NDA Syllabus 2025: Check Subject-Wise Important Topics
NDA Syllabus 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has prescribed the National Defence Academy (NDA) syllabus through its official notification. The official announcement to hire various worthy applicants into the Defence Forces. However, the interested aspirants must satisfy the eligibility criteria and appear for all selection rounds to be selected for the advertised posts. The syllabus includes two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Candidates willing to attempt the written test must first thoroughly understand the latest syllabus and exam format.
Practice NDA & NA Unlimited Questions with Solutions
**Steps to practice NDA Unlimited Questions are mentioned below.
This will help candidates to know the important exam topics. The NDA 1 2025 exam was conducted on April, 2025, while the NDA 2 exam will be held on September, 2025. The selection will be through a written exam and an SSB test/Interview. Read this article to know the detailed syllabus.
Detailed NDA Syllabus 2025
The UPSC has mentioned the latest syllabus in the NDA Notification 2025. The written exam consists of two papers, as given below:
Paper 1: Mathematics
Paper 2: General Ability Test (Part A: English and Part B: General Knowledge)
The GAT paper is worth 600 marks in the syllabus, while the Mathematics section carries 300 marks. Before getting into further details, let us have an overview of the UPSC NDA 2025 exam from the below table:
Particulars
Details
Name of the Exam
National Defence Academy (NDA)
Frequency of Exam
Twice a Year (April & September)
Selection Process
– Written Test Consisting of Objective Type Questions – Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB)
Mode of Exam
Offline
Papers in NDA Exam
– Mathematics – General Ability Test
Marks Segregation
– Mathematics: 300 Marks – GAT: 600 Marks
Total No. of Questions
– Mathematics: 120 – GAT: 150
Total Exam Duration
5 Hours
Language of Question Paper
English & Hindi
NDA Mathematics Exam Pattern
The NDA syllabus for Paper 1 includes Mathematics topics and subtopics. This section evaluates a candidate’s ability to solve mathematical problems using formulas, theorems, and so on. This paper contains 120 questions from Classes 10, 11, and 12. Candidates can check the exam pattern for Paper 1 from the below table:
NDA Mathematics Exam Pattern
Total Marks
300 Marks
Total No. of Questions
120
Marks Awarded for Correct Answer
2.5 marks
Marks Deducted for the Wrong Answer
-0.83
Exam Duration
2.5 Hours
Steps to Practice Unlimited UPSC NDA & NA Questions
Access the unlimited NDA & NA questions from Embibe and improve the preparation level. Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps to take the practice tests:
1st Step: Visit Embibe’s official website, i.e., embibe.com.
2nd Step: Use the mobile number/email to log in.
3rd Step: Click on the menu bar “Getting into my dream undergraduate college”
4th Step: Select the Goal “Defence – NDA” from the Dropdown and click “Next”.
5th Step: Search and Select “NDA & NA EE” on the search bar and click “Next”.
6th Step: Select the preferred language and click on “Done”.
7th Step: Click “Practice” from the Header Section.
8th Step: Scroll down to the “Subjects” section.
9th Step: Click on any NDA & NA EE subjects.
10th Step: Scroll down to click on the chapters from the selected subject to begin the practice.
NDA Syllabus for Paper 1: Mathematics
Candidates must understand the fundamental concepts of Mathematics to complete the NDA Maths Syllabus 2025. They can check out the detailed Mathematics syllabus below.
NDA Mathematics Algebra
Check the Algebra syllabus below:
Algebra Syllabus
Concept of Sets
Operations on Sets
Venn diagrams
De Morgan laws
Cartesian product
Relation
Equivalence relation
Representation of real numbers on a line
Complex numbers—basic properties, modulus, argument, cube roots of unity
Binary system of numbers
Conversion of a number in decimal system to binary system and vice-versa
Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic progressions
Quadratic equations with real coefficients
Solution of linear inequations of two variables by graphs
Permutation and Combination
Binomial theorem and its applications
Logarithms and their applications
–
Matrices And Determinants
The syllabus for the Matrices And Determinants is given in the table below:
Matrices And Determinants Syllabus
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 Cramer’s by Matrix Method.
Trigonometry
Candidates can check the NDA Mathematics Trigonometry syllabus below:
Trigonometry Syllabus
Angles and their measures in degrees and in radians
Trigonometrical ratios
Trigonometric identities – Sum and difference formulae
Inverse trigonometric functions
Multiple and Sub-multiple angles
Applications-Height and distance, properties of triangles.
Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions
The syllabus for Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions is given below:
Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions Syllabus
Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system
Distance formula
Equation of a line in various forms
Angle between two lines
Distance of a point from a line
Equation of a circle in standard and general form
Standard forms of parabola, ellipse and hyperbola
Eccentricity and axis of a conic
Point in a three-dimensional space, the distance between two points
Direction Cosines and direction ratios
Equation two points
Direction Cosines and direction ratios
Equation of a plane and a line in various forms
Angle between two lines and angle between two planes
Equation of a sphere
–
Differential Calculus
The syllabus for Differential Calculus has been provided in the table below:
Differential Calculus Syllabus
Concept of a real-valued function–domain, range, and graph of a function
Composite functions, one-to-one, onto, and inverse functions
Notion of limit, Standard limits—examples
Continuity of functions—examples
Algebraic operations on continuous functions
Derivative of function at a point
Geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative—applications
Derivatives of sum, product and quotient of functions
Derivative of a function with respect to another function
Derivative of a composite function
Second-order derivatives
Increasing and decreasing functions
Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima.
–
Integral Calculus and Differential Calculus
The syllabus for Integral Calculus and Differential Calculus is provided below:
Integral Calculus and Differential Calculus Syllabus
Integration as inverse of differentiation
Integration by substitution and by parts
standard integrals involving algebraic expressions, trigonometric, exponential and hyperbolic functions
Evaluation of definite integrals—determination of areas of plane regions bounded by curves—applications
Definition of order and degree of a differential equation
Formation of a differential equation by examples
General and particular solutions of differential equations
Solution of first-order and first-degree differential equations of various types—examples
Application in problems of growth and decay
–
Vector Algebra
Check the Vector Algebra syllabus for NDA Paper 1 in the table below:
Vector Algebra Syllabus
Vectors in two and three dimensions
Magnitude and direction of a vector
Unit and null vectors
Addition of vectors
Scalar multiplication of a vector
Scalar product or dot product of two vectors
Vector product or cross product of two vectors
Applications—work done by a force and moment of a force and in geometrical problems.
Statistics
Candidates can find the syllabus for Statistics below:
Statistics Syllabus
Classification of data
Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution—examples
Graphical representation—Histogram, Pie Chart, frequency polygon— examples
Measures of Central tendency—Mean, median and mode
Variance and standard deviation—determination and comparison
Correlation and Regression
Probability
Check the syllabus for NDA Mathematics Probability syllabus below:
Probability Syllabus
Random experiment, outcomes and associated sample space, events, mutually exclusive and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events
Conditional probability
Union and Intersection of events. Complementary, elementary and composite events
Bayes’s simple problems
Definition of probability—classical and statistical—examples
Random variable as function on a sample space
Elementary theorems on probability—simple problems
Binomial distribution, examples of random experiments giving rise to Binominal distribution.
NDA General Ability Test Exam Pattern
The General Ability Test (GAT) is the next paper in the written exam. It aims to test an aspirant’s basic knowledge of General Knowledge (GK), History, Geography, General Science, and Current Events. Check out the detailed exam pattern for Paper 2 from the below table:
NDA General Ability Test Pattern
Total Marks
600
Total No. of Questions
150
No. of Questions in English Section
50
No. of Questions in General Knowledge Section
100
Maximum Marks for English
200
Maximum Marks for G.K.
400
Marks for Correct Answer
4
Marks for Incorrect Answer
-1.33
Exam Duration
2.5 Hours
NDA Syllabus for Paper 2: General Ability Test
Candidates must have a basic understanding of English, Environmental Studies, and Science and Technology subjects that are addressed in the NDA GAT Syllabus. Check out the topics included in the GAT 2025 syllabus from the table mentioned below:
Subjects
Topics
English Language
Comprehension Fill in the blanks Complete the sentences Idioms and phrases Synonyms and antonyms Active and passive voice Finding errors
History
Indian History: Culture and Civilisation Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare State, Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi Indiadom struggle Panchayati Raj, Co-operatives, and Community Development French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and Russian Revolution Impact of Science and Technology on Society Concept of one World, United Nations, Panchsheel, Democracy, Socialism, and Communism Forces Shaping the modern world; Renaissance, Exploration, and Discovery
Geography
Landforms of India Movements of Earth and their effects Layers of earth Type of soils Climate and Atmosphere Rivers Cyclones and Anticyclones Solar system and universe Rocks and their classification
Physics
Natural and Artificial Magnets, Properties of a Magnet, Earth as a Magnet Spherical mirrors and Lenses, Human Eye Density and Specific Gravity, Principle of Archimedes, Pressure Barometer Rectilinear propagation of Light, Reflection and refraction Static and Current Electricity, conductors and Non-conductors, Physical Properties and States of Matter, Mass, Weight, Volume, Heat, Measurement of Temperature and Heat, change of State and Latent Heat, Modes of transference of Heat Ohm’s Law, Electrical Circuits, Heating, Lighting and Magnetic effects of Current, Measurement of Electrical Power, Primary and Secondary Cells, and Use of X-Rays. Equilibrium of objects Laws of Motion Gravitation Work, power, and energy
Chemistry
Mixtures and Compounds, Symbols, Formulae and simple Chemical Equations, Law of Chemical Combination Properties of Air and Water Fertilizers— Natural and Artificial The material used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches and Gun-Powder Elementary ideas about the structure of Atoms, Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights, Valency Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen
General Science
Biotic and Abiotic components Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals Achievements of Eminent Scientists Common Epidemics, their causes and Prevention Basis of Life—Cells, Proto-plasma, and Tissues
Current Events
Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in recent years. Current important world events. Prominent personalities—both Indian and International, including those connected with cultural activities and sports.
NDA Interview and Personality Test
The SSB procedure is divided into two stages. Only those who pass the written exam can participate in the SSB round. The following are details of the SSB exam:
Stage 1 comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests, Picture Perception, and Description Tests (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on their overall performance in OIR Test and PP&DT.
Stage 2 comprises an Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference. These tests are conducted for 4 days.
Here, we have enlisted some frequently asked questions about the UPSC NDA syllabus 2025:
Q: Will the NDA syllabus get revamped this year?
A: No. The Union Public Service Commission has not revamped the NDA syllabus this year. Any further changes will be informed on the portal.
Q: How many papers are there in the NDA 1 2025 exam?
A: The NDA 1 2023 syllabus is divided into two papers, 1 (Mathematics) and 2 (General Ability).
Q: Where can I get the NDA Syllabus PDF?
A: Candidates can download the NDA Syllabus PDF from the official website – upsc.gov.in. Moreover, the detailed syllabus is provided on this page. Candidates can bookmark this page for reference.
Q: What are the topics in the NDA Maths Syllabus?
A: Topics that will be covered in the NDA Mathematics syllabus are – Algebra, Matrices, and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimensions, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, and Statistics and Probability.
Q: What will be the language of the NDA exam question paper?
A: The question paper for the NDA exam will be available in Hindi and English language. Candidates can choose between those two languages while writing the solutions on the answer sheet.
We hope this article on NDA Syllabus 2025 has provided you with sufficient information on the syllabus. In case of any queries regarding the exam, feel to check our app.
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