NDA II Exam Pattern 2026 – Marking Scheme, Paper Pattern & Selection Process
The NDA II Exam Pattern 2026 is set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and defines the structure of the written examination and subsequent selection stages. Knowing the exam pattern thoroughly helps candidates plan their preparation, manage time during the exam, and apply the right strategy for negative marking. The NDA II 2026 written exam is scheduled for 13th September 2026.
NDA II 2026 Exam Pattern – At a Glance
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
NDA & NA Examination II 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
UPSC |
|
Mode of Exam |
Offline (Paper-based, OMR sheet) |
|
Medium |
English and Hindi (bilingual) |
|
Number of Papers |
2 (Mathematics + General Ability Test) |
|
Total Questions |
270 (120 Maths + 150 GAT) |
|
Total Written Marks |
900 |
|
Duration per Paper |
2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) |
|
Question Type |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
|
Negative Marking |
Yes |
|
SSB Interview Marks |
900 |
|
Grand Total (Written + SSB) |
1800 |
NDA II Written Exam – Paper-wise Pattern
|
Paper |
Subject |
No. of Questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
Duration |
|
Paper I |
Mathematics |
120 |
2.5 |
300 |
2.5 hours |
|
Paper II |
General Ability Test (GAT) |
150 |
4.0 |
600 |
2.5 hours |
|
Total |
270 |
900 |
5 hours |
NDA II Maths Paper Pattern 2026
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Total Questions |
120 |
|
Marks for Correct Answer |
+2.5 marks |
|
Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer |
−0.83 marks (i.e., 1/3 of 2.5) |
|
Marks for Unattempted Question |
0 (no deduction) |
|
Total Marks |
300 |
|
Duration |
150 minutes |
|
Difficulty Level |
Class 11–12 standard |
|
Topics Covered |
Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Matrices, Geometry, Vectors, Statistics |
Strategy Note: At +2.5 per correct and −0.83 per wrong, you need to be right about 75% of the time for your attempts to be net positive. Aim for accuracy over quantity.
NDA II GAT Paper Pattern 2026
The General Ability Test (GAT) is divided into two parts:
GAT – Part A: English
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Total Questions |
~50 questions |
|
Marks per Correct Answer |
+4 |
|
Marks Deducted per Wrong Answer |
−1.33 |
|
Topics |
Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Para-jumbles |
GAT – Part B: General Knowledge
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Total Questions |
~100 questions |
|
Marks per Correct Answer |
+4 |
|
Marks Deducted per Wrong Answer |
−1.33 |
|
Topics |
Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Current Events |
GAT – Section-wise Mark Distribution (Approximate)
|
Section |
Approx. Marks |
|
English (Part A) |
200 |
|
Physics |
100 |
|
Chemistry |
60 |
|
General Science |
40 |
|
History, Freedom Movement |
80 |
|
Geography |
80 |
|
Current Events |
40 |
|
Total (GAT) |
600 |
NDA II 2026 Marking Scheme – Detailed
|
Scenario |
Paper I (Maths) |
Paper II (GAT) |
|
Correct Answer |
+2.5 marks |
+4.0 marks |
|
Wrong Answer |
−0.83 marks |
−1.33 marks |
|
Unattempted |
0 |
0 |
|
Sectional cutoff |
25% of total marks |
25% of total marks |
Minimum qualifying marks: Candidates must score at least 25% marks in each paper separately to qualify for the SSB interview. This translates to:
-
Maths: Minimum 75 marks out of 300
-
GAT: Minimum 150 marks out of 600
NDA II Selection Process 2026
The selection for NDA II 2026 is a multi-stage process:
|
Stage |
Details |
Marks |
|
Stage 1: Written Exam |
Maths + GAT (MCQ-based offline exam) |
900 |
|
Stage 2: SSB Interview |
Intelligence & Personality Test, Psychological Test, Group Tasks, Interview |
900 |
|
Stage 3: Medical Examination |
Physical and medical fitness evaluation (qualifying in nature) |
— |
|
Grand Total |
Written + SSB |
1800 |
SSB Interview – Sub-stages
|
Round |
Description |
|
Stage I |
Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test + Picture Perception & Description Test (PPDT) |
|
Stage II |
Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, Personal Interview, Conference |
Candidates who clear Stage I of SSB proceed to Stage II. Final merit is based on the combined score of the written exam and SSB interview (out of 1800 marks).
NDA II Previous Year Paper Pattern
Studying previous year papers is essential. The paper pattern has been largely consistent over the years:
|
Year |
Session |
Maths Max Marks |
GAT Max Marks |
Total Written |
|
2022 |
NDA II |
300 |
600 |
900 |
|
2023 |
NDA II |
300 |
600 |
900 |
|
2024 |
NDA II |
300 |
600 |
900 |
|
2025 |
NDA II |
300 |
600 |
900 |
|
2026 |
NDA II |
300 |
600 |
900 |
The pattern has remained unchanged for several years, and aspirants can confidently use previous year papers as an accurate reflection of what to expect in 2026.
NDA II 2026 – Time Management Strategy
|
Paper |
Total Questions |
Recommended Approach |
|
Mathematics (150 min) |
120 |
Attempt 60–70 questions with high accuracy; skip difficult ones |
|
GAT – English (approx. 60 min) |
~50 |
Aim for 40–45 correct; comprehension is the easiest scoring area |
|
GAT – GK (approx. 90 min) |
~100 |
Attempt 75–85 questions; current affairs and physics give most marks |
NDA II 2026 – Do's and Don'ts During the Exam
|
Do's |
Don'ts |
|
Read each question carefully |
Do not attempt questions you are unsure about |
|
Begin with your strongest topics |
Do not spend more than 2 minutes on any single question |
|
Attempt English section first in GAT (usually easier) |
Do not leave any section completely unattempted |
|
Keep an eye on the clock |
Do not change answers randomly at the last minute |
|
Mark rough work clearly on the sheet provided |
Do not write anything on the OMR sheet outside designated areas |
Summary
The NDA II Exam Pattern 2026 consists of two offline MCQ-based papers — Mathematics (120 questions, 300 marks) and General Ability Test (150 questions, 600 marks) — with a combined written score of 900 marks. Negative marking of 0.83 (Maths) and 1.33 (GAT) per wrong answer makes accuracy crucial. Candidates must clear a 25% sectional cutoff in each paper. The written exam is followed by the SSB Interview (900 marks), making the total selection score out of 1800.
Other Recommended Books | Study Materials
Practice Comprehensively with Oswaal360 Online Courses for NDA 2026 Exams
Practice Now with Free Oswaal360 Online Mock Test for NDA 2026 Exams
Are You a Teacher? Apply for FREE NDA Specimen Books For Teachers from our end.
