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“headline”: “NDA Syllabus 2026: Complete Mathematics & GAT Paper Breakdown”,
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The NDA syllabus 2026 is divided into two papers: Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test — GAT (600 marks). Both papers are objective-type with negative marking. Understanding the complete syllabus is the first step to clearing the UPSC NDA & NA exam.
NDA 2026 Exam Paper Structure at a Glance
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 Hours |
| Paper II | General Ability Test (GAT) | 150 | 600 | 2.5 Hours |
| Total Written | 900 | 5 Hours | ||
| SSB Interview | 900 | 5 Days | ||
| Grand Total | 1800 | — | ||
NDA Syllabus 2026: Paper I — Mathematics
The Mathematics paper tests Class 11–12 level concepts. Here is the complete chapter-wise breakdown:
1. 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, modulus, argument
- Cube roots of unity, binary system of numbers, arithmetic, geometric and harmonic progressions
- Quadratic equations, linear inequations, permutation and combination, binomial theorem
- Logarithms and their applications
2. Matrices & 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
3. 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
4. Analytical Geometry of 2D & 3D
- Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system, distance formula, equation of a line
- Angle between two lines, distance of a point from a line
- Equation of a circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola in standard forms
- 3D: Direction cosines & ratios, equation of a plane and line in 3D, distance of a point from a plane
5. Differential Calculus
- Concept of a real-valued function, domain, range and graph
- Composite functions, one-to-one, onto and inverse functions
- Limits, continuity, derivative of a function, derivatives of sum, product and quotient
- Application of derivatives: tangents, normals, increasing/decreasing functions, maxima and minima
6. Integral Calculus & Differential Equations
- Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts
- Standard integrals, definite integrals, area under curves
- Differential equations: first order and first degree, growth and decay problems
7. Vector Algebra
- Vectors in 2D and 3D, magnitude and direction, unit vector, null vector
- Addition, subtraction and scalar multiplication, dot product and cross product
- Applications in work done, moment and angular velocity
8. Statistics & Probability
- Statistics: classification of data, frequency distribution, mean, median, mode
- Variance and standard deviation, correlation and regression
- Probability: random experiment, outcomes and sample space, events, Bayes’ theorem
- Random variable as function on a sample space, binomial distribution
NDA Syllabus 2026: Paper II — General Ability Test (GAT)
GAT Paper is divided into Part A: English (200 marks) and Part B: General Knowledge (400 marks).
Part A: English (200 Marks)
| Section | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Grammar & Usage | Sentence correction, spotting errors, fill in the blanks |
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms & phrases |
| Comprehension | Reading comprehension passages, inference-based questions |
| Cohesion | Para jumbles, sentence ordering |
Part B: General Knowledge (400 Marks)
| Section | Topics | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Motion, laws of motion, sound, light, electricity, magnetism, atomic structure | ~25% |
| Chemistry | States of matter, acids & bases, elements, chemical reactions, environmental chemistry | ~15% |
| General Science | Biology — cells, human body systems, diseases, nutrition, genetics | ~10% |
| History & Freedom Movement | Indian history, British era, national movement, Gandhi, post-independence | ~15% |
| Geography | Earth, atmosphere, climate, physical features of India, resources | ~15% |
| Current Events | National & international events, sports, awards, defence news | ~10% |
| General Polity & Economy | Constitution, government, economy basics | ~10% |
NDA Marking Scheme 2026
| Paper | Correct Answer | Wrong Answer | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (Paper I) | +2.5 marks | –0.83 marks | 0 |
| GAT — English (Paper II) | +4 marks | –1.33 marks | 0 |
| GAT — GK (Paper II) | +4 marks | –1.33 marks | 0 |
NDA 2026 Syllabus Preparation Strategy
- Start with NCERT: All NDA topics are at Class 11–12 NCERT level. Complete NCERT books for Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and History first.
- Focus on Maths: Trigonometry, Algebra, and Calculus together account for 60%+ of the Mathematics paper.
- Current Affairs daily: Read newspapers daily. Defence news, sports, and government schemes are frequently asked.
- Solve previous papers: Attempt NDA previous year question papers from 2015–2024 to identify high-frequency topics.
- English vocabulary: Learn 10 new words daily — synonyms, antonyms, and idioms form a major chunk of the English section.
- Join structured coaching: At NDA coaching in Chandigarh, NCA Academy provides chapter-wise tests and expert guidance since 1967.
Frequently Asked Questions — NDA Syllabus 2026
Q: What is the NDA syllabus for Mathematics?Mastering the NDA syllabus is much easier with expert guidance — see best NDA coaching in India for structured prep options. NDA Mathematics syllabus covers Algebra, Matrices & Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry (2D & 3D), Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus & Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, and Statistics & Probability. Total 120 questions for 300 marks.
Q: What is the GAT syllabus for NDA?GAT is split into English (200 marks) covering grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension; and General Knowledge (400 marks) covering Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Current Events.
Q: Is NDA syllabus based on Class 11 and 12?Yes, NDA syllabus is at NCERT Class 11–12 standard. Mathematics follows Class 12 level and General Knowledge covers topics from Class 10 to 12.
Q: How many marks is NDA written exam?NDA written exam is for 900 marks. Mathematics paper = 300 marks, GAT paper = 600 marks. SSB interview is 900 marks. Total = 1800 marks.
Q: What is negative marking in NDA?For every wrong answer: –0.83 marks in Mathematics and –1.33 marks in GAT. No penalty for unattempted questions.
Q: Which subject is most important in NDA GAT?Physics carries the highest weightage (~25%) in the GK section of NDA GAT. English (200 marks) and Physics together account for nearly 50% of the GAT paper.
nnnFor the latest official updates, notifications, and exam schedules, refer to the UPSC official website.
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