Quick answer: The UPSC NDA 2 2026 exam is on Sunday, 13 September 2026 — Mathematics from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM (300 marks) and the General Ability Test from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM (600 marks). NCA Academy publishes the unofficial NDA 2 2026 answer key for all sets (A, B, C, D) for both papers within hours of the exam. The official UPSC answer key is released only after the entire selection process concludes.
📅 Exam day: Sunday, 13 September 2026
This page is updated live. Maths answer key goes up first (after 12:30 PM), GAT follows (after 4:30 PM). Download the set-wise PDF using the form below.
NDA 2 2026 Exam — 13 September 2026 Snapshot
| Detail | NDA 2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam date | Sunday, 13 September 2026 |
| Paper 1 — Mathematics | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM · 120 questions · 300 marks |
| Paper 2 — General Ability Test (GAT) | 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM · 150 questions · 600 marks |
| Total written marks | 900 |
| Question paper sets | Set A, Set B, Set C, Set D |
| Mode | Offline (OMR), objective multiple choice |
| Negative marking | One-third of the marks assigned to that question |
| Minimum qualifying | 25% in each paper, separately |
| SSB Interview | 900 marks · Final merit out of 1800 |
NDA 2 2026 Maths Answer Key — All Sets (A, B, C, D)
The Mathematics paper ends at 12:30 PM on 13 September 2026. Our faculty begin solving immediately and the NDA 2 2026 Maths answer key is published here set-wise, question by question, with worked solutions for the questions candidates find most contentious.
Mathematics carries 120 questions for 300 marks — 2.5 marks per correct answer and 0.83 marks deducted for each wrong one. Because the deduction is a third of 2.5, a careless guessing pattern can cost you 15–20 marks without you noticing.
| Paper set | Answer key status | Worked solutions |
|---|---|---|
| NDA 2 2026 Maths — Set A | Updated after 12:30 PM, 13 Sep | Yes |
| NDA 2 2026 Maths — Set B | Updated after 12:30 PM, 13 Sep | Yes |
| NDA 2 2026 Maths — Set C | Updated after 12:30 PM, 13 Sep | Yes |
| NDA 2 2026 Maths — Set D | Updated after 12:30 PM, 13 Sep | Yes |
NDA 2 2026 GAT Answer Key — All Sets (A, B, C, D)
The General Ability Test runs 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The NDA 2 2026 GAT answer key is published set-wise the same evening, split into its two parts:
| GAT section | Questions | Marks | Per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A — English | 50 | 200 | +4 / −1.33 |
| Part B — General Knowledge | 100 | 400 | +4 / −1.33 |
| Total GAT | 150 | 600 | — |
GAT decides more of your written score than Maths does — 600 of the 900 marks. General Knowledge alone, at 400 marks, is worth more than the entire Mathematics paper.
NDA 2 2026 Answer Key — Video Solutions & Paper Analysis
Watch NCA Academy faculty work through the NDA 2 2026 paper question by question — Mathematics and the General Ability Test — with the expected cut-off and section-wise analysis. Videos are uploaded the same evening as the exam.
▶ Video solutions upload here on 13 September 2026
Paper-wise walkthrough, disputed questions explained, and the expected cut-off. Subscribe or check back the same evening.
Download the NDA 2 2026 Answer Key PDF (All Sets)
Enter your details to receive the set-wise NDA 2 2026 answer key PDF for Mathematics and GAT as soon as each is released, along with our marks calculator and the expected cut-off analysis.
📄 Get the NDA 2 2026 Answer Key PDF
NDA 2 2026 Marking Scheme — Calculate Your Score
| Paper | Questions | Correct | Wrong | Unattempted | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | +2.5 | −0.83 | 0 | 300 |
| GAT | 150 | +4 | −1.33 | 0 | 600 |
How to calculate: (correct × marks per question) − (wrong × penalty). For Mathematics, 80 correct and 20 wrong gives (80 × 2.5) − (20 × 0.83) = 200 − 16.6 = 183.4 marks.
Remember the 25% qualifying rule: you must score at least 25% in Mathematics and 25% in GAT separately. Clearing the overall cut-off is not enough if either paper falls below its own minimum — every year candidates with good aggregates are eliminated on this alone.
Official UPSC NDA 2 2026 Answer Key — When and Where
UPSC does not release the answer key immediately. The official NDA 2 2026 answer key is published on upsc.gov.in only after the entire selection process for that examination is complete, which usually means several months after the written exam.
Until then, every answer key circulating online — including ours — is an unofficial key prepared by subject faculty. Use it to estimate your score and decide whether to begin SSB preparation, not as a final result.
NDA 2 2026 Expected Cut Off
The NDA written cut-off is set by UPSC after the exam, based on the number of vacancies and the difficulty of the paper that year. It is never announced in advance, and it moves — a harder Maths paper pushes it down, an easy GAT pushes it up.
What is fixed and worth planning around:
- Written exam: 900 marks (Maths 300 + GAT 600)
- SSB Interview: 900 marks
- Final merit: out of 1800
- Minimum qualifying: 25% in each paper, separately
NCA Academy publishes its expected cut-off for NDA 2 2026 after our faculty have analysed the actual difficulty of both papers — not before. Official cut-offs for previous years are published by UPSC on its cut-off marks page.
What to Do After the NDA 2 2026 Exam
- Calculate your score honestly. Count wrong answers, not just correct ones — the negative marking is what separates a realistic estimate from a hopeful one.
- If you are near or above the expected cut-off, start SSB preparation now. The gap between the written result and your SSB date is shorter than candidates expect, and SSB is 900 of the 1800 final marks.
- Do not wait for the official result to begin. Candidates who start SSB preparation only after the result consistently arrive underprepared for the psychology tests and GTO tasks.
- If you fell short, identify which paper did it. Most candidates lose NDA in GAT, not Maths — and General Knowledge is the most fixable section of the entire paper.
Prepare with New Careers Academy
NCA Academy — New Careers Academy, Chandigarh, established 1967 — has 39,000+ selections across defence recruitment. For candidates who have just written NDA 2 2026, the next step is SSB.
- SSB coaching in Chandigarh — 14-day intensive, real GTO ground
- Online SSB coaching — live, from anywhere in India
- NDA coaching in Chandigarh (see the NDA coaching fees guide) — for NDA 1 2027 aspirants
- Online NDA coaching — live classes across India
Frequently Asked Questions — NDA 2 2026 Answer Key
When will the NDA 2 2026 answer key be released?
NCA Academy publishes its unofficial NDA 2 2026 answer key within hours of the exam on 13 September 2026 — Mathematics after 12:30 PM and GAT after 4:30 PM. The official UPSC answer key comes only after the full selection process concludes, typically several months later.
What is the NDA 2 2026 exam date and timing?
The NDA 2 2026 exam is on Sunday, 13 September 2026. Mathematics runs from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and the General Ability Test from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Each paper is two and a half hours.
How many marks is the NDA 2 2026 exam?
The written exam totals 900 marks — Mathematics 300 marks over 120 questions, and the General Ability Test 600 marks over 150 questions. The SSB Interview carries a further 900 marks, so final merit is out of 1800.
Is there negative marking in NDA 2 2026?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. That is 0.83 marks in Mathematics and 1.33 marks in the General Ability Test. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
What is the minimum qualifying mark in NDA 2 2026?
UPSC requires a minimum of 25% in each paper separately. A candidate who scores well overall but falls below 25% in either Mathematics or GAT is eliminated regardless of the aggregate.
How do I find my NDA 2 2026 question paper set?
Your set — A, B, C or D — is printed on the cover of your question booklet and recorded on your OMR sheet. Match the set letter before checking any answer key, because the question order differs between sets.
Where is the official UPSC NDA 2 2026 answer key published?
On the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in, under the examination’s page. UPSC releases it only after the entire selection process for NDA 2 2026 is complete.
What is the expected cut off for NDA 2 2026?
UPSC sets the written cut-off after the exam based on vacancies and paper difficulty, so no expected figure is reliable before the papers have been analysed. NCA Academy publishes its expected cut-off once faculty have reviewed the actual difficulty of both papers.
Conclusion
The NDA 2 2026 written exam on 13 September 2026 is scored out of 900, with GAT carrying two-thirds of that. Check your set carefully, calculate with the negative marking included, and if your score is anywhere near the likely cut-off, start SSB preparation immediately — it is half of your final 1800 marks.
For the companion paper written the same day, see our CDS 2 2026 answer key.
