Published On: 08-01-2025 Updated On: 08-01-2025
The National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination are some of the most prestigious exams in India, conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). These exams are gateways for aspiring candidates to join the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA and the Indian Naval Academy (INA). Recently, the NDA Exam Date 2025 has been officially announced through the UPSC Calendar 2025.
Candidates can now gear up for the NDA 1 Exam, scheduled for 13th April 2025 (Sunday), and the NDA 2 Exam, set for 14th September 2025 (Sunday). Detailed insights into the exam schedule, admit card release, exam pattern, and more are provided below to help you plan your preparation effectively.
The UPSC NDA Exam 2025 will be held in two phases:
1. NDA 1 Exam 2025: 13th April 2025 (Sunday)
2. NDA 2 Exam 2025: 14th September 2025 (Sunday)
The exam is designed to select candidates for the 155th NDA Course and the 117th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). Below is a summary of the key dates for both exams:
The NDA 2025 written exam will be conducted in two sessions on the specified dates:
Morning Session (Paper 1 - Mathematics): 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Afternoon Session (Paper 2 - General Ability Test): 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
The NDA Admit Card 2025 will be released approximately 7 days before the exam date on the official UPSC website (www.upsc.gov.in). The admit card will include critical details such as:
Exam Date and Timing
Exam Venue and Center Code
Exam Day Instructions
Candidates are advised to download and review their admit cards carefully and adhere to the instructions mentioned.
If you are planning to appear for the UPSC NDA 2025 Examination, understanding the selection process, exam pattern, and syllabus is essential for success. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the NDA written examination, including its structure, marking scheme, and key details.
The UPSC NDA Exam will be conducted in offline mode, using pen and paper. This traditional format ensures that candidates from diverse regions and backgrounds can participate without technical barriers.
The question paper will follow a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) format, offering four options for each question. The exam will be bilingual, available in both English and Hindi, catering to the linguistic preferences of the candidates.
The NDA 2025 Examination spans a total of 5 hours, divided into two separate papers:
Paper 1: Mathematics
Paper 2: General Ability Test (GAT)
The overall examination carries 900 marks, with a well-balanced distribution across technical (Mathematics) and non-technical (General Ability Test) domains.
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 2½ hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test | 2½ hours | 600 |
| Total | 5 hours | 900 |
To excel in the NDA examination, candidates should:
By understanding the NDA 2025 Exam Pattern and tailoring your preparation accordingly, you can significantly enhance your chances of success. Start early, plan strategically, and approach the exam with confidence.
The NDA 2 2025 Examination is scheduled to be conducted at multiple test centers across the country. Detailed information about the exam center, venue, and other logistics will be provided in the candidates admit card, which will be released closer to the exam date.
Below is the comprehensive list of exam centers where the NDA 2025 examination will be held:
| State/Region | Exam Centers |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantpur, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Dispur, Jorhat, Siligudi |
| Bihar | Gaya, Patna |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Chhattisgarh | Bilaspur, Raipur |
| Delhi | Delhi |
| Goa | Panaji (Goa) |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Rajkot |
| Haryana | Faridabad, Gurgaon |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla, Srinagar (Uttarakhand) |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu, Leh, Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mysore |
| Kerala | Kochi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Thiruvananthapuram |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur |
| Maharashtra | Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Pune |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| Odisha | Cuttack, Sambalpur |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Punjab | Ludhiana |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Warangal |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Bareilly, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, |
| Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi | |
| Uttarakhand | Almora, Dehradun, Srinagar (Uttarakhand) |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
Candidates are advised to reach the designated center well in advance on the examination day and carry all necessary documents for smooth entry.
To excel in the NDA Exam 2025, candidates should:
1. Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Familiarize yourself with all topics and allocate time accordingly.
2. Focus on Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT): Practice problem-solving for Mathematics and improve general awareness for GAT.
3. Follow a Study Schedule: Dedicate sufficient time to revision and practice mock tests regularly.
4. Refer to Reliable Study Materials: Utilize NCERT books, previous year question papers, and online resources.
The NDA 1 Exam 2025 is scheduled for 13th April 2025 (Sunday).
The NDA 2 Exam 2025 will be held on 14th September 2025 (Sunday).
You can download the admit card from the official UPSC website (www.upsc.gov.in) 7 days before the exam.
The exam consists of two papers with a total duration of 5 hours (2½ hours for each paper).
The total marks for the NDA Exam 2025 are 900 (Mathematics: 300 marks, General Ability Test: 600 marks).