National Defence Academy (NDA) is the Joint Services academy of the Indian Armed Forces. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam every year. NDA is a national-level exam conducted twice a year. This is one of the most sought-after defence jobs in India to join the Defence Forces as an Officer by male candidates. The selection of eligible males & females into NDA will be done on the basis of the written test followed by the Personality Test.
NDA Syllabus 2023
NDA written examination is divided into two papers namely Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The boys and girls who are seeking to apply for NDA must begin their preparation for the written exam by following the detailed NDA Syllabus which has been discussed in this article. The NDA 1 Exam is to be conducted offline on 16th April 2023 and NDA 2 Exam will be held on 03rd September 2023 as per the UPSC Calendar 2023.
Overview
Check the important points of the NDA 2023 Syllabus and Exam Pattern in the table below.
| Name of the Exam | National Defence Academy (NDA) |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission, UPSC. |
| Frequency Of Exam | Twice in a Year (April & September 2023) |
| Selection Process | Written Test consisting of Objective Type QuestionsIntelligence & Personality Test (SSB) |
| Mode of exam | Offline |
| Papers in NDA Exam | MathematicsGeneral Ability Test |
| Marks Segregation | Mathematics: 300 MarksGAT: 600 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | Mathematics: 120GAT: 150 |
| Negative Marking | Mathematics: -0.83GAT: -1.33 marks |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours For Each Paper (5 hours total) |
| Language of Question Paper | English & Hindi English Language paper has to be attempted in English. |
NDA 1 Notification 2023 Out for 395 Vacancies- Click to Check
NDA 1 2023 Application Form- Click to Apply
NDA Exam Date 2023 Out- Click to Check
NDA Exam Pattern 2023
Before getting into the NDA Syllabus let us have a look at the NDA Exam Pattern. The mathematics paper has 120 questions of 300 marks and GAT will have English and GK Papers of 200 & 400 marks respectively.
NDA Mathematics Exam Pattern
| Paper I- Mathematics | |
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 |
| Marks awarded for Correct answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks deducted for the wrong answer | -0.83 |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
General Ability Test Exam Pattern
| Paper-II- General Ability Test | |
| Total Marks | 600 marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 150 |
| No. of questions in English Section | 50 |
| No. Of questions in General knowledge Section | 100 |
| Maximum Marks for English | 200 marks |
| Maximum Marks for G.K. | 400 marks |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks in both sections |
| Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks in both sections |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
NDA Exam Pattern for SSB Interview
After clearing the written exam of NDA, candidates have to appear for the SSB Interview rounds. The pattern of the NDA Interviews is as mentioned below:
| NDA – SSB Interview Pattern | ||
| 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 | GDGPEPGTHGTIoTCommand Task Snake race/Group Obstacle Race Individual lecture fit | |
| Personal Interview & Conference | – |
NDA Previous Year Question Paper PDFs- Click to Download
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NDA Syllabus 2023
After getting to know the NDA Exam Pattern it is important for the candidates to know the Syllabus of NDA Exam. The NDA Syllabus is discussed below.
NDA Mathematics Syllabus
The chapters covered for NDA Maths Syllabus are given in the table below.
| Mathematics | |
| Topic | Topic-wise Syllabus |
| Algebra | Sets, Venn diagrams, De Morgan laws, Cartesian product, relation, equivalence relation. Real numbers, Complex numbers, Modulus, Cube roots, Conversion of a number in Binary system to Decimals, and vice-versa. Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic progressions. Quadratic equations, Linear inequations, Permutation and Combination, Binomial theorem, and Logarithms. |
| Calculus | Concept of a real-valued function, domain, range, and graph of a function. Composite functions, one-to-one, onto, and inverse functions. The notion of limit, Standard limits, Continuity of functions, algebraic operations on continuous functions. Derivative of function at a point, geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative-application. Derivatives of sum, product, and quotient of functions, a derivative of a function concerning another function, the derivative of a composite function. Second-order derivatives. Increasing and decreasing functions. Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima |
| 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. |
| 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 differential equations, solution of the first order, and first-degree differential equations of various types—examples. Application in problems of growth and decay. |
| Trigonometry | Angles and their measures in degrees and radians. Trigonometric ratios. Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae. Multiple and Sub-multiple angles. Inverse trigonometric functions. Applications-Height and distance, properties of triangles. |
| Vector Algebra | Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude, and direction of a vector. Unit and null vectors, the addition of vectors, scalar multiplication of a vector, scalar product, or dot product of two vectors. Vector product or cross product of two vectors. Applications—work done by a force and moment of a force and in geometrical problems. |
| Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension | Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system. Distance formula. Equation of a line in various forms. The angle between two lines. Distance of a point from a line. Equation of a circle in standard and a general form. Standard forms of parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Eccentricity and axis of a conic. Point in a three-dimensional space, the distance between two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation of a plane and a line in various forms. The angle between two lines and the angle between two planes. Equation of a sphere. |
| Statistics and Probability | 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 Binomial distribution. |
The topic-wise question distribution in Maths
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Calculus | 20-25 |
| Quadratic equation | 20-15 |
| Matrices & Determinants | 30 |
| Probability | 10 |
| Trigonometry | 30 |
| Complex number | 10-15 |
NDA General Ability Test Syllabus
The General ability test comprises two papers English and General Knowledge. The English paper consists of 200 Marks while the General Knowledge is of 400 Marks.
NDA Syllabus- English
The question paper in English will be designed to test the candidate’s understanding of English. The syllabus covers various aspects like as given below:
| Topic | No. of Questions | No. of Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Spotting Errors | 5 | 20 |
| Comprehension | 6 | 24 |
| Selecting Words | 10 | 40 |
| Ordering of Words in a Sentence | 9 | 36 |
| Sentence Improvement | 10 | 40 |
| Antonyms | 5 | 20 |
| Synonyms | 5 | 20 |
| Total | 50 | 200 |
NDA Syllabus- General Knowledge
Check the topic-wise number of questions and marks distribution in the table below.
| Topic | No. of Questions | No. of Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 23 | 92 |
| Chemistry | 16 | 64 |
| General Science | 11 | 44 |
| History & Freedom Movement | 16 | 64 |
| Geography | 17 | 68 |
| Current Events | 17 | 68 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
NDA Syllabus- Physics
| NDA Syllabus For Physics | |
| Physical Properties and States of Matter Modes of transference of Heat Mass, Weight, Volume, Sound waves and their properties Simple musical instruments Rectilinear propagation of Light Density and Specific Gravity Reflection and refraction Principle of Archimedes Spherical mirrors and LensesPressure Barometer Human Eye Motion of objects Natural and Artificial Magnets Velocity and Acceleration Properties of a Magnet Newton’s Laws of Motion Earth as a Magnet Force and Momentum Static and Current Electricity Parallelogram of Forces Conductors and Non-conductors Stability and Equilibrium of bodies Ohm’s Law Gravitation Simple Electrical Circuits Elementary ideas of work Heating, Lighting, and Magnetic effects of CurrentPower and Energy Measurement of Electrical Power Effects of Heat Primary and Secondary Cells Measurement of Temperature and HeatUse of X-Rays General Principles in the working of Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightning Conductors, Safety Fuses. |
NDA Syllabus- Chemistry
| NDA Syllabus For Chemistry | |
| Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon Dioxide, Oxidation, and Reduction. Acids, bases and salts. Carbon— different forms Physical and Chemical Changes Fertilizers—Natural and Artificial Elements The material used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches, and Gunpowder Mixtures and Compounds Elementary ideas about the structure of Atom Symbols, Formulae, and simple Chemical Equation Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems)Valency Properties of Air and Water |
NDA Syllabus- General Science
| NDA Syllabus For General Science | |
| Common Epidemics, their causes, and prevention Difference between the living and non-living Food—Source of Energy for man Basis of Life—Cells, Protoplasms, and Tissues Constituents of food Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals Balanced Diet Elementary knowledge of the Human Body and its important organs The Solar System—Meteors and Comets, Eclipses. Achievements of Eminent Scientists |
NDA Syllabus- History, Freedom Movement
| NDA Syllabus For History | |
| Forces shaping the modern world Renaissance Exploration and Discovery; A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation Freedom Movement in India French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and Russian RevolutionWar of American Independence, Impact of Science and Technology on SocietyElementary study of Indian Constitution and Administration Concept of one World Elementary knowledge of Five Year Plans of IndiaUnited Nations, Panchsheel, Panchayati Raj, Democracy, Socialism, and CommunismRole of India in the present world Co-operatives and Community DevelopmentBhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare StateBasic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi |
NDA Syllabus- Geography
| NDA Syllabus For Geography | |
| The Earth, its shape and size Ocean Currents and Tides Atmosphere and its composition Latitudes and LongitudesTemperature and Atmospheric Pressure, Planetary Winds, Cyclones, and Anticyclones; Humidity; Condensation and PrecipitationConcept of time Types of ClimateInternational Date Line Major Natural Regions of the World Movements of Earth and their effects Regional Geography of India Climate, Natural vegetation. Mineral and Power resources Location and distribution of agricultural and Industrial activities Origin of Earth. Rocks and their classification Important Sea ports and main sea, land, and air routes of India Weathering—Mechanical and Chemical, Earthquakes and Volcanoes Main items of Imports and Exports of India |
Current Events
| NDA Syllabus For Current Events | |
| Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in recent years Prominent personalities of both Indian and International level, Cultural activities and sports activities, Current important world events. |
Intelligence and Personality Test
The SSB procedure consists of two stages. Only those candidates who clear written exam are permitted to appear for SSB round. The details o SSB exam are given below:
| NDA SSB Personality Test | |
|---|---|
| Stage I | Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT). |
| Stage II | Interview (IO)Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO)Psychology Tests (Psych)Conference |
The various tests of IO, GTO, and Psychological are designed to bring out the presence/absence of Officer Like Qualities and their trainability in a candidate. Accordingly, candidates are Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.
UPSC CDS Syllabus & Exam Pattern
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NDA- FAQs
Q1. How many stages are there in the NDA exam?
Q2. Who many written papers in the first stage of the NDA exam?
Q3. How many sections are there in General Ability Test (GAT)?
Q4. What is the marks distribution in the NDA exam?
Q5. Will UPSC conduct the NDA exam offline or online?
