UPSC NDA 2026 Syllabus – Mathematics & General Ability Test (GAT)

UPSC NDA 2026

Union Public Service Commission12th Pass medium

The NDA 2026 written exam syllabus covers two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics paper is broadly at Class 11–12 CBSE level, while GAT covers English, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.

Paper 1: Mathematics Syllabus

TopicSub-Topics
AlgebraSets, Venn diagrams, De Morgan's laws, Quadratic equations, Complex numbers, Binomial theorem, Logarithms, Permutations & Combinations, AP/GP, Linear equations
Matrices & DeterminantsMatrix operations, Inverse, Determinant properties, Solving linear equations using Cramer's Rule
TrigonometryAngles, Identities, Multiple & Sub-multiple angles, Inverse Trigonometry, Properties of triangles, Heights & Distances
Analytical Geometry (2D & 3D)Cartesian coordinates, Distance formula, Locus, Standard curves (circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola), Lines, Planes in 3D
Differential CalculusLimits, Continuity, Differentiation, Geometric interpretation, Applications of derivatives (Maxima/Minima, Rolle's theorem)
Integral Calculus & Differential EquationsIntegration techniques, Definite integrals, Area under curves, First-order differential equations
Vector AlgebraVector addition, Scalar & vector products, Applications in geometry
Statistics & ProbabilityMean, Median, Mode, Variance, SD, Correlation, Probability theory, Conditional probability, Bayes' theorem, Binomial & Normal distributions

Paper 2: General Ability Test (GAT) Syllabus

PartSubjectMarksKey Topics
Part AEnglish200Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Spotting Errors, Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks
Part BGeneral Knowledge400Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Freedom Movement, Geography, Current Affairs, Civics, Economics

General Knowledge Sub-Topic Weightage

  • Physics (25%): Laws of motion, Optics, Sound, Electricity, Magnetics, Heat, Nuclear physics basics
  • Chemistry (15%): Elements, Compounds, Acids/Bases/Salts, Oxidation-Reduction, Carbon chemistry basics
  • General Science (10%): Biology basics, Nutrition, Human body systems, Diseases
  • History & Freedom Movement (20%): Ancient, Medieval, Modern India; Indian National Movement milestones
  • Geography (20%): Physical Geography, India's physical features, Climate, Rivers, Soil types
  • Current Affairs & Civics (10%): Polity basics, Government schemes, Recent national/international events, Defence news

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Is NDA Mathematics at Class 12 CBSE level?

Yes. NDA Mathematics is broadly at Class 11–12 CBSE level, covering Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, Matrices, Vectors, Statistics and Probability. NCERT textbooks for Class 11–12 Maths are the primary preparation resource.

Q.How much weightage does Physics carry in GAT?

Physics is the highest-weightage subject in the GK section of GAT, contributing approximately 25% of the GK paper (around 100 marks out of 400). It covers school-level Physics from Class 9 to 12.

Q.Is the NDA syllabus different for Army, Navy, and Air Force wings?

No. The written exam syllabus is identical for all wings (Army, Navy, Air Force). The differentiation is made at the SSB interview stage where service-specific aptitude and physical requirements are assessed.

Q.Are current affairs important for NDA GAT?

Yes. Current affairs carries significant weightage within the Civics and GK section. Focus on defence-related news, space missions, government schemes, international relations, and sports events for the past 12 months.

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