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UPSC NDA and NA

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The NDA and NA examination selects Class 12 students (and those still appearing) for the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and for the Naval Academy's 10+2 cadet entry. It is held twice a year, as NDA & NA (I) and (II).

At a glance
Conducted by UPSC, followed by the Services Selection Board (SSB)
Stages Written (2 papers) → SSB interview and medical
Who can apply Unmarried male and female candidates; 12th class pass of the 10+2 pattern, or appearing in it. Air Force and Navy wings and the 10+2 Naval Academy entry also require Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12
Marital status Must be unmarried, and must not marry until full training is complete
Final merit Written 900 + SSB 900 = 1800

Official sources

Exam pattern

Paper Subject Marks Time
I Mathematics 300 2 h 30 min
II General Ability Test — Part A English (200) + Part B general knowledge (400) 600 2 h 30 min

Both papers are objective type only; Mathematics and Part B of the GAT are set bilingually in Hindi and English. One-third (0.33) of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer; a question with more than one answer marked is treated as wrong and draws the same penalty; a blank answer carries no penalty. The SSB interview and personality test carries 900 marks.

Syllabus

Mathematics at Class 11–12 level: algebra; matrices and determinants; trigonometry; analytical geometry of two and three dimensions; differential calculus; integral calculus and differential equations; vector algebra; statistics and probability. GAT Part A — English, 200 marks: grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion in extended text. GAT Part B — general knowledge, 400 marks, is split into six sections: physics, chemistry, general science, history and the freedom movement, geography, and current events.

Free resources

How to prepare (free, in order)

  1. Mathematics is 300 marks at Class 12 level: finish NCERT Class 11–12 once, then shift to timed papers.
  2. In the 400-mark general knowledge paper, history and the freedom movement is a significant section. Take the periods in order — ancient India, medieval India, then modern India and the freedom movement — and pin every dynasty, art form and monument to its period on a timeline; NCERT history for Classes 6–12 are the standard foundation.
  3. Use official previous question papers from the UPSC website to understand the question style and difficulty.