The UPSC sets the NDA syllabus for the exam, which is conducted twice a year to select candidates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). The NDA syllabus includes two subjects: Maths and General Ability Test (GAT). The Maths syllabus covers topics like Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, Geometry, and Statistics. The GAT syllabus covers English, Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events. Candidates need to thoroughly understand the NDA syllabus to prepare well for the exam, especially focusing on the GAT section which holds the most importance in the NDA exam.
NDA Syllabus 2024
The NDA exam syllabus is divided into two main sections: Maths and General Ability Test (GAT). In the Maths section, there are 120 questions, and the GAT section consists of 150 questions. The GAT syllabus covers a wide range of subjects including History, General Knowledge, Current Affairs, English, Science, and Geography. On the other hand, the Maths syllabus assesses a candidate’s problem-solving abilities using mathematical concepts from classes 10, 11, and 12. The GAT section holds more weightage with a total of 600 marks compared to 300 marks for Maths. UPSC conducts SSB interviews for candidates who clear the written exam cut-off. Understanding the NDA syllabus helps candidates focus on key topics for effective preparation.
NDA Syllabus Key Points
Candidates should carefully examine the NDA Syllabus and Exam Pattern before beginning their preparation. The official syllabus is mentioned in the NDA Notification 2024. Here’s a brief overview of the Syllabus and exam pattern, offering important guidance for candidates exam preparation.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the Exam | National Defence Academy Exam or NDA exam |
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission, UPSC |
| Mode of exam | Offline (Pen and Paper mode) |
| Total Papers in NDA Exam | Mathematics General Ability Test (GAT) |
| Total Marks for NDA Exam | Total: 900 Marks Mathematics: 300 Marks GAT: 600 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | Mathematics: 120 GAT: 150 |
| Negative Marking | Mathematics: -0.83 GAT: -1.33 marks |
| Exam Duration | Mathematics: 2 Hours 30 Minutes GAT: 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
NDA Exam Pattern 2024
The NDA exam has two parts: the written test and the SSB interview. After the NDA Cut Off is announced, candidates who qualify move on to the SSB interview. The exam lasts for 5 hours in total in which two and a half hour is allocated for both the sections individually. NDA exam consists of objective-type questions covering various subjects. The NDA Written Exam Pattern is as follows.
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 2½ Hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test | 2½ Hours | 600 |
| SSB Test/Interview | 900 |
NDA Mathematics Pattern 2024
The NDA exam pattern for the Maths consists of 120 questions for the total of 300 marks. For every correct answer the candidate is given +2.5 marks and for every wrong answer 0.3 marks are deducted. Given below is the NDA Maths exam pattern:
| Paper I Mathematics | |
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Number of Questions | 120 Questions |
| Marks for every correct answer | +2.5 |
| Marks deducted for every wrong answer | -0.3 |
| Duration of Exam | 2.5 Hours |
NDA General Ability Test Pattern 2024
The General Ability Test consists of two papers which are English and GK. The total marks allocated for this section are 600. There are 150 questions asked in the GAT section. Fore every correct answer 4 marks are given and for every wrong answer 1.33 marks are deducted. Below is the exam pattern of the GAT:
| Paper II GAT | |
| Total Marks | 600 |
| Number of Questions | 150 |
| Number of Questions in English | 50 |
| Number of Questions in GK | 100 |
| Maximum Marks for English | 200 |
| Maximum Marks for GK | 400 |
| Marks for every correct answer | +4 marks in both papers |
| Marks for every incorrect answer | -1.33 marks in both papers |
| Duration of Exam | 2.5 Hours |
NDA SSB Interview Pattern 2024
All the candidates who will clear the NDA written exam will move to the next round of selection process which is an SSB Interview. The NDA SSB Interview is given below:
| Stage | Tests |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Screening Test (Verbal and non-verbal tests), PPDT |
| Stage 2 | Psychological Test, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), Self Description Test (SD), Group Testing Officers Test (GTO), GD, GPE, PG, TH, GT, IoT, Command Task, Snake race/Group Obstacle Race, Individual lecture, FGT |
| Personal Interview & Conference | — |
NDA Exam Syllabus
Candidates should refer to the NDA syllabus before starting their preparation. The syllabus will guide them on the topics they need to cover for the exam. Some important topics for the NDA exam include:
- English: Reading Comprehension, Synonyms, Antonyms, Spotting Errors, Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases, etc.
- Maths: Matrices and Determinants, Sets, Venn Diagrams, Trigonometry, 2D and 3D Geometry, Differential Calculus, etc.
- General Knowledge: History, Current Affairs, Art and Culture, Physics, Chemistry, Basic Science, etc.
Mathematics Syllabus (300 Marks)
The Mathematics syllabus covers various topics from algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and analytical geometry. It aims to evaluate candidates understanding of mathematical concepts, their ability to apply them to solve problems, and their speed and accuracy in calculations. Let us look at some most important topics for NDA Syllabus 2024 for Maths-
| Topics | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Concept of Set, Operations on Sets, Venn Diagrams, De Morgan Laws, Cartesian Product, Relation, Equivalence Relation. Representation of real numbers on a line. Complex numbers – basic properties, modulus, argument, cube roots of unity. Binary system of numbers. Conversion of a number in decimal system to binary system and vice versa. Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic Progressions. Quadratic equations with real coefficients. Solution of linear equations of two variables by graphs. Permutation and Combination. Binomial theorem and its applications. |
| Matrices and Determinants | Types of matrices, operations on matrices. Determinant of a matrix, basic properties of determinants. Adjoint and inverse of a square matrix, Applications – Solution of a system of linear equations in two or three unknowns by Cramer’s rule and by Matrix Method. |
| Trigonometry | Angles and their measures in degrees and in radians. Trigonometric ratios – Sine, Cosine, Tangent, Cotangent, Secant and Cosecant. Trigonometric identities. Use of trigonometric tables. Simple cases of s and distances. |
| Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions | Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system. Distance formula. Equation of a line in various forms. Angle between two lines. Distance of a point from a line. Equation of a circle in standard and in a general form. Standard forms of parabola, ellipse and hyperbola. Eccentricity and axis of a conic. |
| Calculus | Concept of a real-valued function – domain, range and graph of a function. Composite functions, one-to-one, onto and inverse functions. Notion of limit, Standard limits – examples. Continuity of functions – examples, algebraic operations on continuous functions. Derivative of function at a point, geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative – applications. Derivatives of sum, product and quotient of functions, Derivative of a function with respect to another function, derivative of a composite function. Second-order derivatives. Increasing and decreasing functions. Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima. |
| Integral Calculus and Differential Equations | Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts, standard integrals involving algebraic expressions, trigonometric, exponential and hyperbolic functions. Evaluation of definite integrals – determination of areas of plane regions bounded by curves – applications. Definition of order and degree of a differential equation, formation of a differential equation by examples. General and particular solution of a differential equation, solution of the first order and first-degree differential equations of various types – examples. Application in problems of growth and decay. |
| Vector Algebra | Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude and direction of a vector. Unit and null vectors, addition of vectors, scalar multiplication of a vector, scalar product or dot product of two vectors. Vector product and cross product of two vectors. |
| Statistics and Probability | Statistics: Classification of data, Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution – examples. Graphical representation – Histogram, Pie Chart, Frequency Polygon – examples. Measures of Central tendency – Mean, Median and Mode. Variance and standard deviation – determination and comparison. Correlation and regression. Probability: Random experiment, outcomes and associated sample space, events, mutually exclusive and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of Events. Complementary, elementary and composite events. Definition of probability – classical and statistical – examples. Elementary theorems on probability – simple problems. Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem – simple problems. Random variable as function on a sample space. Binomial distribution, examples of random experiments giving rise to Binomials distribution. |
The Topic wise number of questions from the Maths section is given in the table below:
| Topic | Questions Range |
|---|---|
| Probability | 10 |
| Complex Number | 10-15 |
| Calculus | 20-25 |
| Quadratic Equation | 20-25 |
| Matrices and Determinant | 30 |
| Trigonometry | 30 |
NDA Marking Scheme for Maths
Candidates will receive 2.5 marks for every correct answer in the NDA exam. However, for each incorrect answer, there is a deduction of 0.83 marks as negative marking. Below are details of the marking scheme and number of questions:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total Number of Questions | 120 |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer | -0.83 |
| Total Duration of Mathematics Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
Download FREE EBOOK for NDA 2024 Preparation
NDA Syllabus for Paper II
The NDA Paper 2 syllabus includes the General Ability Test (GAT), covering topics like General Knowledge (GK), English, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, General Science, and Current Events. This paper consists of 150 questions: 50 questions from English and 100 questions from General Knowledge. The total marks for this section are 600. This syllabus outlines the subjects and topics candidates need to prepare for the NDA exam.
| Aspects | Details |
|---|---|
| Total marks for GAT paper | 600 marks |
| No. of questions | 150 |
| Total questions in English | 50 |
| Total questions in GK | 100 |
| Total Marks for English | 200 |
| Total Marks for GK | 400 |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks in each section |
| Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks in each section |
| Total Duration of GAT Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
English (Maximum Marks: 200)
The English language question paper is crafted to assess candidates comprehension and effective use of English. The syllabus consists Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Cohesion.
| Topic | No. of Questions | No. of Marks |
| Spotting Errors | 5 | 20 |
| Comprehension | 6 | 24 |
| Sentence Improvement | 10 | 40 |
| Ordering of Words in a Sentence | 9 | 36 |
| Selecting Words | 10 | 40 |
| Synonyms | 5 | 20 |
| Antonyms | 5 | 20 |
| Total | 50 | 200 |
English Topics For NDA Exam 2024
The NDA syllabus 2024 for English consists of various topics like grammar and its usage, comprehension and expression. Read the table below for the detailed understanding regarding the English topics for the exam.
| Topics | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Grammar and Usage | Parts of speech: Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb, Conjunction, Preposition, Interjection |
| Subject-verb agreement | |
| Tenses: Present, Past, Future | |
| Active and passive voice | |
| Coherence and unity: Theme, Idea, Paragraph, Sentence Structure | |
| Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word substitution, Idioms and Phrases, Words often confused | |
| Comprehension | Comprehension of a given passage |
| Drawing of inferences | |
| Use of vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word substitution, Idioms and Phrases, Words often confused | |
| Expression | Simple sentence structure |
| Punctuation: Comma, Full stop, Question Mark, Exclamation Mark, Apostrophe | |
| Conjunctions: Coordinating, Subordinating | |
| Adverbs and Prepositions | |
| Direct and indirect speech | |
| Comparison: Degrees of comparison | |
| Articles: Definite and Indefinite Articles | |
| Verbs: Auxiliary, Modal, Regular and Irregular verbs | |
| Sentences correction: Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement |
NDA GAT Syllabus (Maximum Marks: 400)
| NDA GAT Syllabus 2024 | ||
|
Physics
|
Chemistry
|
General Science
|
|
History
|
Geography
|
Current Affairs
|
The question paper on GAT will broadly cover the subjects: Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events.
| Topic | No. of Questions | No. of Marks |
| Physics | 23 | 92 |
| Chemistry | 16 | 64 |
| General Science | 11 | 44 |
| History & Freedom Movement | 16 | 64 |
| Current Affairs | 17 | 68 |
| Geography | 17 | 68 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
Section ‘A’ (Physics)
The questions in the physics section are asked from the topics like Mass, Weight, Volume, Pressure, Newton’s laws of Motion etc. Given below is the complete list of topics from which the questions are been asked in the NDA examination.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical Properties and States of Matter | Study of properties and different states of matter |
| Modes of transference of Heat | Various methods by which heat can be transferred |
| Mass | Measure of the amount of matter in an object |
| Sound waves and their properties | Characteristics and behavior of sound waves |
| Weight | Measure of the gravitational force acting on an object |
| Simple musical instruments | Overview of basic musical instruments and their functions |
| Volume | Measure of the amount of space occupied by an object |
| Rectilinear propagation of Light | Light traveling in straight lines without deviation |
| Density and Specific Gravity | Measures of mass per unit volume and relative density |
| Reflection and refraction | Phenomena where light changes direction upon interaction |
| Principle of Archimedes | Study of buoyancy and the principle of flotation |
| Spherical mirrors and Lenses | Characteristics and applications of mirrors and lenses |
| Pressure Barometer | Device used for measuring atmospheric pressure |
| Human Eye | Structure and function of the eye |
| Motion of objects | Study of objects in motion |
| Natural and Artificial Magnets | Properties and applications of natural and artificial magnets |
| Velocity and Acceleration | Concepts related to speed and rate of change of speed |
| Properties of a Magnet | Characteristics and behavior of magnets |
| Newton’s Laws of Motion | Fundamental principles governing motion of objects |
| Earth as a Magnet | Earth’s magnetic field and its properties |
| Force and Momentum | Concepts related to force and the motion it produces |
| Static and Current Electricity | Characteristics and behavior of static and current electricity |
| Parallelogram of Forces | Mathematical approach to vector addition of forces |
| Conductors and Non-conductors | Materials that allow or inhibit the flow of electricity |
| Stability and Equilibrium of bodies | Conditions required for a body to remain in a state of rest |
| Ohm’s Law | Relationship between voltage, current, and resistance |
| Gravitation | Study of the force of attraction between objects |
| Simple Electrical Circuits | Basic circuits and their components |
| Elementary ideas of work | Understanding of work and its definition |
| Heating, Lighting, and Magnetic effects of Current | Effects produced by electricity in various scenarios |
| Power and Energy | Concepts related to power and energy |
| Measurement of Electrical Power | Methods of measuring electrical power |
| Effects of Heat | Study of the effects produced by heat |
| Primary and Secondary Cells | Types of electrical cells and their characteristics |
| Measurement of Temperature and Heat | Methods and devices used to measure temperature and heat |
| Use of X-Rays | Applications and principles of X-rays |
| General Principles in the working of Simple Machines | Basic principles governing the operation of simple machines |
Section ‘B’ (Chemistry)
The Chemistry segment is the NDA examination consists questions from the topics like Elements, Mixtures and Compounds, Acids, Bases and Salts, Properties of matter etc. Consider the table given below in order to get the glimpse over the topics from which the questions are been asked.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon Dioxide | Methods of producing and characteristics of these gases |
| Oxidation and Reduction | Chemical processes involving the gain or loss of electrons |
| Acids, Bases, and Salts | Types of chemical compounds and their reactions |
| Carbon—different forms | Various allotropes of carbon |
| Physical and Chemical Changes | Differentiating between changes in state and chemical reactions |
| Fertilizers—Natural and Artificial | Types and uses of natural and synthetic fertilizers |
| Elements | Basic substances that cannot be broken down further by chemical means |
| Materials used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches, and Gunpowder | Raw materials and processes for manufacturing various substances |
| Mixtures and Compounds | Differentiating between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures |
| Elementary ideas about the structure of Atom | Basic concepts about the atomic structure |
| Symbols, Formulae, and simple Chemical Equations | Representations and basic balancing of chemical reactions |
| Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights | Measures of atomic and molecular masses |
| Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems) | Principles governing the combination of elements |
| Valency | Number of bonds an atom can form with other atoms |
| Properties of Air and Water | Characteristics and behaviors of air and water |
Section ‘C’ (General Science)
The General science is the category that consists of the general topics like Growth and Reproduction, basis of life, questions on food and balanced diet etc. All the topics from the General science section in the NDA syllabus are given below:
| General Science Syllabus For NDA |
|
Section ‘D’ (History, Freedom Movement etc.)
The Questions in this sections are majorly asked from History like Various movements, Indian constitution, Various plans in india, various revolutions etc. Given below is the list of the complete topics:
| History, Freedom Movement etc. Syllabus For NDA |
|
Section ‘E’ (Geography)
The question in this section are made from the topics like Origin of earth, latitude and longitudes, rocks, wind, cyclones etc. Check the list of topics given below to get the better understanding about this section.
| Geography Syllabus For NDA |
|
Section ‘F’ (Current Events)
Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in recent years. Current important world events. Prominent personalities—both Indian and International including those connected with cultural activities and sports.
NOTE: Out of the maximum marks assigned to part ‘B’ of this paper, questions on Sections ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ will carry approximately 25%, 15%, 10%, 20%, 20% and 10% weightages respectively.
|
Section/Subject
|
Percentage of Marks
|
|
Section A: Physics
|
25%
|
|
Section B: Chemistry
|
15%
|
|
Section C: General Science
|
10%
|
|
Section D: History/Freedom Movements
|
20%
|
|
Section E: Geography
|
20%
|
|
Section F: Current Events
|
10%
|
Paper 3: Intelligence and Personality Test
The SSB process comprises two stages: stage I and stage II. Candidates who successfully pass stage I can progress to stage II. Here’s an overview:
| Stage | Assessment |
|---|---|
| I | Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) |
| Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT) | |
| II | Interview |
| Group Testing Officer Tasks | |
| Psychology Tests | |
| Conference |
NDA SSB Syllabus 2024
NDA SSB Interview consists of two stages:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Screening Test | It involves verbal and non-verbal tests along with Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT). |
| Psychological Test | It consists of Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self Description Test (SD). |
| Group Testing Officers Test | It includes Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Individual Obstacles Task (IOT), Command Task, Snake race or Group Obstacle Race, Individual Lecture, and Final Group Task (FGT). |
| Personal Interview and Conference | The final part of Stage 2 involving individual interviews and a conference. |
NDA OIR Syllabus 2024
The NDA Syllabus 2024 for the OIR Test is given below:
| Verbal Test | Non-Verbal Test |
|---|---|
| Completion of Series | Figures |
| Analogies | Shorter and Taller Problems |
| Blood Relation | Locating Hidden Figure |
| Logical Venn Diagram | Figure Matrix |
| Odd one out | Paper Cutting |
| Jumbled Words | Problem on Dice |
| Classification of Data | Problem on Ranks |
| Coding-Decoding | Problem on Cubes |
| One-word Substitution | Interchanging 2 signs |
| Identification of Letters | Visualizing Patterns |
| Spatial Ability | Reconstruction of Test |
NDA Syllabus in Hindi
NDA (National Defence Academy) का सिलेबस दो भागों में बाँटा गया है – गणित और सामान्य योग्यता परीक्षण। गणित में भौतिकी, रसायन विज्ञान, और गणित के विभिन्न विषयों पर ध्यान केंद्रित है, जबकि सामान्य योग्यता परीक्षण में अंग्रेजी, सामाजिक अध्ययन, भूगोल, और सामान्य ज्ञान के परीक्षण होते हैं। इसके अलावा, भौतिकी, रसायन विज्ञान, सामान्य विज्ञान, सामाजिक अध्ययन, भूगोल, सामान्य ज्ञान, और अन्य विषयों पर आधारित आगामी परीक्षाओं के लिए तैयारी करने वाले उम्मीदवारों के लिए एनडीए सिलेबस बहुत उपयुक्त है।
What is NDA Qualification?
The basic educational requirements needed to be eligible for applying to the Army, Air Force, or Navy wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) is given below.
- For Army: Aspirants must be currently studying in or have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board.
- For Air Force & Navy: Candidates must be currently studying in or have passed Class 12 or equivalent with Mathematics and Physics as subjects.
NDA Last Minute Preparation Tips
Cracking the NDA exam in 1 month is challenging but achievable with focused preparation. Start by understanding the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
- Dedicate daily time for study, covering all subjects—Mathematics, General Ability Test (GAT), and English.
- Solve previous year papers and take mock tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
- Focus on weak areas and revise regularly.
- Stay disciplined, motivated and consistent in your efforts to increase your chances of success in the NDA exam within a month.
How to Prepare for NDA Syllabus 2024?
Preparing for the NDA exam efficiently requires effective strategies. Here are some tips to help you:
- Stay updated with the latest news from national and international sources by regularly reading newspapers and current affairs magazines.
- Focus on mastering the basic concepts of mathematics, including memorizing formulas and theorems, and revise them daily.
- Enhance your English vocabulary and grammar skills by reading books, newspapers, and magazines.
- Thoroughly understand the fundamental concepts of physics before advancing to more complex topics, with a focus on important topics like Ohm’s Law and Motion.
- Utilize flashcards or sticky notes to memorize essential formulas and reactions in chemistry, concentrating on topics such as Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding.
- Refer to NCERT books and other study materials for history and geography, using maps, diagrams, and charts to recall dates, patterns, and concepts.
All the Best!
