UPSC NDA & NA (I) Mock Tests & Practice Papers

NDA (National Defence Academy) & NA (Naval Academy) exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year to recruit candidates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA and the Indian Naval Academy. It is one of the most prestigious defence entrance exams for candidates after Class 12.

NDA written exam has two papers: Mathematics (120 questions, 300 marks, 2.5 hours) and General Ability Test (150 questions, 600 marks, 2.5 hours). GAT includes English (200 marks) and General Knowledge (400 marks covering Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, and Current Affairs). Negative marking of 1/3 of marks applies.

Candidates must be unmarried males who have passed Class 12 (or appearing). For Army wing, any stream is accepted. For Air Force and Navy wings, Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics is mandatory. Age limit is 16.5 to 19.5 years. Female candidates can also apply as per recent policy changes.

The selection has three stages: Written Exam (900 marks), SSB Interview (900 marks — including Intelligence Test, Group Testing, Personal Interview, and Conference), and Medical Examination. The final merit is based on combined written exam and SSB interview marks (total 1800).

NDA training is 3 years at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune), followed by 1 year at the respective service academy (IMA, INA, or AFA). During training, cadets receive a stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month. After commissioning, the starting salary is approximately Rs. 56,100-1,77,500 (Level 10).

NDA Mathematics covers Class 11-12 level topics. Focus on Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Calculus, and Statistics. Practice from NCERT and R.D. Sharma. Speed is crucial — you need to solve 120 questions in 150 minutes. Solve previous year papers to understand the difficulty level and question patterns.

The NDA cutoff varies each year. Generally, a score of 340-370+ out of 900 is needed to clear the written exam for general category. To compensate for negative marking, attempt only those questions you are confident about. Aim for 55-60% in Mathematics and 45-50% in GAT.