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The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam is a competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select candidates for admission into the National Defence Academy. The National Defence Academy is a joint services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force train together before they go on to their respective service academies.

The NDA exam is conducted twice a year, usually in the months of April and September. The exam consists of a written test followed by an SSB (Services Selection Board) interview. The written test consists of two papers - Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics paper tests the candidates' mathematical aptitude, while the GAT paper tests their English language skills, general knowledge, and reasoning ability.

To be eligible for the NDA exam, candidates must be between 16.5 to 19.5 years of age and must have completed their 10+2 education from a recognized board. Candidates who clear the written test are called for the SSB interview, which consists of various physical, psychological, and group tasks to assess the candidates' suitability for a career in the armed forces.

Successful candidates who clear the NDA exam are admitted to the National Defence Academy for a three-year course, after which they go on to their respective service academies for further training. A career in the Indian Armed Forces is considered to be one of the most prestigious and respected careers in India.

NDA Exam 2023 Notification

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued the notification of National Defence Academy NDA I Exam 2023, all the candidates who are interested in this recruitment exam and fulfill the eligibility can apply online from 21 December 2022 to 10 January 2023.

NDA/NA Exam 2023 Notification pdf click here

Remember these dates

• Application Begin : 21/12/2022

• Last Date for Apply Online : 10/01/2023 Upto 06:00 PM Only

• Pay Exam Fee Last Date : 10/01/2023

• NDA I Exam Date : 16/04/2023

"for sure selection in the upcoming NDA & NA Exam" Complete Study Notes available in English & Hindi medium "DIG Study Materials are highly used & recommended by NDA Toppers" Pay us via gpay or phonepe or Paytm on 8756987953 Plz shared your postal address (for hard copy); OR email for pdf along with payment screenshot on same number

Study Materials hard copy (Hindi/Eng)

NDA Combo Pack hard copy @ 2000/- NDA (I) Exam Mathematics study notes hard copy @ 1000/- NDA General Ability Test (including Part A & B) Study Notes hard copy @ 1000/-

ebook pdf study materials (Hindi/Eng)

NDA (I) Exam study notes pdf @ 1000/- a) Mathematics (01) pdf @ 500/- b) General Ability Test (including Part A & B) pdf @ 500/- Part A- English Part B- General Knowledge (Current affairs, questions from Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies - like History, Geography, Geography)

UPSC NDA Pre Exam Crash Course (Hindi/Eng)

UPSC NDA Exam Crash Course (included Mathematics, English & General Knowledge) pdf available @ 900/-

Topicwise Notes pdf for NDA Exam (Hindi/Eng)

NDA (Mathematics) pdf @ 500/- NDA (English) pdf @ 500/- NDA (General Knowledge) pdf @ 500/-

NDA exam test series (Hindi/Eng)

NDA (Mathematics & General Knowledge) test series pdf @ 500/-

NDA Exam Selection Procedure

The Union Public Service Commission shall prepare a list of candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the written examination as fixed by the commission at their discretion.

Such candidates shall appear before a Services Selection Board for Intelligence and Personality Test where candidates for the Army/Navy wings of the NDA and 10+2 Cadet Entry.

Scheme of Indian Naval Academy will be assessed on Officers Potentiality and those for the Air Force in Pilot Aptitude Test and for Officers Potentiality.

PABT applicable to candidates with Air Force as first choice would also be conducted for all SSB qualified candidates with one of the choice as Air Force subject to their eligibility and if they are so willing. 

Two-stage selection procedure based on Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test has been introduced at Selection Centers/Air Force Selection Boards.

All the candidates will be put to stage one test on first day of reporting at Selection Centers/Air Force Selection Boards.

Only those candidates who qualify at stage one will be admitted to the second stage/remaining tests.

Those candidates who qualify stage II will be required to submit the original certificates along with one photocopy each of (I) original matriculation pass certificate or equivalent in support of date of birth, (ii) original 10+2 pass certificate or equivalent in support of educational qualification.

The candidates applying for the examination should ensure that they fulfil all eligibility conditions for admission to the examination.

Their admission at all the stages of the examination will be purely provisional subject to satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions. 

The subjects of the written examination, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject will be as follows: 

a) Mathematics (01) - 2-½ Hours (300 Marks) 

b) General Ability Test (02) - 2-½ Hours (600 Marks) 

Total 900 Marks

NDA Exam Marking Scheme

NDA Exam consists of two sections- Mathematics and General ability test.

• In Mathematics section, there will be total 120 questions of 300 marks.

• All questions will carry 2.5 marks each, which will only be allotted for choosing the correct answer. 0.83 Marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

• General ability test will comprise 600 marks; 200 marks are allotted to English and 400 marks in total are allotted to General Knowledge.

• In this section, there will be total 150 questions, 50 from English and 100 from General Knowledge.

• Candidates will be awarded 4 marks for each correct answer in this section.

• A deduction of 1.33 Marks will be there for each wrong answer. There will be no mark for unanswered questions.

NDA Exam Pattern for Mathematics and General Ability Test

NDA 2019 was conducted in offline mode and all the questions was of MCQ type. The exam is held in both English and Hindi language. Candidates are asked to attempt two sections- Mathematics and General Ability Test. 

Other details related to exam pattern from both the sections have been tabulated below:

NDA Exam Pattern Highlights

The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only. The question papers (Test Booklets) OF MATHEMATICS AND PART "b" OF GENERAL ABILITY TESTS WILL BE SET BILINGUALLY IN HINDI AS WELL AS English.

Given below is the bifurcation of both the sections of NDA Exam. Marks allotted to each section and sub-sections have been expounded below :

In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions involving the metric system of Weights and Measures only will be set. 

Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write answers for them. 

The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects at the exam .

The candidates are not permitted to use calculator or Mathematical or logarithmic table for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets). They should not therefore, bring the same inside the Examination Hall 

The paper will be of both language Hindi & English. Answering Method: Each question will have four optional answer candidates have to choose the right one only.

There will be negative marking for incorrect response given by candidates in the objective type questions. Candidates use only black ball pen to mark answers.

NDA Exam Syllabus

Mathematics

NDA Syllabus for Mathematics

Algebra

Matrices and Determinants

Trigonometry

Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions 

Differential Calculus

Integral Calculus and Differential Equations

Vector Algebra

Statistics and Probability

General Ability

NDA Syllabus for General Ability Test

Paper 2 in NDA i.e. the General Ability Test judges a candidate’s basic awareness and English proficiency. This section is further divided into two parts, English and General Knowledge.

• Total marks awarded to Paper 2 are 600.

• This paper must be completed in 2.5 hours.

• Here is the subject-wise NDA Syllabus for Paper 2.

Part A- English 

• The English portion of the entrance test is designed in a way to judge a candidate's knowledge of the basic grammar and vocabulary.

• It judges a candidate’s ability to form correct sentences and use of words.

• The syllabus of the English paper ranges from various aspects like the knowledge and usage of grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and his mental ability to remember and place the meaning of words in their proper places.

• Marks allotted to this section are 300.

Part B- General Knowledge

The question paper on General Knowledge will cover current affairs, questions from Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events. NDA syllabus of each topic is given below. The paper aims to check knowledge and intelligent understanding of the subject.

Physics Section syllabus

The table below includes the important topics asked in Physics section of the General Ability Test:

States of Matter and its properties Light and Sound (properties)

Motion and Laws of Motion Magnet and its properties

Work, Energy and Power Current and Electricity

Modes of Transfer of Heat and its effect General Principles of Working of Simple Pendulum, Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightening Conductors, Safety Fuses

Chemistry Section syllabus

The basic knowledge of Chemistry and various chemicals is tested in the chemistry section. The topics to be considered for preparation are given below:

Physical and Chemical Changes Properties of Oxygen, Hydrogen etc. with Oxidation and Reduction

Air and Water (properties) Carbon and its forms

Chemical equations and Laws of Chemical Combination Atom and its structure (details)

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures Fertilizers

Acid, Bases and Salts Use of materials for preparation of different chemicals

General Science Section syllabus

The topics for general science are tabulated below. The candidates must prepare according to the NDA Syllabus to obtain a good score in the NDA exam.

Basic Unit of Life: Cell Reproduction in Plants and Animals

Living and Non-Living Things Human Body and Life processes

Epidemics: causes and preventions Food and Balanced Diet

Solar System Achievement of Eminent Scientists

History Section syllabus

The important topics covered in the history section of the general ability test in NDA is given in the table below:

Indian History: Culture and Civilisation

Constitution and Administration of India

Nationalism in India

Government of India at various levels

Five Year plans of India

Renaissance and Discovery

French, Russian and Industrial Revolution United nations and Concept of one world

Democracy in India Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi

Geography Section syllabus

Candidates must prepare the following topics thoroughly for Geography section in NDA 2019:

Earth and its Origin and Movement (latitudes and longitudes) Tides and Oceanic Currents
Rocks and Its classification Atmosphere and Atmospheric Pressure

Types of Climate Regional Geography of India

Agricultural and Industries Transportation and Trading routes of India

Imports and Exports of India

Current Affairs Section syllabus

Candidates must follow the latest newspapers and magazines with information about the current events across the country and the world both. The topics to be prepared to qualify in this section with good marks are tabulated below:

Important and Recent Events in India Current and Important World Events

Important Indian or Non-Indian Personalities related to Cultural Activities and Sports.

NDA Interview

After qualifying the NDA entrance test, all candidates have to appear for NDA Interview. Details are as below:

Candidates are advised to go through the syllabus of the examination along with NDA Exam Pattern. It will help them to have better preparations for both Entrance Test as well as Interview.