NDA is one of the most prestigious competitive government exams in the country. This exam allows the aspirants to be a part of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The NDA exam is conducted twice a year and UPSC is the conducting body for the same. Suppose you want to get selected for this examination. In that case, you need to clear all three phases of the examination which include a written exam, a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview, and a medical examination.
While going for the examination, you need to keep a few documents handy and clearly understand the items that are not allowed in the exam centre. If you are someone who also wants to understand this then you have landed on the right page. So, let's get started and see the important items that you should keep in mind before going for the NDA exam.
Documents Required in the NDA Exam
This section will provide you with all the necessary details for the documents that you must carry with you for the NDA exam. All the documents should be original and unless explicitly specified.
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Printed e-admit card
To get entry into the examination centre, you must carry the hard copy of the admit card with you. You can easily download your admit card from the official website of UPSC and should preserve the admit card until the results are announced.
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Valid photo identity proof
You should carry one original government-issued photo ID proof. Make sure that the ID proof matches the details on the admit card. The list of valid ID proofs includes:
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Aadhar card
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Passport
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Voter ID
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Driving License
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PAN Card
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Passport-sized photograph
You should carry two passport-sized photographs along with you while going for the examination. If your photo is not clear or missing on the admit card then this is a compulsory requirement.
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Black ballpoint pen
You should carry a black ballpoint pen with you for marking answers on the OMR sheet. If there are any answers in your OMR sheet that are not marked with the black ballpoint pen then those will not be evaluated.
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Face mask
All the candidates must wear a face mask while visiting the examination centre. You can remove it at the time of identity verification.
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Wrist watch
You are only allowed to wear a simple analogue wrist watch in the examination. No smartwatches are allowed inside the exam centre.
Read More: Last-Minute Answer Writing & OMR Sheet Tips for NDA 2025
Items Not Allowed in the NDA Exam
This section will give you the details of the items that are not allowed in the examination centre. The UPSC has a zero-tolerance policy against the banned items to ensure that the exam is conducted fairly.
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Electronics and communication devices
All types of electronic and communication devices are prohibited inside the exam centre. The devices include but are not limited to mobile phones, calculators, storage media, cameras, or any other communication devices.
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Valuables and other accessories
You are not allowed any type of bags, wallets, handbags, excessive jewellery, belts, or metal buckles in the exam hall.
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Study material
Make sure that you don't carry any books, written notes, loose paper, or log tables along with you.
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Other items
Other items that are not included in the exam hall include food, drinks, or any other item that can be used as unfair means during the examination.
How to Prepare for the NDS Exam?
Preparing for the NDS exam takes a lot of effort. This section will help you understand how you can prepare extensively for the CDA exam and make your mark in the examination. Let's have a look!
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Understand the syllabus and exam pattern
While preparing for the NDA exam, you must be well-versed with the syllabus and exam pattern. Books for the NDA examination will help you get a clear picture of the topics that will be covered in the examination. Once you are well-versed with the syllabus, you will understand in which direction you should take your preparation journey.
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Leverage question banks
Many NDA books are available in the market but you can't go through all of them to prepare for the examination. You can refer to the best NDA book 2025 for your exam preparation. Besides that, taking assistance from question banks will help you come across a wide variety of questions that can be asked in the examination. Once you prepare any topic, refer to the question bank for questions related to that topic. This will help you get a better command of the topics that you have prepared for the examination.
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Practice with previous year papers
The NDA previous year paper is the best way to understand your preparedness levels for the examination. With the NDA PYQ book, you will get a clear idea of the type of questions that can be asked about a particular topic. This will help you understand whether you are preparing in the right direction or not. Besides that, you will also come to know the type of questions that are important from an examination standpoint and how you can prepare for the same.
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Design a meticulous timetable
To prepare in the right direction for the NDA exam, you must bifurcate your time for each subject. When you design a meticulous timetable, you will have enough time to complete your syllabus and then proceed with the practice sessions. When you prepare according to the timetable, you will understand that you are on track with your preparation journey.
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Practice extensively
Practising extensively will help you boost your confidence levels for the examination. You can leverage the mock test papers to practice extensively for the exam. Mock tests mimic the real exam conditions and when you practice the mock test in a time-bound fashion, you will realise how well you are prepared for the examination. In addition to that, you will also get a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses to prepare precisely for the exam.
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Focus on conceptual clarity
While preparing for the NDA exam, you must focus on conceptual learning rather than mugging up the concepts. This will help you tackle any type of question that can be asked on the day of the examination. In addition to that, a better conceptual clarity will also boost your confidence levels to tackle even the tricky questions on the day of the examination.
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Take notes
When you are preparing for the examination, take notes. These notes will come in very handy during the last-minute revision before the examination. Make sure that the notes you prepare will have effective techniques like mind maps and mnemonics that will help you get an edge over the competition for the examination.
Final Thoughts
The NDA 2025 exam can be easily conquered if you prepare extensively for the examination. You can get an edge on the competition if you prepare in the right direction. The more you practice, the better your chances of excelling in the examination. So, make sure that you put your best shot out for the exam preparation.
All the Best!
