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NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF, Subject-wise Topics, Maths, GAT & Exam Pattern

NDA Syllabus 2026 covers Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) subjects including English, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography and Current Affairs. Check the latest UPSC NDA syllabus PDF, exam pattern, marking scheme, Army Wing syllabus, Hindi syllabus and subject-wise preparation strategy.

authorImageKanak Joshi9 Jun, 2026
NDA Syllabus 2026

NDA Syllabus 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the NDA 1 2026 syllabus along with the official notification. Candidates preparing for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination should thoroughly understand the latest NDA syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, and subject-wise topics before starting preparation.

The NDA written examination consists of two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The GAT section includes English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs. Candidates can also check the NDA syllabus 2026 in Hindi, NDA syllabus PDF, subject-wise weightage, and stream-wise preparation guidance for PCM, PCB, Arts, and Commerce students.

How Many Subjects Are There in NDA Exam?

The NDA written exam consists of two papers:

Paper Subjects Covered Marks
Mathematics Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, Probability and more 300
General Ability Test (GAT) English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Current Affairs 600

The total marks of the NDA written examination are 900. Candidates who qualify for the written examination are called for the SSB Interview, which carries an additional 900 marks.

Candidates searching for NDA syllabus 2026 PDF, NDA syllabus in Hindi, NDA English syllabus, NDA Physics syllabus, NDA Army Wing syllabus, and NDA syllabus for PCM or Arts students can find all details below.

UPSC NDA Syllabus 2026 Overview

Candidates should check the UPSC NDA syllabus 2026 and exam pattern before starting the preparation. The official syllabus has been detailed in the NDA Notification 2026. Here are the key highlights of the NDA exam syllabus 2026 shared below, taken from the previous year's NDA syllabus for the reference of the candidates.

NDA Syllabus 2026 Overview
Exam Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission
Exam Name National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination, 2026
Frequency Twice a Year
Exam Mode Offline
NDA Subjects Mathematics and General Ability Test
Maximum Marks 900
Negative Marking 1/3rd marks
Exam Duration 2 ½ hours for each paper
Official Website upsc.gov.in

NDA Syllabus 2026 Important Topics

NDA exam syllabus 2026 is divided into two subjects: Mathematics and General Ability Tests. Moreover, the NDA General Ability Test syllabus 2026 is divided into two sub-parts: English and General Knowledge. The NDA 2026 subject-wise syllabus covers Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography, and Current Events.

NDA Mathematics Syllabus (Chapter-wise)

The NDA maths syllabus 2026 comprises various sections, i.e. Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Vector Algebra, and Statistics and Probability. The NDA Maths & GAT syllabus 2026 is provided in detail in the official notification.

NDA Syllabus 2026 for Mathematics
Subject UPSC NDA Maths Syllabus 2026
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 inequalities of two variables by graphs. Permutation and Combination. Binomial theorem and its applications. Logarithms and their 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 radians. Trigonometrical ratios. Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae. Multiple and Sub-multiple angles. Inverse trigonometric functions. Applications-Height and distance, properties of triangles.
Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions 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 general form. Standard forms of parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Eccentricity and axis of a conic. 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.
Differential 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—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 concerning 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. A general and particular solution of differential equations, solution of the first order, and first-degree differential equations of various types—examples. Application to 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. The vector product or cross product of two vectors. Application work is done by a force and the moment of a force, and in geometrical problems
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, associated sample space, mutually exclusive and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of events. Complementary, elementary, and composite events. Definition of probability—classic and statistical—examples. Elementary theorems on probability—simple problems. Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem—simple problems. Random variable as a function on a sample space. Binomial distribution, examples of random experiments giving rise to Binomial distribution

NDA General Ability Test (GAT) - English + General Knowledge

NDA General Ability Test Syllabus 2026 is divided into two parts: English and General Knowledge. The NDA question paper in English will be designed to assess the candidate’s understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. The NDA English syllabus covers various aspects, such as Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension, and cohesion in extended text, to assess the candidate’s proficiency in English. The NDA General Knowledge syllabus will broadly cover the subjects, i.e. Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography, and Current Events. Check the detailed NDA Syllabus 2026 for the General Ability Test shared below for reference.

NDA GAT Syllabus 2026
Subject NDA Important Topics
English
  • Spotting Errors
  • Comprehension
  • Selecting Words
  • Synonyms
  • Antonyms
  • Sentence Improvements
  • Ordering of Words in a Sentence, etc.
Physics
  • Physical Properties and States of Matter, Mass, Weight, Volume, Density, and Specific Gravity, the Principle of Archimedes, and the Pressure Barometer.
  • Motion of objects, Velocity and Acceleration, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Force and Momentum, Parallelogram of Forces, Stability and Equilibrium of bodies, Gravitation, elementary ideas of work, Power and Energy. Effects of Heat, Measurement of Temperature and Heat, change of State and Latent Heat, Modes of transference of Heat. Sound waves and their properties, Simple musical instruments. Rectilinear propagation of Light, Reflection, and refraction. Spherical Mirrors and Lenses, Human Eye.
  • Natural and Artificial Magnets, Properties of a Magnet, Earth as a Magnet.
  • Static and Current Electricity, conductors and Nonconductors, Ohm’s Law, Simple Electrical Circuits, Heating, Lighting and Magnetic effects of Current,
  • Measurement of Electrical Power, Primary and Secondary Cells, Use of X-Rays. General Principles in the working of the following: 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.
Chemistry
  • Physical and Chemical changes. Elements, Mixtures and Compounds, Symbols, Formulae and simple Chemical Equations, Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems). Properties of Air and Water
  • Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide, Oxidation and Reduction. Acids, bases, and salts. Carbon—different forms. Fertilisers—Natural and Artificial. Material used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches, and gunpowder. Elementary ideas about the structure of an Atom, Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights, Valency
General Science
  • The difference between living and nonliving things. The basis of Life—cells, Protoplasms, and Tissues. Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals.
  • Elementary knowledge of the Human Body and its vital organs. Common Epidemics, their causes, and prevention.
  • Food is a source of Energy for man. Its constituents include a balanced Diet. The Solar System includes meteors, comets, and Eclipses. Eminent Scientists have achieved many achievements.
History, Freedom Movement, etc.
  • A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation.
  • Freedom Movement in India. Elementary study of the Indian Constitution and Administration. Elementary knowledge of the Five-Year Plans of India. Panchayati Raj, Co-operatives and Community Development. Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare State, Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • Forces shaping the modern world: the Renaissance, Exploration and Discovery, War of American Independence. French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and Russian Revolution. Impact of Science and Technology on Society. Concept of one World, United Nations, Panchsheel, Democracy, Socialism and Communism. Role of India in the present world.
Geography
  • The Earth, its shape and size. Lattitudes and Longitudes, Concept of time. International Date Line. Movements of Earth and their effects.
  • Origin of Earth. Rocks and their classification; Weathering—Mechanical and Chemical, Earthquakes and Volcanoes. Ocean Currents and Tides, Atmosphere and its composition; Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure, Planetary Winds, Cyclones and Anti-cyclones;
  • Humidity, Condensation and Precipitation, Types of Climate, Major Natural Regions of the World. Regional Geography of India—Climate, Natural vegetation. Mineral and Power resources; location and distribution of agricultural and Industrial activities. Important Sea ports and main sea, land, and air routes of India. Main items of Imports and Exports of India.
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

NDA Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates should check the NDA Exam Pattern 2026 to get an insight into the exam format, number of questions, maximum marks, number of sections, and the marking scheme followed by officials. Familiarity with the UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 will help them align their strategy with the exam requirements. Check the detailed NDA Exam Pattern 2026 for Mathematics and General Ability Test shared below.

NDA Exam Pattern 2026 for Maths & GAT
Subject Mathematics General Ability Test
Total Number of Questions 120 150
Maximum Marks 300 600
Marks for Correct Answer 2.5 mark 4 mark
Marks for Incorrect Answer -0.83 mark -1.33 mark
Duration 2.5 hours 2.5 hours
NDA Exam Pattern 2026 for SSB Test/Interview
Subject Total
SSB Test/Interview 900

NDA Subject-wise Weightage 2026

Understanding the subject-wise weightage helps candidates prioritise preparation based on scoring opportunities and previous trends.

NDA Mathematics Weightage

Topic

Expected Importance

Algebra

High

Trigonometry

High

Analytical Geometry

High

Differential Calculus

Moderate to High

Integral Calculus

Moderate

Vector Algebra

Moderate

Statistics & Probability

Moderate

NDA English Syllabus 2026

The NDA English syllabus is designed to evaluate a candidate's vocabulary, grammar, comprehension skills, sentence formation, and overall understanding of English language usage.

Important topics include:

  • Spotting Errors

  • Sentence Improvement

  • Synonyms and Antonyms

  • Ordering of Words

  • Vocabulary

  • Comprehension

  • Grammar and Usage

  • Cohesion in Extended Text

NDA Physics Syllabus 2026

The NDA Physics syllabus includes concepts from Class 11 and 12 level science. Questions are generally conceptual and application-based.

Important topics include:

  • Motion and Laws of Motion

  • Force and Momentum

  • Gravitation

  • Heat and Thermodynamics

  • Light and Reflection

  • Sound Waves

  • Electricity

  • Magnetism

  • Human Eye

  • X-Rays

  • Electrical Circuits

NDA Chemistry Syllabus 2026

The Chemistry section tests fundamental scientific concepts relevant to everyday applications and basic chemical reactions.

Important topics include:

  • Physical and Chemical Changes

  • Elements, Mixtures and Compounds

  • Chemical Equations

  • Acids, Bases and Salts

  • Fertilisers

  • Atomic Structure

  • Valency

  • Carbon and its Forms

  • Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen

NDA History Syllabus 2026

History questions are asked through the General Knowledge section of GAT.

Major topics include:

  • Ancient Indian History

  • Medieval India

  • Modern India

  • Indian Freedom Movement

  • Constitution and Administration

  • Panchayati Raj

  • National Integration

  • Renaissance

  • French Revolution

  • Industrial Revolution

  • United Nations

NDA Geography Syllabus 2026

The Geography syllabus covers physical geography, Indian geography and world geography.

Important topics include:

  • Earth and Solar System

  • Latitude and Longitude

  • Earthquakes and Volcanoes

  • Atmosphere

  • Climate

  • Ocean Currents

  • Natural Vegetation

  • Indian Agriculture

  • Mineral Resources

  • Transport and Trade

NDA GK Syllabus 2026

The NDA General Knowledge section consists of Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.

Candidates should regularly follow national and international current events, government schemes, sports, defence developments, and important appointments.

NDA GAT Weightage

Subject

Expected Importance

English

High

Physics

High

Chemistry

Moderate

General Science

Moderate

History

Moderate

Geography

Moderate

Current Affairs

High

Candidates should focus on English, Physics, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Current Affairs, as these areas frequently contribute significantly to the overall score.

NDA SSB (Intelligence & Personality Tests) short primer

Apart from written exams, the NDA exam syllabus 2026 includes an SSB Interview covering OIR tests, PPDT, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Personal Interview.

UPSC NDA Syllabus 2026 for SSB
Subject Important Topics
Stage I
  • Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests
  • Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT)
Stage II
  • Interview
  • Group Testing Officer Tasks
  • Psychology Tests
  • Conference

Check all the related links of the NDA 2026 exam below and strategise the preparation accordingly.

 

NDA Exam 2026 Other Related Links 
NDA notification 2026 NDA Application Form 2026
  NDA Vacancy 2026 NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 
NDA Syllabus 2026 NDA Exam Date 2026
NDA Important Questions 2026 NDA Admit Card 2026
NDA Previous Year Question Papers NDA Selection Process 2026
NDA Cut Off 2026 NDA Preparation Tips

Who should focus on which subjects?

  • PCM / Science students: Prioritise Maths + Physics + Chemistry. Use NCERTs (Class 11–12) and NDA-specific practice.

  • Commerce / Arts (without Maths) candidates: Check the official notification for eligibility & “without-maths” options (Army wing may permit). If eligible, emphasise GAT (English + GK) and optional domain knowledge.

  • Hindi-medium aspirants: Provide Hindi PDF and bilingual headings/briefs. (Map: nda syllabus in Hindi queries.)

Practical preparation plan 

  1. Months 1–3: Complete NCERTs for Maths basics; topic-wise notes for algebra, geometry, calculus. Daily 1-hour problem practice.

  2. Months 4–6: Begin timed topic tests; GAT — daily reading (editorials) + one comprehension practice. Build vocabulary (15 new words/day).

  3. Months 7–9: Full-length mocks once a week; analyse mistakes; SSB basics (PPDT practice) after mocks show steady improvement.

  4. Last 6 weeks: Revision of formula sheets, important GK facts, practice previous-year papers under timed conditions.

NDA Syllabus 2026 in Hindi

Candidates searching for NDA Syllabus 2026 in Hindi can refer to the official UPSC notification and bilingual study material. The syllabus remains the same for all candidates irrespective of language preference.

The NDA Hindi medium syllabus includes:

  • गणित (Mathematics)
  • अंग्रेज़ी (English)
  • भौतिक विज्ञान (Physics)
  • रसायन विज्ञान (Chemistry)
  • सामान्य विज्ञान (General Science)
  • इतिहास (History)
  • भूगोल (Geography)
  • समसामयिक घटनाएँ (Current Affairs)

Candidates preparing in Hindi medium should refer to standard Hindi study material and previous year papers.

NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF Download

Candidates should always refer to the official UPSC notification for the latest NDA syllabus PDF.

The syllabus PDF contains:

  • Mathematics syllabus
  • General Ability Test syllabus
  • Marking scheme
  • Exam pattern
  • SSB selection process

Candidates should download and save the official syllabus PDF before beginning preparation.

NDA Exam 2026 Related Links
NDA Syllabus CDS Syllabus
AFCAT Syllabus UPSC CAPF Syllabus
Indian Navy Agniveer Syllabus Indian Army Agniveer Syllabus
Indian Air Force Agniveer Vayu Syllabus Army MES Syllabus and Exam Pattern

NDA Syllabus 2026 FAQs

Is NDA syllabus based on Class 11 and 12 NCERT?

Yes. Most NDA Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry topics are based on Class 11 and 12 NCERT concepts.

Has UPSC changed NDA syllabus in 2026?

Candidates should always verify the latest syllabus through the official UPSC notification. The core syllabus structure generally remains consistent.

Which subject carries the highest weightage in NDA?

The General Ability Test carries 600 marks while Mathematics carries 300 marks.

Can Arts students apply for NDA?

Arts students may be eligible for certain wings depending on the latest UPSC eligibility conditions. Candidates should verify eligibility through the official notification.

Is NDA exam objective or subjective?

The NDA written examination consists of objective-type questions only.
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