NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF Download

Hey there, future defence officer! Dreaming of joining the National Defence Academy (NDA)? That’s awesome—it’s your ticket to serving the nation with pride. But let’s be real: cracking the NDA exam isn’t a walk in the park. It demands smart prep, and the first step? Grabbing the official NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF Download from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Why official? Because only UPSC’s version guarantees accuracy—no guesswork, no outdated info. This guide breaks it all down, straight from the source, so you can hit the ground running. Ready to level up your NDA exam preparation? Let’s dive in.

Before you download the NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF, take 2 minutes to read this.👇

Most aspirants fail not because they don’t study hard, but because they study the wrong topics.
Below, we’ve broken down the official UPSC NDA 2026 syllabus into simple, topic-wise sections—
explaining what actually matters, what you can skip, and how the syllabus links to the exam pattern and SSB stage.
If you want to prepare smart (not just long hours), scroll down. This will save you months.

NDA 2026 Exam Pattern

Picture this: You’re in the exam hall, pen in hand, tackling objective questions that test your brains and grit. The NDA written exam is your first big hurdle, and knowing the pattern cold can make all the difference.

The UPSC-designed NDA 2026 exam follows a clear structure:

• Total Papers: Two—Mathematics (Paper I) and General Ability Test (GAT, Paper II).
• Duration: Each paper is 2.5 hours long.
• Question Type: All objective (multiple-choice) with bilingual options (English and Hindi for Math and GAT Part B).
• Marking Scheme:
  • Mathematics: 300 marks (2.5 marks per question, 120 questions).
  • GAT: 600 marks (4 marks per question in English, varying in GK).
  • Total: 900 marks.
• Negative Marking: Yep, 1/3rd marks deducted for wrong answers. Leave it blank if unsure—no penalty there.
• Qualifying Marks: UPSC sets these; aim high across both papers.

After the written exam? It’s SSB interview time—900 marks more for personality and fitness. But focus on the written first. Download the NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF from UPSC Official Site to see how topics align with this pattern. Pro tip: Practice timed mocks to build speed.

This table’s your quick cheat sheet—print it, pin it up. The pattern hasn’t budged in years, so you’re on solid ground for NDA 2026 exam syllabus prep.

NDA 2026 Subject-wise Syllabus

Alright, squad—time to unpack the meaty stuff. The NDA 2026 Subject-wise Syllabus is laser-focused on Class 11-12 level concepts, blending smarts with real-world awareness. Pulled straight from UPSC’s official notification, this is gold for your NDA exam preparation. No fluff, just topics that’ll show up on your paper.

Mathematics Syllabus

Maths isn’t just numbers; it’s strategy on paper. This section tests your problem-solving chops—think algebra puzzles and calculus curves. Cover these UPSC-mandated topics:

• Algebra: Sets, operations, Venn diagrams, De Morgan’s laws, Cartesian products, relations, equivalence. Real numbers, complex numbers (modulus, argument, cube roots), binary conversions, APs/GPs/HPs, quadratics, inequalities (graphical), permutations/combinations, binomial theorem, logs.
• Matrices and Determinants: Matrix types/operations, determinants (properties), adjoint/inverse, solving linear equations (Cramer’s rule, matrix method).
• Trigonometry: Angles (degrees/radians), ratios/identities, sum/difference formulas, multiple angles, inverse functions, height/distance, triangle properties.
• Analytical Geometry (2D/3D): Coordinates, distance formula, line equations/forms, angles between lines, circle equations, conics (parabola/ellipse/hyperbola), 3D points, direction cosines/ratios, plane/line equations, sphere.
• Differential Calculus: Functions (domain/range/graph, composite/one-to-one/inverse), limits/continuity, derivatives (interpretation/applications), rules (sum/product/quotient/chain), second-order, max/min problems.
• Integral Calculus and Differential Equations: Integration techniques (substitution/parts), standard integrals (algebraic/trig/exponential/hyperbolic), definite integrals/areas, DE order/degree, solutions (first-order types), growth/decay apps.
• Vector Algebra: Vectors (2D/3D, magnitude/direction), unit/null, addition/scalar product, cross product, work/moment, geometry apps.
• Statistics and Probability: Data classification/frequency/cumulative, graphs (histogram/pie/polygon), central tendency (mean/median/mode), variance/SD, correlation/regression. Probability (experiments/events, theorems, conditional/Bayes), random variables, binomial distribution.

Clocking 300 marks, this is make-or-break. Hit 70-80% accuracy here, and you’re golden. Use the NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF Download to map your study plan—focus on weak spots like vectors or probs first.

General Ability Test (GAT) Syllabus

GAT’s your all-rounder—English sharpness plus GK breadth. It’s 600 marks, so don’t sleep on it. Broken into English (200 marks) and GK (400 marks), with weightages: Physics 25%, Chemistry 15%, GS 10%, History 20%, Geography 20%, Current Events 10%.

English Syllabus

Test your word wizardry: Grammar/usage, vocab, comprehension, cohesion in texts. Expect synonyms, antonyms, idioms, error spotting, fill-in-blanks, passages. Read newspapers daily—builds flow without rote learning.

Physics Syllabus

Everyday science with a twist: Properties of matter (mass/weight/volume/density/SG, Archimedes, pressure/barometer). Motion (velocity/accel, Newton’s laws, force/momentum, parallelogram, equilibrium). Gravitation, work/power/energy. Heat (effects/temp/heat, latent heat, transfer modes). Sound (waves/properties, instruments). Light (propagation/reflection/refraction, mirrors/lenses/eye). Magnets (properties/Earth as magnet). Electricity (static/current, conductors/Ohm’s/circuits, heating/lighting/magnetic effects, power/cells/X-rays). Gadgets: Pendulum/pulleys/siphon/levers/balloon/pumps/etc.

Chemistry Syllabus

Mix it up: Physical/chemical changes, elements/mixtures/compounds, symbols/formulas/equations, laws of combination. Air/water properties, gases (H2/O2/N2/CO2 prep/properties), oxidation/reduction. Acids/bases/salts, carbon forms, fertilizers, everyday stuff (soap/glass/ink/paper/cement/paints/matches/gunpowder). Atom structure, equivalents/valency.

General Science Syllabus

Life basics: Living vs non-living, cells/protoplasm/tissues, plant/animal growth/reproduction, human body/organs. Epidemics/causes/prevention. Food (energy/constituents/balanced diet). Solar system (meteors/comets/eclipses), scientists’ achievements.

History, Freedom Movement, etc. Syllabus

India’s story: Culture/civilization survey, freedom struggle, Constitution/admin, Five Year Plans, Panchayati Raj/co-ops/community dev, Bhoodan/Sarvodaya/integration/welfare, Gandhi’s teachings. World shapers: Renaissance/exploration, American/French/Industrial/Russian revolutions, science/tech impact, one world/UN/Panchsheel, democracy/socialism/communism, India’s global role.

Geography Syllabus

Earth basics: Shape/size, latitudes/longitudes/time/ID line, rotations/effects. Origin/rocks/weathering/quakes/volcanoes. Oceans (currents/tides), atmosphere (composition/temp/pressure/winds/cyclones/humidity/condensation/climate/regions). India: Climate/veg/minerals/power/agri/industry, ports/routes, imports/exports.

Current Events Syllabus

Stay woke: Recent India events, world happenings, personalities (Indian/international, culture/sports).

GAT’s vast, but chunk it—dedicate weeks to each section. The official NDA 2026 exam syllabus in PDF form lists these exhaustively; cross-check as you study.

How to Download the Official NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF

No hunting around shady sites—stick to UPSC for the real deal. Here’s your foolproof steps:

1. Head to the UPSC official website: upsc.gov.in.
2. Navigate to “Examinations” > “Active Examinations” or search “NDA NA I 2026”.
3. Click the notification link—it’s a PDF packed with everything.
4. Download NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF from UPSC Official Site (direct to the exam page; PDF linked there).
5. Save it, print key pages—boom, your prep bible.

Takes 2 minutes, saves months of confusion. Remember, UPSC updates notifications annually (expected Dec 2025 for NDA I 2026 exam on April 19, 2026—tentative). Bookmark the site; refresh post-Dec 10.

Tips to Use the NDA Syllabus Effectively for Preparation

Got the PDF? Great—now weaponize it. As a teen gunning for NDA, you’re juggling school and dreams; these tips keep it real and doable.

• Map Your Plan: Scan the syllabus, rate topics 1-10 (confidence level). Tackle lows first—e.g., if trig trips you, drill 50 problems daily.
• Daily Grind: 4-6 hours: 2 Math, 2 GAT, 1 revision/mocks. Weekends? Full papers.
• Resources: NCERT Class 11-12 books (free PDFs online), RS Aggarwal for Math, Lucent GK. No fancy apps yet—build basics.
• Track Progress: Weekly tests via UPSC past papers. Score <60%? Revisit syllabus gaps.
• Health Hack: Sleep 7 hours, run 5km—NDA’s physical too. Motivated? Visualize that uniform.
• NDA Foundation Course Boost: Enroll early for structured guidance; it aligns your study to the syllabus like a pro.

Consistency beats intensity. Six months of smart work crushes years of cramming. You’ve got this—UPSC’s syllabus is your roadmap; follow it to the stars.

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FAQs

Where to download NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF? Straight from UPSC’s site—link above. Official only!

Is the syllabus same as last year? Yes, UPSC rarely tweaks it. 2026 mirrors 2025’s—confirm in the notification.

When is NDA 2026 Exam? Tentative: April 19, 2026 (I), September for II. Watch UPSC for confirms.

Best books for NDA 2026 exam syllabus? Math: Pathfinder; GAT: Arihant. But start with NCERTs.

Need coaching for NDA exam preparation? If self-study stalls, yes—try GZDA’s NDA Foundation Course in Dehradun.

There you have it—your complete NDA Syllabus 2026 PDF Download toolkit. Stay hungry, stay official, and charge ahead. India’s calling; answer with an A+. Questions? Drop ’em below. Jai Hind!