NDA 2 2026 Exam Analysis: UPSC conducted the NDA 2 exam on September 13, 2026. The NDA 2 2026 Exam Analysis helps candidates understand the level of the Mathematics and GAT papers. As per the paper discussion, the overall paper was easy to moderate. Mathematics was mostly easy, while GAT was also reported as easy to moderate. Several questions were based on previous year questions (PYQs), basic concepts, and topics covered in revision classes.
NDA 2 2026 exam analysis covered the questions related to the GAT and Mathematics sections. The paper mode is offline and includes most of the objective-type questions in the examination. Students need to face two sections in the NDA exam. It includes GAT and Maths. Around 270 MCQ questions, including 120 Maths and 150 GAT, are asked in the NDA examination.
|
NDA 2 2026 Exam Analysis Overview |
|
|
Exam Name |
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|
Exam Date |
September 13, 2026 |
|
Exam Mode |
Offline (Pen-and-Paper / OMR Based) |
|
Total Questions |
270 Multiple Choice Questions (120 Math + 150 GAT) |
|
Maximum Marks |
900 Marks (300 Math + 600 GAT) |
|
Duration |
5 Hours Total (2.5 Hours per Paper) |
|
Paper Structure |
• Paper I: Mathematics (300 Marks) • Paper II: General Ability Test (GAT) – English & GK (600 Marks) |
NDA 2 2026 paper tested basic concepts along with some questions that required more thinking. The paper was not made extremely difficult or extremely easy. A balance was maintained across the sections.
NDA 2 2026 GAT Analysis revealed that questions asked from the Current Affairs section were considered easy.
Current Affairs was easy.
Some questions were directly related to topics covered in recent revision classes.
Geography was also considered manageable.
Some Polity questions were easy.
History and other sections had a balanced level.
Candidates who had revised important topics properly could score well.
A score of around 300 marks in GAT was considered possible for well-prepared candidates based on the discussion.
NDA 2 2026 Maths Analysis included questions from basic formulas, properties, and concepts.
Trigonometry
Height and Distance
Properties of Triangles
Matrices and Determinants
Permutations and Combinations
Complex Numbers
Relations
Basic formula-based questions
Several questions were directly or closely based on PYQs. Around 20 to 30 questions were reported to be similar to previous year questions. Some questions even had the same type of options or values.
Around 20 questions out of 120 were considered more challenging, while the remaining questions could be attempted more easily by candidates with good preparation.
NDA 2 2026 Paper Difficulty Level was easy to moderate. The difficulty level may feel different to different candidates based on their preparation and time management.
The GAT paper was easy to moderate.
Current Affairs: Easy
Geography: Easy to Moderate
Polity: Easy
History: Moderate
Overall GAT: Easy to Moderate
The Current Affairs section was especially manageable for candidates who had revised recent important topics.
NDA 2 2026 Math was easy to moderate, with most questions based on familiar concepts.
Easy questions: Many
Moderate questions: Some
Difficult or time-consuming questions: Around 20
Overall difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Candidates with strong practice of PYQs and formulas had an advantage. Some students reported attempting around 70 to 80 questions.
NDA 2 2026 Mathematics paper included questions from several important areas. Some questions were directly based on known formulas and PYQs.
Height and Distance questions
Properties of Triangles
Trigonometric values and identities
Sine Rule and Cosine Rule
Trigonometric equations
Pythagorean triplets
Matrices and their properties
Determinants
Adjoint of a matrix
Symmetric and skew-symmetric matrices
Relations
Permutations and Combinations
Complex Numbers
NDA 2 2026 Expected CutOff is likely to remain close to the previous NDA cutoff range.
Since the paper was easy to moderate, the Mathematics sectional cutoff is not expected to fall because of a very difficult paper.
Difficulty level of both papers
Number of candidates
Number of vacancies
Overall performance of candidates
Written exam marks
UPSC's final cutoff calculation