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UPSC NDA

The UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) Examination is one of the most popular defense entrance exams in India. It is conducted twice every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for candidates who want to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Students who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 can apply for this exam, and the age limit is generally 16 to 19 years. For 2026, the NDA/NA 1 2026 notification was released in December 2025, and the written exam was conducted on 12 April 2026. Solving previous year’s question papers helps candidates understand the exam pattern, question difficulty, and important topics from the Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Check out the complete information about UPSC NDA & NA 1 Recruitment 2026 from the link given below.

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NDA Previous Year Question Paper

The NDA & NA 1 exam dates have been officially announced as per the UPSC annual calendar. The NDA 1 2026 exam was conducted on 12th April 2026, and the NDA 2 2026 exam is scheduled for 13th September 2026. Candidates should now focus seriously on their preparation plans and strategy. Every year, the competition is increasing due to a rise in the number of candidates applying for limited vacancies, making strong preparation very important. Practicing with NDA previous year question papers helps candidates improve their speed and accuracy. Check out the latest NDA 1 2026 question paper given below.

UPSC NDA 2026

The NDA I exam dates for 2026 are given below. Candidates can check out the important dates and start their preparation for the NDA Exam 2026.

EventsUPSC NDA 1 2026
NDA Notification Release Date10th December 2025
NDA Online Registration Start Date10th December 2025
NDA Apply Online Last Date30th December 2025
NDA Exam Date12th April 2026
UPSC NDA Admit Card 2026Before Exam
NDA ResultNotify later
NDA Final Result

UPSC NDA Question Paper PDFs

Students can download the NDA question paper PDFs from here and practice as much as possible. 

NDA 1 2026 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(12 April 2026)
NDA-2
(13 September 2026)
MathematicsDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDF
NDA 2025 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(13 April 2025)
NDA-2
(14 September 2025)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2024 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(21 April 2024)
NDA-2
(1 September 2024)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2023 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(16 April 2023)
NDA-2
(3 September 2023)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2022 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(10 April 2022)
NDA-2
(4 September 2022)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2021 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(18 April 2021)
NDA-2
(14 November 2021)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2020 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1 & 2
MathematicsDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDF
NDA NA 2019 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(21 April 2019)
NDA-2
(17 November 2019)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2018 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(22 April 2018)
NDA-2
(9 September 2018)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2017 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(23 April 2017)
NDA-2
(10 September 2017)
MathematicsDownload PDF Download PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2016 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(17 April 2016)
NDA-2
(18 September 2016
)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF
NDA NA 2015 Question Paper
SubjectsNDA-1
(19 April 2015)
NDA-2
(27 September 2015)
MathematicsDownload PDFDownload PDF
General AbilityDownload PDFDownload PDF

NDA Exam Pattern 2026

The NDA written examination consists of two papers that evaluate a candidate’s understanding of mathematics and General Ability. Both papers play an important role in the final selection process and are conducted on the same day. The Mathematics paper tests problem-solving skills from topics like algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and geometry, while the General Ability Test (GAT) checks knowledge of English, science, history, geography, and current events. Each paper has a fixed time duration and carries equal importance in qualifying the written stage. Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks in both papers to move ahead to the SSB interview round.

PaperSubjectMaximum MarksDuration
Paper 1Mathematics3002½ hours
Paper 2GAT (General Ability Test)6002½ hours
Total9005 hours

UPSC NDA 2026 Best Books

Book NameBook TypeBook Link
(English Medium )
Book Link (Hindi Medium )
NDA/NA General Ability Test (Guide + PYQ) Book for ExamGuidebookView Book
NDA/NA Mathematics (Guide + PYQ) Book for ExamGuidebookView book
NDA/NA Mathematics ABHYAAS Mock Papers Book For ExamPractice setView book
NDA/NA General Ability Test (GAT) ABHYAAS Mock Papers Book For ExamPractice setView book
NDA Previous Year Mathematics & GATSolved PaperView BookView Book
NDA/NA Maths & GAT book for ExamQuestion BankView BookView Book
NDA/NA Solved Papers Book (Mathematics & GAT) For 2026 ExamSolved PapersView Book
NDA/NA (National Defence Academy/ Naval Academy) 26 GAT (General Ability Test) Solved Papers (2012-2025) Book For – ExamSolved PapersView Book
NDA/NA (National Defence Academy/ Naval Academy) 26 Math Solved Papers (2012-2025) Book For 2026 Exam in EnglishSolved PapersView Book

NDA Previous Year Question Paper FAQs

Q1. Where can I download the NDA Previous Year Question Papers for free?

Ans. Candidates can download free NDA previous year papers with solutions

Q2. What are the subjects of the NDA/NA Examination?

Ans. NDA & NA Examination includes 2 subjects/papers- Mathematics & General Ability Test

Q3. What is the UPSC NDA & NA 1 Official Website?

Ans. The official website for UPSC NDA is upsc.gov.in.

Q4. What is the UPSC NDA & NA 1 Exam Date 2026?

Ans. The UPSC NDA & NA Exam was held on 12 April 2026.