The NDA Syllabus 2025 for the written exam is divided into two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Candidates should be well-versed in the syllabus of both sections for every topic that can be asked in the exam. Candidates need to analyse both sections before starting the preparation for the NDA exam to understand the pattern thoroughly.
The candidate should overview the NDA syllabus 2025 before starting preparation for the NDA written exam. Below is a key highlight of the NDA exam syllabus for 2025.
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam | National Defence Academy Examination, 2025 |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a Year |
| Mode | Offline |
| NDA Subjects | Mathematics and General Ability Test |
| Maximum Marks To Obtain | 900 |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd marks |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 hours for each paper |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
The Mathematics section covers various topics that a candidate needs to study thoroughly to secure good marks. Here is the list of all the topics that will be beneficial for a candidate in every aspect.
| NDA Syllabus 2025 for Mathematics | |
| Subject | UPSC NDA Maths Syllabus 2025 |
| Differential Calculus | Second-order derivatives. Increasing and decreasing functions. 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. |
| Integral Calculus and Differential Equations | A particular solution equations, solution of the first order and first-degree differential equations of various types—examples. Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts, exponential and hyperbolic functions. |
| Vector Algebra | Statistics Measures of Central Tendency. Variance and standard deviation.Classification of data, Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution. Graphical representation.Probability Complementary, elementary and composite events. Definition of probability. Elementary theorems on probability. Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem. Random experiment, outcomes and associated sample space and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of Events. |
| Statistics and Probability | Statistics Measures of Central Tendency. Variance and standard deviation.Classification of data, Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution. Graphical representation.Probability, Complementary, elementary and composite events. Definition of probability. Elementary theorems on probability. Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem. Random experiment, outcomes and associated sample space and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of Events. |
| Algebra | Arithmetic, Quadratic equations. Linear inequations solutions of two variables by graphs. Permutation and Combination. Binomial theorem and its applications. Logarithms and their applications.Concept of set, operations on sets, Venn diagrams. De Morgan laws, Cartesian product, relation, equivalence relation. Representation of real numbers on a line. |
| Matrices and Determinants | Adjoint and inverse of a square matrix, Applications. Types of matrices, operations on matrices. basic properties of determinants, determinants of a matrix. |
| Trigonometry |
Multiple and Sub-multiple angles. Inverse trigonometric functions. Applications: height and distance, properties of triangles.Angles and their measures in degrees and radians. Trigonometrical ratios. Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae. |
| Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimension | Equation of a plane and a line. Equation of a sphere.Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system. Eccentricity and axis of a conic. Equation two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Distance formula. Equation of a line in various forms. The angle between two lines.Equation of a circle in standard and general form. |
| Paper I- Mathematics | |
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 |
| Marks for Correct answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks deducted for each wrong answer | -0.83 |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
The GAT section covers various topics of English, General Science, Current Affairs, Geography, etc. that a candidate needs to study thoroughly to secure good marks. Here is the list of all the topics that will be beneficial for a candidate in every aspect.
| NDA Syllabus 2025 For GAT | |
| Subject | NDA Important Topics |
| General Science | 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. The difference between living and nonliving things. The basis of Life—cells, Protoplasms, and Tissues. Human Body and its vital organs. Common Epidemics, their causes and prevention. |
| History, Freedom Movement etc. | Factors shaping the modern world; Renaissance, Exploration and Discovery; French Revolution, Industrial Revolution and Russian Revolution. Role of India in the present world. A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation.Freedom Movement in India. Five Year Plans of India. Panchayati Raj, Co-operatives and Community Development. Bhoodan, and Welfare State, Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. |
| Geography | Regional Geography of India—Climate, Natural vegetation. Mineral and Power resources. Important Sea ports and main sea, land and air routes of India. The Earth, its shape and size. Lattitudes and Longitudes, Concept of time. International Date Line. Movements of Earth and their effects.; 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. |
| Current Events | Prominent personalities—both Indian and International including cultural activities and sports. Knowledge of Major events that held in India in recent years. Current important world events. |
| Physics | Natural and Artificial Magnets, Properties of a Magnet, Earth as a Magnet.Static and Current Electricity, Ohm’s Law, Simple Electrical Circuits, Heating, Lighting and Magnetic effects of Current, Measurement of Electrical Power, Primary and Secondary Cells, and Use of X-rays. General Principles in the working of the following: Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightening Conductors, Safety Fuses. Physical Properties and States of Matter, Mass, Weight, Volume, Density and Specific Gravity, the Principle of Archimedes, and the Pressure Barometer.Motion of objects, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Force and Momentum, Parallelogram of Forces, Stability and Equilibrium of bodies, Gravitation, elementary ideas of work, Power and Energy. Sound waves and their properties, Simple musical instruments. Rectilinear propagation of Light, Reflection and refraction. Spherical Mirrors and Lenses, Human Eye. |
| Chemistry | Carbon—different forms. Fertilizers—Natural and Artificial. Elementary ideas for the Atoms structure, Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights, and Valency. Physical and Chemical changes. Properties of Air and WaterPreparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and carbon dioxide, Oxidation and Reduction. Acids, bases and salts. |
| English | AntonymsSpotting ErrorsComprehensionSelecting WordsSynonymsSentence ImprovementsOrdering of Words in a Sentence, etc. |
| Paper-II- General Ability Test | |
| Total Marks | 600 marks |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Questions in the English Section | 50 |
| Questions in the General Knowledge Section | 100 |
| Maximum Marks for English | 200 marks |
| Maximum Marks for G.K. | 400 marks |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks for each question |
| Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks for each question |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
In the above context, we had discussed about everything related to the NDA syllabus 2025. You have to keep all these things in mind during your preparation and it is beneficial to understand the pattern of the exam so that you can prepare accordingly.
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What is the age limit for NDA?
To become eligible for the NDA, your age must be between 16.5 years and 19.5 years.
Can non-science stream students join NDA?
Yes, students from non-science backgrounds join NDA. Math is only required for the Navy, Air Force, and some branches of the Indian Army.
What should I study to clear my NDA exam?
You need to focus on scoring subjects English and general science. However, also put effort into mathematics.
What are the passing marks to qualify for the NDA exam?
You need to score a minimum of 25% in each subject to qualify for your NDA written exam. This is only the qualification marks not cutt off.
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