UPSC NDA Syllabus: Complete Guide for NDA I Exam Preparation
The UPSC NDA & NA Examination is your stepping stone to a prestigious career in the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy (INA). Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), this exam tests candidates through a written examination followed by an SSB interview. To succeed, understanding the NDA Syllabus is crucial. This detailed, SEO-optimized guide covers the full syllabus for the written exam—Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT)—helping aspirants prepare effectively.
Last Updated: March 27, 2025
Overview of UPSC NDA Written Examination
Page Contents
The NDA written exam consists of two papers:
- Mathematics: Tests mathematical aptitude (10+2 level).
- General Ability Test (GAT): Assesses English proficiency and general knowledge.
Both papers feature objective-type questions with negative marking (1/3rd mark deducted per wrong answer, Page 2). Below is the detailed syllabus breakdown.
SEO Keywords: NDA Syllabus, UPSC NDA exam syllabus, NDA preparation.
UPSC NDA Syllabus: Subject-Wise Breakdown
1. Mathematics Syllabus
- Purpose: Evaluate problem-solving skills and mathematical understanding up to 12th standard (10+2 pattern, Page 7).
- Exam Weightage: 300 marks.
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
- Key Topics:
- Algebra:
- Sets, Venn diagrams, De Morgan’s laws.
- Relations, functions, quadratic equations.
- Permutations, combinations, binomial theorem.
- Logarithms and their applications.
- Matrices and Determinants:
- Types of matrices, operations (addition, multiplication).
- Determinants, inverse of a matrix, applications in solving equations.
- Trigonometry:
- Angles, trigonometric ratios, identities.
- Heights and distances, inverse trigonometric functions.
- Analytical Geometry (2D & 3D):
- Straight lines, circles, conic sections (parabola, ellipse, hyperbola).
- 3D geometry: Distance between points, direction cosines.
- Differential Calculus:
- Functions, limits, continuity, derivatives.
- Applications: Tangents, normals, maxima/minima.
- Integral Calculus:
- Integration, definite and indefinite integrals.
- Applications: Area under curves.
- Vector Algebra:
- Vectors, scalar and vector products.
- Applications in geometry and physics.
- Statistics and Probability:
- Mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation.
- Probability: Events, Bayes’ theorem, binomial distribution.
SEO Keywords: NDA Mathematics syllabus, UPSC NDA Maths topics, NDA I Maths preparation.
2. General Ability Test (GAT) Syllabus
- Purpose: Tests English proficiency and awareness of general knowledge, current affairs, and basic sciences (10+2 level, inferred).
- Exam Weightage: 600 marks.
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
- Sections: Divided into Part A (English) and Part B (General Knowledge).
Part A: English Syllabus
- Marks: 200 marks (approx.).
- Key Topics:
- Reading Comprehension.
- Grammar: Spotting errors, sentence improvement.
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases.
- Fill in the Blanks, Cloze Test.
- Sentence Rearrangement (Para Jumbles).
Part B: General Knowledge Syllabus
- Marks: 400 marks (approx.).
- Key Topics:
- Physics (10+2 level):
- Mechanics: Motion, laws of motion, work, energy, power.
- Heat, thermodynamics, optics, electricity, magnetism.
- Waves, sound, and basic properties of matter.
- Chemistry (10+2 level):
- Elements, compounds, mixtures.
- Chemical reactions, acids, bases, salts.
- Carbon compounds, periodic table basics.
- General Science:
- Biology: Cell structure, human body, plants, diseases.
- Environment: Ecosystem, biodiversity.
- History:
- Indian History: Ancient, medieval, modern (freedom struggle).
- World History: Key events, revolutions.
- Geography:
- Physical Geography: Earth, climate, resources.
- Indian Geography: Rivers, mountains, agriculture.
- Indian Polity & Economy:
- Constitution, governance, Panchayati Raj.
- Economic concepts, budget, planning.
- Current Affairs:
- National/international events.
- Defense: Military exercises, ranks, awards.
- Static GK:
- Sports, books, authors, important days.
SEO Keywords: NDA GAT syllabus, UPSC NDA English syllabus, NDA General Knowledge topics.
UPSC NDA Exam Pattern
The NDA written exam follows this structure:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Mathematics | 300 | 2.5 hours | 120 |
| Paper 2 | General Ability Test | 600 | 2.5 hours | 150 |
| Total | 900 | 5 hours | 270 |
- Question Type: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark penalty per wrong answer (Page 2).
- Medium: English and Hindi (inferred standard practice).
SEO Keywords: NDA exam pattern, UPSC NDA marking scheme, NDA I syllabus details.
Key Features of the NDA Syllabus
- Mathematics: Focuses on 10+2-level concepts, requiring strong fundamentals and practice.
- GAT: Combines language skills (English) with a broad knowledge base, testing both aptitude and awareness.
- Relevance: Aligned with eligibility criteria (12th pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics for Air Force/Navy wings, Page 7).
How to Access the Official Syllabus?
The UPSC notice references the detailed syllabus (Appendix I is not provided in OCR but is standard across NDA exams). Visit upsc.gov.in or upsconline.gov.in for the official notification (Page 1) and updates.
SEO Keywords: NDA official syllabus, UPSC NDA exam notice, NDA syllabus PDF.
Conclusion
The UPSC NDA Syllabus for the written exam is your roadmap to cracking this competitive test. With Mathematics (300 marks) and GAT (600 marks) forming the core, aspirants must master analytical and general awareness skills. Start your preparation with this comprehensive syllabus guide and aim for the 406 vacancies (Page 4) in NDA and INA. Stay updated via upsc.gov.in and gear up for success!