NDA Syllabus 2024 is released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) along with the official notification on its website. The UPSC conducts the National Defence Academy exam twice a year to recruit suitable male and female candidates for the defence forces of the country. Those who are going to appear for the upcoming exam must check the latest NDA syllabus of Maths, English, and General Knowledge which is provided here in detail. There are two papers included in the syllabus, Mathematics, and General Ability Test (GAT). 120 questions will be asked from the Maths section and 150 questions will be there in the GAT paper.
To start preparing for the exam, one needs to have a complete understanding of the NDA Maths Syllabus and GAT syllabus as per the latest notification. The selection of the candidates is done through a written exam followed by SSB Test/Interview. To help prepare, we have provided you with the detailed NDA syllabus for all subjects below.
NDA syllabus has two sections for the written exam, General Ability Test (GAT) and Mathematics. GAT aims to test your basic knowledge of History, GK, Current Affairs of National and International Events, English, Science, and Geography. On the other hand, the Mathematics paper of NDA will have questions based on 10+2. The GAT paper holds the maximum weightage in the UPSC NDA syllabus of 600 marks while the Mathematics section is for 300 marks. Lastly, UPSC will conduct the SSB/Interview for the candidates who obtain the cut-off marks in the written exam.
This post informs you about the detailed syllabus for theUPSC NDA 2024 exam. Knowing the syllabus will help you to plan a strategy to ace the exam, thereby, setting the right direction for your preparation for the exam. You can also download the official NDA syllabus PDF in this post for Maths and GAT topics.
Before jumping onto the NDA syllabus 2024 you must get an idea about its pattern, frequency, and other relevant details. Check out the table given below presents a brief idea of the NDA exam syllabus.
Name of the Exam | National Defence Academy, NDA |
Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission, UPSC |
Frequency of NDA Exam | Two times a year (NDA 1 & NDA 2) |
Selection Process | Written Test consisting of Objective Type Questions Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB) |
Mode of exam | Offline (Pen and Paper mode) |
Total Papers in NDA Exam | Mathematics General Ability Test (GAT) |
Total Marks for NDA Exam | Total: 900 Marks - Mathematics: 300 Marks - GAT: 600 Marks |
Total No. of Questions | Mathematics: 120 GAT: 150 |
Negative Marking | Mathematics: -0.83 GAT: -1.33 marks |
Exam Duration | Mathematics: 2 Hours 30 Minutes GAT: 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
Candidates can download the official NDA syllabus PDF to advance the exam preparation and prepare a study plan accordingly. Click the link below to download the UPSC NDA syllabus for different subjects of Paper 1 and 2.
☛ UPSC NDA Syllabus PDF - Download Here
Paper 1 of the NDA written exam consists of 120 questions of Mathematics of 10+2 level. The NDA syllabus for Paper 1 includes Mathematics topics which are provided in detail in the section below. In this exam, candidates will get 2.5 marks for each correct answer and there is also a negative marking of 0.83 marks deducted for each incorrect answer. Check all relevant details on the NDA paper 1 syllabus tabulated below.
NDA Syllabus Overview for Paper 1 | |
Total Marks | 300 Marks |
Total No. of Questions | 120 |
Correct Answer | 2.5 marks |
Marks deducted for the wrong answer | - 0.83 |
Total duration of Mathematics Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
You must take note that the NDA Maths syllabus is based on the 10+2 level. Hence, you must have a good knowledge of the formulas and concepts of all the important topics. Here is the list of topics and subtopics included in the NDA Maths syllabus PDF.
Name of Topic | NDA Maths Syllabus |
Algebra | Set concept, Sets operations, Venn diagrams, Laws of De Morgan, Cartesian product, Relations, Equivalence relation, Real number representation on a line, Complex numbers - basic properties, module, argument, cube roots, Binary number system, Conversion to the binary system of a number in the decimal system and vice versa, Progressions in arithmetic, geometry, and harmony, Solution of linear inequations of two variables by graphs, Permutation and Combination, Binomial theorem and its applications, Logarithms and their applications. |
Matrices and Determinants | Matrix types, Operations, The determinant of a matrix, Determinants' properties, Application-Solution of a system of linear equations in two or three unknowns by the Cranmer's Rule and by the Matrix method, etc. |
Angles and their degree and measurements, Trigonometric ratios, Sum of trigonometric identities and formulas, Multiple angles and sub-multiples, Trigonometric functions & their inverse, Applications-Height and Distance, Triangle Properties. | |
Analytical geometry of two and three dimensions | The Cartesian Rectangular Coordinate System, Formula of distance, Equation of a line in different shapes, Two lines of angle, A point's distance from a line, Standard and general equation of a circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola, A conic's eccentricity and axis, Point the distance between two points in a three-dimensional space, Cosines of direction and ratios of direction, Two points of the equation, Cosines of direction and ratios of direction, A plane equation and a line in different forms, Two lines of the angle between two planes, Sphere's equation, etc. |
Differential calculus | Concept of a valued function - a function's domain, range, and graph, Composite functions, one by one, on, and vice versa, Limit notion, default limits — examples, Continuity of functions— examples, Continuous functional algebraic operations, Function derivative at a point, geometric and physical interpretation of an application derivative, Summary derivatives, product, and function quotient derivatives, function derivatives for another function, 20 composite function derivatives, Derivatives of the second order. Increasing and diminishing functions, Application of derivatives in maxima and minima problems, etc. |
Integral Calculus and Differential Equations | Differentiation and integration, standard integrals with algebraic expressions, trigonometric, exponential, and hyperbolic functions.Definite integrals — determination of areas of curved plane regions — applications, General and particular solutions of differential equations, Solutions of the first order, and 1st-degree differential equations of various types—examples, Applications in problems of growth and decay. |
Vector Algebra | 2D and 3D vectors, vector magnitude, and direction, Unit and null vectors, vector adding, scalar-vector multiplication, scalar product or dot product, vector product, or cross product, Applications — work done through force and moment of force and in geometric problems. |
Statistics & Probability | Statistics: data classification, distribution of frequencies, the cumulative distribution of frequencies — examples, Examples of graphic representation— histogram, pie chart, polygon frequency. Central tendency measurements — mean, median, and mode. Variance and deviation of standard — determination, and comparison, Correlation and regression, Sample space, events, exhaustive events & mutually exclusive, impossible and certain events associated with random experiments, results and associated, Union and events intersection, Complementary, composite, and elementary events, Probability, Bayes Theorem, Random variable on a sample space as a function, Binomial distribution, examples of random experiments, the binomial distribution. |
The next paper in the written exam is the General Ability Test (GAT) which includes the following topics: General Knowledge (GK), English, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, General Science, and Current Events. The NDA syllabus for Paper 2 includes 150 questions in total including 50 questions from English and the remaining 100 questions from General Knowledge which includes other subjects and current affairs. The basic overview of the NDA syllabus for Paper 2 is as follows:
NDA Syllabus Overview for Paper 2 | |
Total Marks for GAT Paper | 600 marks |
Total No. of Questions | 150 Questions |
Total questions in English | 50 Questions |
Total Questions in GK | 100 Questions |
Total Marks for English | 200 marks |
Total Marks for GK | 400 marks |
Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks in each section |
Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks in each section |
Total Duration of GAT Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
The NDA GAT syllabus holds the maximum weightage in the written exam. Hence, you should be thoroughly prepared to answer a maximum number of questions for the NDA General Ability Test Paper. Check the NDA syllabus for GAT of History, Geography, English, Current Affairs, Physics, GK, Chemistry, and General Science below section-wise.
The NDA English Syllabus is listed below which must be checked by the candidates preparing for the upcoming exam. 50 questions will be asked from this section to test the basic proficiency in the English Language and Comprehension of the candidates. The NDA syllabus for English can be prepared in less time to score well in this section. It is found to be easy to moderate in the difficulty level as more questions can be attempted in less time.
The NDA Physics Syllabus is listed below containing all important topics suggested by the UPSC. There are around 23-25 questions on Physics in the GAT paper. Check the important topics for the NDA syllabus for Physics below.
The NDA Chemistry Syllabus is listed below containing topics on the 10+2 level. There are around 15 to 16 questions on Chemistry topics in the GAT paper. Check the important topics for the NDA syllabus for Chemistry below.
NDA syllabus for General Science includes topics to assess the basic knowledge of the candidate on science and environment. Check the important topics for the NDA General Science syllabus below.
The NDA History syllabus contains topics on Culture and Civilization, the Freedom Movement in India, American Independence, French Revolution, etc. Around 16 questions will be asked about these topics in the General Ability Test. Check the list of topics included in the UPSC NDA syllabus for History below:
Around 17 questions will be asked on Geography topics to assess the candidate’s knowledge about Earth and its resources and environment. The NDA syllabus for Geography is given below containing all important areas from the exam point of view.
The NDA Current Affairs syllabus includes topics on the latest current affairs events of India and the world. The current affairs of the last 8 to 12 months should be studied in great detail to prepare well for the exam.
Those who are preparing for the upcoming exam must check the tips and strategies to follow to prepare the NDA syllabus effectively in less time. The following tricks are suggested by the subject matter experts to help the applicants cover the entire NDA syllabus strategically:
If you have less time for preparation, you can go through the important topics of the NDA syllabus first, and then prepare other concepts. Go through the list of section-wise important topics in the NDA syllabus of the exam below:
Candidates must have the best books that allow them to quickly complete the NDA syllabus in order to start their preparation. They should check out the books listed below because reading them will not only help them understand their topics, but will also familiarise them with tips for answering questions quickly. Candidates can check the relevant NDA Books list below.
| Name of Book | Author & Publication |
| Objective GK | Sanjiv Kumar (Lucent Publication) |
| National Defence Academy and Naval Academy | R S Aggarwal |
| Objective General English | S. P. Bakshi (Arihant Publication) |
| Wren & Martin’s High School English Grammar & Composition | S. Chand |
| NCERT 11th and 12th Books | NCERT |
Those preparing for the forthcoming exam must check the NDA syllabus 2024 which is released by UPSC along with the official notification. It contains the topics to be covered in the Mathematics, English and General knowledge sections of the exam. A total of 270 questions will be there in the written exam out of which 120 will be from Maths topics and 150 from English and General Knowledge.
Candidates can download the NDA syllabus PDF from the official website of UPSC or the direct link below. It contains the section-wise topics to be prepared for the upcoming exam preparation. The syllabus for NDA Maths, History, English, Science, etc., is provided in this PDF which you can download and save for future use.
☛ NDA Syllabus 2023 PDF - Download Here
NDA Maths syllabus covers the topics from higher secondary Mathematics on Trigonometry, Algebra, Differential Calculus, 2D and 3D Geometry, Matrix and Determinants, etc. A total of 120 questions will be there from the Maths section carrying a maximum of 300 marks. Candidates must clear their basics and focus on learning simple tricks to get answers easily in less time to score well in this section.
There are mainly three sections containing various NDA subjects, and those are Mathematics, English, and General Knowledge. The NDA syllabus for the General Ability Test divides into English, History, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Current Events, and Geography.
Yes, all the questions asked in the written exam are objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs). In the Maths section of the NDA syllabus, each correct answer carries 2.5 marks and there is a negative marking of 0.83 for every wrong answer. In the GAT paper, candidates get 4 marks for each right answer, while 1.33 marks are deducted for incorrect answers.
It is suggested to give 6 months for NDA Preparation, but with sheer dedication and the right approach, one can clear the exam in 2 months of preparation as well. Go through the important topics in the NDA syllabus first, and then prepare other concepts. Check and attempt previous year's papers and mock tests regularly to improve time management skills.
NDA syllabus for GAT includes questions on History, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, General Science, Current Affairs, and English. A total of 150 questions carrying a maximum of 600 marks are there in the GAT paper out of which 50 questions are from the English section.
Five to six months of preparation is enough for the NDA syllabus 2023. Candidates must start by going through the subject-wise syllabus of NDA, followed by learning tricks to attempt questions faster. Before the exam, NDA Previous Year Question Papers and mock tests must be attempted to get a real-time experience of attempting the paper.
120 questions will be there from the NDA Maths syllabus on the following concepts: Trigonometry, Real and Complex numbers, Sets and Venn diagrams, Different number systems, Permutation and Combination, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometric functions, Coordinate System, Differential calculus, Relations and Functions, etc.
The subject-wise important topics in the UPSC NDA syllabus are as follows:
The Union Public Service Commission prescribes the NDA syllabus every year along with the recruitment notification. It helps candidates to focus on the preparation of each subject properly. The topics covered in the syllabus of NDA can be segregated based on the priority to formulate a study plan.
The best books to prepare NDA syllabus are Objective GK by Sanjiv Kumar (Lucent Publication), National Defence Academy and Naval Academy by R S Aggarwal, Objective General English by S. P. Bakshi (Arihant Publication), Wren & Martin’s High School English Grammar & Composition by S. Chand, etc.
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