NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Check NDA Exam Complete paper pattern

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Check NDA Exam Complete paper pattern

Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on May 28, 2025 06:16 PM IST | #NDA
Ongoing Event
NDA  Application Date : 28 May' 2025 - 17 Jun' 2025

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Union Public Service Commission specified the UPSC NDA exam pattern 2025 in their official notification at upsc.gov.in. The exam pattern of UPSC NDA 2 2025 contains the basic information about the mode of the exam, total marks, number of questions, etc. According to the exam pattern, the UPSC NDA exam consists of two papers - Mathematics paper and the General Ability Test (GAT).

This Story also Contains
  1. NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Overview
  2. NDA Marking Scheme 2025
  3. NDA Syllabus 2025
  4. Best Books To Prepare For NDA 2025
NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Check NDA Exam Complete paper pattern
NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Check NDA Exam Complete paper pattern

Candidates should acquaint themselves with the NDA exam paper pattern before preparing for the exam. Along with the exam pattern, it is also important to use the NDA exam syllabus to get an idea of how the exam might appear. Both NDA paper 1 and paper 2 holds a total of 900 marks. The NDA exam 2025 is conducted in two stages, the written exam and the SSB interview. Candidates can find comprehensive information about the NDA 2025 exam pattern below.

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 - Overview

NDA Exam Mode

Offline

Language/Medium of NDA exam

English & Hindi (Except for English section - questions in English only)

No. of Papers

2 (Mathematics & GAT)

Time allotted for each paper

2 hours 30 minutes

No. of questions and marks for mathematics

120 for 300 marks

No. of questions and marks for GAT

150 for 600 marks

Types of questions

Objective (MCQ type)

Quick Links: How to join NDA after class 12th?

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 for Written Examination

The first stage of the NDA exam is a written exam. The written NDA 2025 exam consists of two papers, Mathematics and GAT. All the details related to the exam pattern of NDA 2025 are mentioned in the table below -

Exam Pattern Of NDA 2025 Written Test

Papers

Subject

Maximum marks

Duration

Paper 1

Mathematics

300

2 hours 30 minutes

Paper 2

GAT

600

2 hours 30 minutes

Total

900

5 hours

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 for Mathematics

Total Marks

300

Marks allotted to each question

2.5

Negative marking for each incorrect response

-0.83

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 for General Ability Test (GAT)

Sections

Maximum marks

Part A - English

200

Part B - General Knowledge

Physics

400


Chemistry

General Science

History, Freedom Movement, etc.

Geography

Current Events

Total

600

Quick Links: NDA salary 2025 and career growth

NDA Exam Pattern 2025 for SSB Interview

There are two stages in the SSB interview - stage I and stage II. As per the NDA SSB interview, it consists of a total of 900 marks and will be held over a period of 4 to 5 days. There is a negative marking in the NDA written exam. Candidates must clear stage I of the SSB to be eligible to appear for stage II. Check the following details related to the NDA SSB in the table below -

NDA Interview Scheme

Stages of SSB Interview

2

Duration

4-5 Days

Maximum Marks

900

SSB Interview - Stage-I

In this stage, candidates will have to take two tests - the Officers Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and the Picture Perception & Description Test (PP & DT). Only those candidates who clear this stage will appear for Stage II.

SSB Interview - Stage-II

In this stage of the SSB interview, aspirants will have to go through Group Testing Officers Tasks, Psychology tests, and the Conference. These tests will be conducted over 4 days.

SSB Interview Stages

Stages

Tests

Stage-I

Screening Test

Verbal and non-verbal tests.

PPDT

Stage-II

Psychological Test

  • Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

  • Self-Description Test (SD)

  • Word Association Test (WAT)

  • Situation Reaction Test (SRT)

Group Testing Officers Test

  • GD

  • PGT

  • HGT

  • IoT

  • Command Task

  • Snake Race/Group Obstacle Race

  • GPE

  • Individual lecture

  • FGT

Personal Interview


Conference


Also Read: How to join Indian Air Force?

NDA Marking Scheme 2025

According to the marking scheme of NDA, one-third of the marks allotted to each question will be deducted for each wrong answer. Candidates must also note that no marks will be deducted for unanswered questions. Check the NDA marking distribution and scheme in the following table below.

NDA Marking Scheme Mathematics

Particulars

Mathematics

NDA exam total marks

300

Marks allotted to each question

2.5

Negative marking for each incorrect response

-0.83

NDA Marking Scheme GAT

Particulars

GAT

NDA exam total marks

600

Marks allotted to each question

4

Negative marking for each incorrect response

-1.33

Quick Links: How to crack the UPSC NDA exam?

NDA Syllabus 2025

Along with the exam pattern, candidates must also be aware of the topics of utmost importance in the NDA syllabus 2025, that need to be prepared. Below are the NDA exam topics -

NDA Exam Syllabus

Subject

Topics

Mathematics

GAT


  • English (Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, etc.),

  • Physics,

  • Chemistry,

  • General Science,

  • Social Studies,

  • Geography, and Current Events


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Best Books To Prepare For NDA 2025

After knowing about the syllabus and UPSC NDA exam pattern it is important to head towards the study materials. Although UPSC NDA is based on 10+2 level there are few books that can help candidates sharpen their preparations. It is essential that candidates make use of the best resources to prepare for the UPSC NDA exam. Some of the best books for the NDA 2025 exam are -

Best Books for NDA 2025

NDA Books

Authors

Class 12th Mathematics

RS Aggarwal

Exam Specific NDA Entrance Exam

ES Ramasamy

General Science Guide for Competitive Exams CSAT/NDA/CDS/Railways/SSC/UPSC/State PSC/Defence

Disha Publications

Social Problems in India (Indian Society - GS 1)

Ram Ahuja

How To Prepare For NDA 2025?

The first and foremost strategy is to know what you are going to encounter, then on how to prepare for the NDA 2025 exam. In this case, the exam pattern of NDA 2025 and the syllabus is the most important thing.

  • Candidates must strategize their preparations well before time to be able to ace NDA 2025.

  • Allot a specific amount of time to study for each subject.

  • While solving the NDA question papers 2025, candidates will be able to know about the question paper pattern of previous years By using a timer, they will also be able to speed up their question-solving abilities as well. With the help of UPSC NDA question papers, aspirants can also evaluate themselves to identify topics that they find difficult to score in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are there negative marks in the NDA exam?

Yes, it is. One-third of the marks allotted to the question are deducted if answered incorrectly. In mathematics, each question carries 2.5 marks and 0.83 marks are deducted for wrong answers. Similarly, in GAT, each question carries 4 marks and 1.33 marks are deducted for wrong answers.

2. What are the total marks allotted to GAT and mathematics?

The total marks allotted to GAT is 600 whereas Mathematics will be conducted for 300 marks.

3. What are the total marks of the NDA 2025 exam?

NDA  written examination will be conducted for a total of 900 marks, out of which 300 are for mathematics and 600 are for GAT. Candidates who clear the written exam appear for the SSB interview which is conducted for 900 marks.

4. What happens if I score the total cutoff marks of the NDA examination but do not score 25% in Mathematics?

It is mandatory that all candidates score the minimum qualifying marks and NDA 2025 cut off  in order to clear the written exam. Aspirants must score 25% in both mathematics and GAT.

5. What is the difficulty level of mathematics in the NDA examination?

The difficulty level of the mathematics exam is of class 12th-level in the NDA written examination.

6. What is the usual cut off of NDA exam?

NDA cut off is decided on the basis of difficulty of the exam, number of candidates appearing for the exam, and vacancies. Candidates are required to score at least 25% marks apart from the UPSC NDA cut off in both mathematics and GAT.

7. What are the total marks allotted for NDA 2025 exam?

NDA written exam 2025 is conducted for a total of 900 marks, out of which 300 are for mathematics and 600 are for GAT. Candidates who clear the UPSC NDA written exam will appear for the SSB interview which is conducted for 900 marks.

8. What happens if I score the total cut off of the NDA exam but do not score 25% in Mathematics?

It is mandatory that all candidates score the minimum NDA 2025 cut off in order to clear the written exam. Candidates must score 25% in both mathematics and GAT.

9. What is the UPSC NDA salary given to a candidate clear the examination?

Cadets get a stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month. In hand NDA salary is given based on rank. 

10. When will the NDA 2 2025 exam be conducted?

The NDA 2 2025 exam will be conducted on September 14, 2025.

11. When will the NDA 2 application 2025 be released?

The NDA 2025 application form has been released on May 28, 2025 at upsc.gov.in.

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Questions related to NDA

Have a question related to NDA ?

Hello aspirant,

Candidates for NDA 1 must have been born on or before July 2, 2007, and July 1, 2010; candidates for NDA 2 must have been born on or before January 2, 2008, and July 1, 2011.

As you do not fulfill the eligibility criteria, you are not eligible for NDA 1 2026.

Thank you

Hello Aspirant,

You are not eligible for NDA 1 or NDA 2 in 2026.

  1. For NDA 1 2026, candidates may be born between 2nd July 2007 - 1st July 2010 (tentative range based on previous years).
  2. For NDA 2 2026, the candidates' birthdate generally fall in the range of 2nd January 2008 - 1st January 2011.

Since you were born on 23rd November 2006 you will not be able to appear for NDA 1 or NDA 2 in 2026, as you will cross the upper-age limit.

Hello aspirant,

No, you will not be qualified to take the 2026 NDA exam.  According to the age requirements, applicants must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old when the course starts.  You would be over 19.5 years old by 2026 due to your birthdate of January 8, 2007, which would exclude you from taking the NDA exam that year.

Thank you

Hope it helps you

Hello aspirant,

Candidates' dates of birth must fall on or between January 2, 2008, and July 1, 2011, in order to be eligible for NDA 2.

So as you do not fulfill the eligibility criteria, you are ineligible for NDA 2 2026.

Thank you

Hello aspirant,

Candidates must fulfill certain age restrictions in order to sit for the NDA 2025 April exam.  Candidates must have been born between July 2, 2005, and July 1, 2008, in order to be eligible for NDA I 2025.  Candidates must be born between January 2, 2006, and January 1, 2009, in order to be considered for NDA II 2025 September.

So, yes you are eligible for NDA 2 2025.

Thank you

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