NDA Previous Year Question Paper with Solution PDF

The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is a prestigious national-level examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit eligible candidates for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force through the NDA and Naval Academy (NA). It offers a direct pathway for young aspirants to join the Armed Forces as commissioned officers. The selection process evaluates candidates’ aptitude, academic strength, and leadership potential, making the NDA exam highly competitive. Solving NDA Previous Year Papers is a proven strategy to understand the question pattern and boost preparation. As per the UPSC Calendar 2026, the NDA & NA (I) 2026 notification will be released on 10th December 2025, and the exam will be held from 12th April 2026. Similarly, for NDA & NA (II) 2026, the notification will be issued on 20th May 2026, with the exam commencing on 13th September 2026. Candidates must keep track of these dates and plan their preparation accordingly.

NDA Previous Year Question Paper PDF

The NDA Last year's question paper provides valuable insights into the exam format and question types, essential for effective preparation. Students can check the question papers from 2025 to 2024 through the table given below. This paper will help in the preparation for NDA 2 Exam which is scheduled to be held on 14 September.

UPSC NDA Exam Paper Pattern 2025

The UPSC NDA & NA Paper Pattern 2025 is structured to assess candidates through a written exam followed by the SSB Interview. The written exam consists of two main papers — Mathematics and the General Ability Test — making a combined total of 900 marks. Practicing NDA PYQs and reviewing the NDA last year question paper is crucial to understand this pattern in-depth.

Written Exam

The NDA written exam comprises two papers designed to assess a candidate’s mathematical aptitude and general awareness. Each paper carries significant weight in the final selection process and is conducted on the same day.

GAT Paper

The GAT (General Ability Test) paper in the NDA exam evaluates a candidate’s proficiency in English and General Knowledge. It carries a total of 600 marks and is divided into Part A and Part B.

SSB Interview

The SSB Interview is the second stage of the NDA selection process and assesses a candidate’s intelligence, personality, and officer-like qualities. It includes psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews conducted over 5 days.

How to Use PYP Effectively to Maximise your Score in the Exam?

Solving NDA Previous Year Papers (PYPs) is a smart strategy that enhances exam readiness and helps candidates align their preparation with actual exam trends. By using them effectively, aspirants can boost their score, accuracy, and confidence.

• Start solving NDA PYPs topic-wise after completing each subject to reinforce concepts.
• Practice papers in a timed environment to simulate real exam conditions and improve speed.
• Review your mistakes and revise the frequently attempted or incorrect questions from NDA question paper PDFs.
• Understand the NDA syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly through consistent practice.
• Use PYPs to identify strengths and weaknesses, focusing revision efforts where needed.
• Solve NDA Last Year Question Papers as mock tests closer to the exam date to boost performance.
• Repeated practice with actual exam-level questions builds confidence and reduces exam anxiety.
• Exposure to a variety of question types enhances adaptability and prepares you for unexpected difficulty levels.

UPSC NDA Previous Year Question Paper Analysis

In order to excel in the UPSC NDA exam, it is important to gauge the level of difficulty of the paper and determine the number of good attempts. The NDA Previous Year Paper analysis provides candidates with clear insights into both sections – Mathematics and the General Ability Test. Detailed paper analysis is important to comprehend the complexity of the exam and accordingly improve preparation strategies.

NDA GAT Analysis

The overall difficulty level of the GAT paper was considered moderate. Refer to the section below for the detailed question distribution in the paper.

NDA Mathematics Analysis

The NDA exam analysis for the Maths paper is now available. Below is the breakdown of questions by topic.

Also go through expert UPSC NDA Preparation Tips for effective preparation using previous year question papers.

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