NDA Question Paper practice is essential for cracking the NDA 2025 exam. As per the official UPSC calendar, the NDA & NA 1 exam dates are confirmed, and NDA 2 is scheduled for 14th September 2025. With rising competition each year due to increasing applicants, candidates must upgrade their preparation strategies. Practicing with NDA Previous Year Question Papers can boost both speed and accuracy. To support your journey, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of NDA question paper PDFs with solutions in this article.
Previous years’ question papers are crucial in helping candidates achieve good exam marks. Suppose you plan to prepare for the National Defence Academy (NDA) or Naval Academy entrance exam. In that case, it is essential to understand the exam pattern set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The NDA exam consists of two papers, General Ability and Mathematics, which are assessed through a written test conducted by UPSC. To familiarize candidates with the question format and exam requirements, we have compiled the NDA’s question papers from the previous year in this article.
| Event | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Notification Release | 11th December 2024 | 28th May 2025 |
| Application Start Date | 11th December 2024 | 28th May 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 1st January 2025 (6 PM) | 17th June 2025 |
| Application Correction | 1st–7th January 2025 | 17th–24th June 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | To be notified | To be notified |
| Exam Date | 13th April 2025 | 14th September 2025 |
| Result Declaration | May 2025 | October 2025 |
The UPSC NDA & NA Exam Pattern 2025 includes a written examination followed by the SSB Interview. The written test comprises two sections — Mathematics and the General Ability Test — with a total of 900 marks. To gain a thorough understanding of the exam structure, candidates are strongly encouraged to practice previous year question papers and review the NDA exam papers from past years.
The NDA exam pattern provides essential details regarding the mode of examination, total marks, duration, and types of questions asked. Understanding the exam pattern is crucial for candidates preparing for the NDA exam, as it helps them strategize effectively and aim for a higher rank. A clear understanding of the structure and requirements of the recruitment process ensures better preparation. The NDA written examination consists of two papers: the General Ability Test (GAT) and Mathematics. The test is conducted offline, and the question paper is available in both English and Hindi. Below are the key details of the NDA exam pattern:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Number of Papers | GAT and Mathematics |
| Duration of Test | GAT: 2.5 hours | Mathematics: 2.5 hours |
| Exam Timing | GAT: 10 AM – 12:30 PM | Mathematics: 2 PM – 4:30 PM |
| Number of Questions | GAT: 150 | Mathematics: 120 |
| Language of Question Paper | English and Hindi |
| Total Marks | Written Exam: 900 (GAT: 600, Mathematics: 300) | SSB Interview: 900 |
The NDA exam is one of the toughest. Although more than 1 lakh applications are submitted each year out of them only 1000 people can get the chance. This ratio denotes how difficult it is to get the chance at one attempt. However, having an idea of the NDA in the previous year’s paper will clear the picture of the question pattern.
The UPSC exams are considered one of the toughest because of the standard of questions. Moreover, if you see the time allotted for answering the entire paper then you will understand how fast you should answer. Practicing NDA question papers will increase your efficiency in answering questions in a short time.
Nowadays you will find easily NDA’s previous year’s question paper with a solution pdf. So, you can easily get the scope to analyze yourself by going through that solution paper. After practicing you can calculate the marks based on the given solution. In this way, you can do self-analysis.
The NDA written examination consists of two papers evaluating a candidate’s proficiency in mathematics and general knowledge. Both papers are conducted on the same day and are crucial to the overall selection process.
The NDA Exam Pattern 2025 consists of two stages: a written examination and an SSB interview. The written test is conducted for all registered candidates and includes two subjects—Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT). The NDA question paper comprises a total of 270 questions, with a maximum score of 900 marks. To qualify, candidates must secure at least 25% marks in each section along with the overall cutoff. The exam follows an objective-type format, and negative marking is applicable for incorrect answers.
Candidates who pass the written exam proceed to the SSB interview, which is conducted in two phases. The first phase includes the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and the Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PP & DT). The second phase consists of psychological assessments and a final conference. The SSB interview also carries a total of 900 marks. To succeed, candidates must achieve the cutoff marks set by UPSC for both the written exam and the SSB interview. The latest NDA exam pattern helps candidates understand key details such as exam mode, total marks, duration, and types of questions asked.
The NDA syllabus is divided into two sections: Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics section consists of 120 questions, while the GAT paper contains 150 questions. The GAT syllabus evaluates a candidate’s knowledge in subjects such as History, General Knowledge, Current Affairs (National and International), English, Science, and Geography. The Mathematics syllabus focuses on assessing problem-solving skills using formulas and theorems. The difficulty level of the NDA syllabus aligns with Class 10, 11, and 12 standards. The GAT section carries the highest weightage, with a total of 600 marks, while the Mathematics paper is worth 300 marks.
Candidates who secure the cut-off marks in the written exam are invited for the SSB interview, which is conducted by UPSC. Understanding the NDA syllabus is crucial for candidates to identify important topics and plan their studies efficiently. Additionally, solving NDA question papers helps candidates familiarize themselves with the exam format and question types. The NDA answer key provides correct responses to the questions asked in the exam.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a year (NDA 1 & NDA 2) |
| Selection Process | Written Test, Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper mode) |
| Subjects Covered | Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) |
| Total Marks | 900 (Mathematics: 300, GAT: 600) |
This structured overview gives candidates a clear understanding of the NDA syllabus and helps them prepare effectively for the exam.
Before starting their NDA exam preparation, candidates should thoroughly review the syllabus to understand the topics they must cover. Below are some key subjects and topics that candidates must focus on:
Referring to the NDA Paper syllabus and systematically covering important topics will help candidates strengthen their preparation. Regular practice with NDA Paper will improve their understanding and boost their chances of success in the exam.
For NDA 2025, the exam dates for NDA & NA 1 have been officially released in the annual calendar. NDA 1 is set for April 13, 2025, while NDA 2 will be conducted on September 14, 2025. As the competition grows each year with a rising number of applicants, candidates need to refine their preparation strategies. Practicing with NDA Previous Year Paper can greatly enhance accuracy and speed. To support candidates in their preparation, we have compiled a list of NDA Previous Year Paper PDFs in this article.
Solving NDA question papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the UPSC NDA exam. Here’s how it helps aspirants:
Candidates preparing for the NDA 2025 exam can greatly benefit from practicing with NDA Previous-Year Question Papers. These papers provide insights into the exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked. Below is a collection of NDA Previous-Year Question Papers from past years, available for download and practice. Consistent practice with these papers will enhance problem-solving skills and improve time management.
Practicing with NDA Previous Year Papers is essential for understanding the exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level. These papers help candidates improve accuracy, speed, and time management, enhancing their overall performance. Regularly solving NDA Previous Year Papers boosts confidence and effectively prepares aspirants for the actual exam.
| Year | NDA-1 (Mathematics) | NDA-1 (General Ability) | NDA-2 (Mathematics) | NDA-2 (General Ability) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2023 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2022 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2021 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2020 | Download PDF | Download PDF | – | – |
| 2019 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2018 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2017 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2016 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| 2015 | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF | Download PDF |
Candidates can strengthen their grasp of the syllabus and improve their exam performance by referring to these NDA Question Papers.
Ans. If you want to take the NDA exam, then you must become eligible. The first eligibility criterion is age. So, as per the instructions, one must attain the age bracket of 16-19 years. Apart from that, one must complete his 10+2 from a government educational board.
Ans. Yes, you can clear the NDA exam at the very first attempt if you prepare well. For that, you must follow a smart work policy instead of hard work. Undoubtedly, the syllabus is vast. So, if you can identify the chapters where it covers lots of questions then it will become easy.
Ans. Both the NDA and IIT exams are among the toughest in India. The selection rate for IIT is 0.71%, while for NDA, it’s even lower at 0.15%.
Ans. Questions in the NDA exam are asked from the below-mentioned topics: Mathematics: Algebra, Calculus, Matrices and Determinants, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Trigonometry, Vector Algebra, Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and Probability.
Ans. After completing training at the National Defence Academy (NDA), officers start their careers with a monthly salary of INR 56,100 and can potentially earn up to INR 2,50,000 or more, depending on their rank and years of service.
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