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IMPORTANT LINKS
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 Free Tests
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FREE
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UPSC NDA 2025
- 10 Mins | 15 Marks
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FREE
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UPSC NDA 2025
- 10 Mins | 15 Marks
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.
| NDA Previous Year PDF’s | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2025 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2024 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2023 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2022 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | Question Paper PDF | |
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2021 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2020 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2019 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2018 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2017 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2016 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2015 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
| NDA Question Paper 2014 | ||
| Subject | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Mathematics | ||
| General Ability Test | ||
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.
| Papers | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | Mathematics | 300 | 2½ hours |
| Paper 2 | GAT (General Ability Test) | 600 | 2½ hours |
| Total | — | 900 | 5 hours |
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.
| Part | Sections | Maximum Marks |
| Part - A | English | 200 |
| Part - B (General Knowledge) | Physics | 100 |
| Chemistry | 60 | |
| General Science | 40 | |
| History, Freedom Movement, etc. | 80 | |
| Geography | 80 | |
| Current Events | 40 | |
| - | Total | 600 |
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.
| Stage | Component | Tests Included |
| Stage 1 | Screening Test | Verbal and Non-verbal Tests Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT) |
| Psychological Test | Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Word Association Test (WAT) Situation Reaction Test (SRT) Self Description Test (SD) | |
| Stage 2 | Group Testing Officers Test | Group Discussion (GD) Group Planning Exercise (GPE) Progressive Group Task (PGT) Half Group Task (HGT) Individual Obstacles Task (IOT) Command Task Snake Race/Group Obstacle Race Individual Lecturette Final Group Task (FGT) |
| Personal Interview | - | |
| Conference | - |
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.
| UPSC NDA PYP Analysis | ||
| Subject | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
| Mathematics | 60 - 68 | Moderate to Difficult |
| General Ability Test | 110 - 118 | Moderate |
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.
| Topics | No. of Questions |
| English | 50 |
| History | 13 |
| Polity | 3 |
| Geography | 19 |
| Current Affairs | 10 |
| Static GK | 3 |
| Economy | 2 |
| Physics | 21 |
| Chemistry | 18 |
| Biology | 11 |
NDA Mathematics Analysis
The NDA exam analysis for the Maths paper is now available. Below is the breakdown of questions by topic.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
| Trigonometry | 3 |
| Height & Distance | 2 |
| Sequence & Series | 4 |
| Complex Number | 2 |
| Inequality and Logarithms | 1 |
| Permutation and Combination | 7 |
| Quadratic Equation and Cube Roots | 6 |
| Binomial Theorem | 3 |
| Matrices and Determinants | 9 |
| Probability | 3 |
| Binary | 3 |
| Sets, Relations and Functions | 7 |
| Limits, Continuity and Differentiability | 4 |
| Integration & Its Application | 5 |
| Vector | 6 |
| Conic Section | 3 |
| 3D Geometry | 5 |
| Statistics & Data Interpretation (Static & DI) | 6 |
| Circle | 3 |
Also go through expert UPSC NDA Preparation Tips for effective preparation using previous year question papers.
| Important Links | |
Did you find the NDA exam previous year papers provided in this article to be useful? Download the Testbook App for free now and get access to more such learning resources, mock tests, study materials and expert coaching to stay ahead of the curve in competitive government exams!
Last updated on Jun 17, 2025
->UPSC has released UPSC NDA 2 Notification on 28th May 2025 announcing the NDA 2 vacancies.
-> A total of 406 vacancies have been announced for NDA 2 Exam 2025.
->The NDA exam date 2025 has been announced for cycle 2. The written examination will be held on 14th September 2025.
-> Earlier, the UPSC NDA 1 Exam Result has been released on the official website.
-> The selection process for the NDA exam includes a Written Exam and SSB Interview.
-> Candidates who get successful selection under UPSC NDA will get a salary range between Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 39,100.
-> Candidates must go through the NDA previous year question paper. Attempting the NDA mock test is also essential.
NDA Previous Year Papers FAQ's
Where can I find NDA Previous Year Question Papers?
NDA Previous Year Question Papers can be downloaded from official websites like UPSC, Testbook, or other exam preparation platforms. Many websites also offer free PDFs for practice.
Are NDA Previous Year Question Papers available for free?
Yes, NDA Previous Year Question Papers are available for free on various educational websites, apps, and platforms.
Why is it important to solve NDA Previous Year Question Papers?
Solving NDA Previous Year Question Papers assists you in comprehending the exam pattern, question types, and time management techniques, thereby improving your exam preparation.
How can NDA Previous Year Question Papers help improve my speed?
Regular practice with NDA Previous Year Question Papers improves your speed by familiarizing you with the types of questions and exam patterns, allowing you to complete the exam within the time limit.
Do NDA Previous Year Question Papers include solutions?
Yes, NDA Previous Year Question Papers along with complete solutions are provided in the Testbook App so that the candidates can see the right way of responding to the questions.
Are previous year questions enough for NDA?
NDA Previous Year Question Paper is a useful source for the preparation of the NDA exam.
Which type of questions are asked in NDA?
Maths questions are based on Class 11–12 syllabus, while General Ability Test includes English, Science, History, Polity, and Current Affairs in MCQ format.
How do questions get repeated in NDA from the previous years?
Most questions are asked from previous year's papers, only the questions are changed, but the concept remains the same every year.