NDA NA 2026 — Complete Exam Guide
NDA NA is one of India's key competitive exams conducted under Defence. This guide covers everything: eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, cut-offs, and preparation tips.
Overview
- Conducting Body: Defence
- Exam Level: Government & Banking Exams
- Region: Central
- Mode: Online (CBT)
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Graduation from a recognized university. Check the official NDA NA 2026 notification for post-specific requirements.
Age Limit
- Minimum: 18 years
- Maximum: 32 years (relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PWD as per norms)
Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|
| Part A | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 min |
| Part B | General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Part C | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| Part D | English / General Language | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer.
Syllabus Highlights
General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Series Completion, Directions
- Puzzles, Syllogisms, Venn Diagrams, Non-Verbal Reasoning
General Awareness
- Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science
- Sports, Awards, Important Schemes, Static GK
Quantitative Aptitude
- Number System, Percentage, Ratio, Time & Work, Speed & Distance
- SI/CI, Mensuration, Data Interpretation
English
- Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Error Spotting
Previous Year Cut-Offs
| Category | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|
| UR/General | 142–148 | 138–145 | 135–142 |
| OBC | 136–142 | 132–138 | 128–135 |
| SC | 128–135 | 124–130 | 120–128 |
| ST | 120–128 | 116–122 | 112–120 |
Preparation Tips
- Know the Syllabus: Download official notification and track every topic.
- Daily Practice: Solve 50+ MCQs daily across all sections.
- Previous Year Papers: Solve last 5 years under exam conditions.
- Mock Tests: Take full-length mocks weekly; analyze mistakes.
- Current Affairs: Read a newspaper daily + monthly CA capsule.
- Time Management: Target under 36 seconds per question.
Recommended Books
- Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal — Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Maths: Rakesh Yadav Arithmetic
- GK: Lucent's General Knowledge
- English: Wren & Martin + PYQs
- AI Practice: GPT Sir question bank with explanations
Start early, be consistent, and use smart tools like GPT Sir. Best of luck for NDA NA 2026!
