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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) · DEFENSE

NDA

National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination

Direct entry to the National Defence Academy after Class 12 — Army, Navy, Air Force.

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Lably's shared practice surfaces, scoped to your class rather than to NDA. Use the syllabus and prep plan below for NDA-specific work.

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What you'll be tested on

Syllabus

  • Algebra (Sets, Real & Complex Numbers, Quadratics, Sequences)
  • Matrices & Determinants
  • Trigonometry
  • Analytic Geometry of 2D & 3D
  • Differential Calculus
  • Integral Calculus & Differential Equations
  • Vectors
  • Statistics & Probability
Question types · marks · duration

Exam pattern

Paper I — Mathematics
2h 30m · 120 Qs
300 marks
Objective. +2.5 / -0.83 per question.
SectionQuestionsMarksMarkingNotes
Mathematics120300+2.5 / -0.83
Paper II — General Ability Test (GAT)
2h 30m · 150 Qs
600 marks
English + GK. +4 / -1.33 per question.
SectionQuestionsMarksMarkingNotes
English50200+4 / -1.33
GK (Phy/Chem/GS/History/Geo/Polity/Current)100400+4 / -1.33
SSB Interview
5 days
900 marks
5-day Services Selection Board — Stage 1 (Screening: OIR + PPDT) and Stage 2 (Psych + GTO + Personal Interview + Conference). Filters officer-like qualities.
SectionQuestionsMarksMarkingNotes
Stage 1 — Screening—0—OIR test + Picture-Perception-and-Discussion. Shortlist for Stage 2.
Psychology (TAT, WAT, SRT, SD)—300—
Group Testing (GTO) — GD, GPE, Lecturette, PGT, HGT, FGT, Command Task, Final Group Task, IO/T—300—
Personal Interview + Conference—300—
Yearly windows

Important dates

  1. 01
    NDA I — Notification
    Mid Dec
  2. 02
    NDA I — Exam
    Mid Apr
  3. 03
    NDA II — Notification
    Mid May
  4. 04
    NDA II — Exam
    First Sun of Sep
  5. 05
    SSB Interviews
    2-3 months post written result
From start to D-day

Recommended prep plan

Phase 1
Months 1–4 (foundation)

NCERT Maths 11–12 + Lucent's GK. Daily Hindu / Indian Express editorial.

Phase 2
Months 5–7 (practice)

RS Agarwal Quant + Wren & Martin English + Manorama Yearbook. 1 sectional test per day.

Phase 3
Months 8–9 (PYQ + mocks)

Last 15 years of NDA PYQs (both papers). 2 full-length mocks per week.

Phase 4
Post-written (SSB prep)

Daily current-affairs reading. Lecturette topics. Practice PPDT + WAT + SRT timed. Build evidence of officer-like qualities.

Phase 5
Day-of SSB

Authenticity over performance. The board sees through scripted answers — they want a real personality with judgement under pressure.

What clearing it unlocks

National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla — 3-year cadet trainingCommission as Lt / Sub-Lt / Flying OfficerINA, IAF Academy, IMA continuation