UPSC NDA and NA - General Ability Test - Exam pattern 2025, Eligibility and Summary

UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts the National Defence Academy & National Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA Examination) twice a year. It is a national-level exam for recruiting the candidates in Army, Navy, and Air force.

In a year it is conducted as NDA & NA (I), and NDA & NA (II) Examinations. The exam consists of 2 Papers- (1) Mathematics and (2) General Ability Test (GAT). The syllabus of both papers is based on CBSE 10+2 standards. After qualifying for the written test the candidates are called for an NDA SSB Interview. And hence the final selection of Students depends on their performance in the written exam and SSB Interview.

Check Daily quizzes, attempt Mock tests, and watch Daily current affairs to improve your knowledge for competitive exams.

Educational Qualifications for NDA and NA:

(A) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy:

• 12th Class pass in the 10+2 school education pattern, or equivalent examination administered by a State Education Board or a University.

(B)  For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy:

• 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from the 10+2 school education pattern or equivalent from a State Education Board or a University

Age Limit for NDA and NA:

*Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 2006 and not later than 01st July, 2009 are eligible.*

Age Relaxation Extra as per NDA I Exam 2025 Rules.

Important Note: 

• Those candidates who have yet to qualify in the 12th class or equivalent examination and are allowed to appear in the UPSC Examination should note that this is only a special concession given to them. They are required to submit proof of passing the 12th class or equivalent examination by the prescribed date (i.e. 15th December, 2025) and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of Board/University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground whatsoever. 

• Candidates who have been prohibited from holding any form of commission in the Defence Services by the Ministry of Defence will be ineligible to take the exam.

Physical Standard for NDA and NA:

• Aspirants for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination must be physically fit according to physical standards.

• Aspirants are also advised to correct a few minor flaws/ailments such as Wax (ears), Deviated Nasal Septum, Hydrocele/Phimosis, Overweight/Underweight, Undersized Chest, Piles, Tonsillitis, and Varicocele.

• UPSC has set the different physical, visual, and medical standards for males and females for different posts of CDS, so candidates can check the information of physical standards through the official Website link on our website or whether they can check directly from the official Website of UPSC.

Schemes of the NDA and NA Selection Procedure:

The recruitment process will be held in the following phases.

• Written Exam

• SSB Test/ Interview

• Medical Examination/ Physical Standard

NDA and NA: Written Exam  

Important Note:

• The examination will take place offline.

• All the questions in the written examination will be of Multiple Choice (MCQs) type.

• In the General ability test, it will carry 04 marks each.

• Each incorrect answer will be 1/3rd marks deduction.

• The Examination test will be conducted in both English and Hindi (`Bilingual).

NDA and NA: Intelligence and Personality Test

The total marks given for the SSB Test/ Interview is 900.

The SSB procedure is divided into two stages:

• Stage-I and Stage-II.

*Only those candidates who pass stage-I are eligible to take stage-II.*

• Stage-I: Officers Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test are Picture Perception * Description Test (PP & DT) 

• Stage-II: The second stage consists of an interview, Group Testings Officers Task (GTO), psychological tests, and the conference.

The following are the likely positions that will be filled up through this Exam:

Syllabus for NDA and NA: Written Examinations

Important Note: 

• Out of maximum marks assigned to part ‘B’ of this paper, questions on Sections ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ will carry approximately 25%, 15%, 10%, 20%, 20%, and 10% weightage respectively

Fee Payable by Candidates for NDA and NA Exam:

For All Other Candidates: Rs. 100/-

SC/ST candidates/female candidates/Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs: Exempted

Mode of Payment:

• The payment can be made by using either depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash, or by using the net banking facility of State Bank of India.

• Applicants who choose the "Pay by Cash" option should print the Pay-in-slip issued by the system during Part-II registration and deposit the fee at the SBI Branch counter the next working day only.

• Such applicants who are unable to pay by cash on the closing date i.e. during banking hours at SBI Branch, for reason whatsoever, even if holding a valid Pay-in-Slip, will have no other offline option but to opt for online Debit/Credit Card/UPI Payment or Internet Banking. 

• The sons of serving/ex-Junior Commissioned Officers/Non-Commissioned Officers/Other Ranks of the Army, as well as equivalent ranks in the Indian Navy/Indian Air Force, are exempt from paying the prescribed fee if they attend a Military School/Sainik School run by the Sainik Schools Society.

For further information on how to fill out the online application form, see the instructions below.

.Visit the official website of UPSC

.Candidate has to register himself/ herself on OTR (One Time Registration) portal by Clicking the New Registration button.

.After registration, he/she has to login (by Email ID/ Mobile Number/ OTR ID) to verify the already registered OTR application.

.Go to the Latest Notification tab in the OTR application.

.Apply for desirable Examination.

.Candidate can check active examination Notification (in English and Hindi) on URL: https://www.upsc.gov.in

.Submit the application.

.Make a hard copy for future reference.