
Time, Speed & Distance, Time & Work
Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar & Pie Charts)

🧩 Reasoning & Mental Ability

Analogies, Classification & Series Completion
Coding-Decoding & Blood Relations
Direction Sense Test & Ranking Order
Syllogisms, Statements & Assumptions
Non-Verbal Reasoning & Figure Counting

📝 Language Comprehension

Reading Comprehension Passages
Vocabulary, Synonyms & Antonyms
Grammar, Error Spotting & Sentence Correction
Cloze Test, Idioms & Phrases
One Word Substitutions & Spelling Check

Preparation Strategy & Cut-Off Trends

Historical scoring benchmarks and safe score targets for UPSC National Defence Academy (UPSC NDA & NA) based on competitive trends:

Category	Safe Target Percentage	Preparation Focus	Benchmark Accuracy
General (UR)	75% - 82%	Speed + Negative Control in Reasoning & Quant	90%+ Accuracy
OBC / EWS	70% - 76%	High Scoring in Current Affairs & Language	88%+ Accuracy
SC / ST	62% - 70%	Syllabus Coverage & Previous Year Papers	85%+ Accuracy
PwD / Ex-SM	55% - 65%	Sectional Cut-Off clearance + Accuracy	82%+ Accuracy

Official Mock Test Series & CBT Practice

Practice full-length CBT tests matching the exact UPSC NDA pattern with bilingual questions and instant rank analysis.

UPSC National Defence Academy (UPSC NDA & NA) 2027 Official Practice Series

8 Total Tests • 1 Free Tests • English, Hindi, Bengali

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2027 Official Practice Series & Question Bank

2027 CYCLE READY

Targeted subject-wise and topic-wise practice series for UPSC National Defence Academy (UPSC NDA & NA). Featuring expected question predictions, pattern mastery, and instant step-by-step CBT solutions.

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