UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 includes a written exam of two papers-Mathematics and GAT, followed by the SSB interview. The written test carries 900 marks and checks Maths, English, and General Knowledge through objective-type questions with negative marking.

The SSB interview also carries 900 marks and assesses personality and officer-like qualities. Understanding the marks, duration, and subject-wise weightage helps students plan preparation, manage time, and focus on important topics effectively.

UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 Overview

UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 has a clear structure that helps students plan their preparation. The written exam and SSB interview together decide the final merit list. 

The exam is held twice a year, usually in April and September. Forms for NDA 1 2026 are expected in December 2025, and the written exam will be in April 2026. The mode of exam is offline, in OMR sheet style.

UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 for Written

The written part of the UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 checks your basic knowledge of Maths, English, and General Knowledge. Questions are multiple choice. There is a clear nda exam marking scheme with negative marks, so you must mark answers carefully.

For many students, understanding nda marks distribution subject wise is the key step. Once they see how many marks each subject carries, they can decide which topics need more practice.

Maths Test Exam Pattern (Paper-1)

The Maths paper checks Class 11 and 12 level maths. Questions cover algebra, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, calculus basics, and statistics. The NDA exam pattern 2026 for Maths is shown below.

General Ability Test Exam Pattern (Paper-2)

The GAT paper checks English and General Knowledge. The English part tests grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. The General Knowledge part covers Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.

UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 for SSB Interview

After the written test, selected students go to the SSB interview. This stage also follows the UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026. The SSB tests your mind, body, and behaviour through tasks like group discussion, psychology tests, and a personal interview.

The SSB carries 900 marks. Your final rank list uses both written and SSB marks. So, students must treat the SSB as seriously as the written exam.

UPSC NDA Exam Subject Wise Question Distribution

Students want to know nda marks distribution subject wise so they can plan revision. The table below gives a simple picture. Numbers can change slightly each year, but the idea stays the same.

From this you can see that GK and English together carry more marks than Maths.

NDA Exam Marking Scheme 2026

The NDA exam follows a strict marking scheme where correct answers add to your score, while incorrect ones reduce it. Knowing this pattern helps candidates plan their attempts wisely. Avoiding blind guesses can significantly improve overall performance.

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UPSC NDA Exam Language Options

The UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026 gives simple options. Question papers for Maths and the GAT General Knowledge part are in both English and Hindi. The English part of GAT is only in English.

So, you can read most questions in the language you know better. Still, basic English is needed because English itself is a separate section with its own marks.

Important Topics in UPSC NDA Syllabus

Knowing the pattern is the first step. The next step is to know the important topics in the UPSC NDA syllabus that match the UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2026.

• Maths: algebra, trigonometry, matrices, determinants, coordinate geometry, area and volume, statistics, and probability.
• English: grammar rules, tenses, error spotting, synonyms, antonyms, and reading passage questions.
• General Knowledge: basic Physics and Chemistry, biology facts, Indian history, freedom movement, Indian and world geography, and latest current affairs.

When you link these topics with NDA marks distribution subject wise, you will see which areas carry more marks. Focus first on high‑weight topics, then move to smaller ones.

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