UPSC NDA & NA 2026 Paper Analysis - Section-wise Difficulty Level, Expected Cutoff, Chapterwise Weightage

UPSC NDA Exam Analysis 2026

TheUPSC NDA exam analysis 2026will be made available promptly after the exam is concluded. The NDA 1 2026 exam will be held on April 12, 2026, whereas the UPSC NDA 2 exam 2026 will be conducted on September 14, 2026. The exam will be held in pen and paper mode and the duration will be 2.5 hours. The overall difficulty level over the last 5 years has been reported as moderate. There are two sections in the UPSC NDA 2026 exam: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Both papers are carrying a total of 900 marks with negative marking, followed by an SSB interview which will also be held for 900 marks. The UPSC NDA 2026 exam comprised Objective Multiple-Choice Questions, divided between the Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) sections. The Mathematics section featured 120 questions worth 300 marks, while the GAT section had 150 questions totalling 600 marks. The Mathematics exam will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by the GAT from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Previously, in the UPSC NDA 1 exam, the General Ability Test (GAT) was relatively easier than the Mathematics paper, with an overall easy to moderate difficulty level, focusing heavily on current affairs. The Mathematics paper mirrored previous years' patterns, covering topics such as Trigonometry, Differential Equations, and Calculus, with some questions similar to those in the JEE Main exam. A good attempt for Mathematics is around 47-52 questions, while 95-105 questions are considered a good attempt for the GAT. 

UPSC NDA 2026 exam analysis entails details such as the students' review, the difficulty level of each paper, types of questions, and so on. Through this, candidates will be able to assess their performance and will also be able to compare it with other examinees. Read the entire article to get more information regarding UPSC NDA exam analysis 2026.

Section wise UPSC NDA 1 & 2 Exam Analysis 2026

The UPSC NDA Exam 2026 comprises a written exam where there will be Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) papers and an SSB interview. The interview will be held in offline mode evaluating an applicant's aptitude in academics and personality traits whether they are suitable for a career in the armed forces. This interview is considered moderately difficult. The Mathematics consists of 120 questions and 150 questions will be there in General Ability Test (GAT). Each correct answer in Math carries 2.5 marks, while 4 marks in GAT. 0.83 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer in Math and 1.33 marks in GAT. 

NDA 1 Exam Analysis 2026 Subject wise Difficulty Level

The difficulty level of the exam will vary depending on the subject. Again, is may also vary from candidate to candidate. We have provided a table below of the difficulty level and the number of questions asked per subject which will be updated once the exam analysis is released.

Section wise UPSC NDA 1 & 2 Exam Analysis 2024

The NDA 2 exam 2024 was conducted in a pen-and-paper format with a duration of 2.5 hours. Over the past five years, the overall difficulty level has consistently been rated as moderate. The UPSC NDA 2 2024 exam comprised Objective Multiple-Choice Questions, divided between the Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) sections. The Mathematics section featured 120 questions worth 300 marks, while the GAT section had 150 questions totaling 600 marks. The Mathematics exam was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by the GAT from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

NDA II Exam Analysis 2024 Subject-Wise Difficulty Level

The table below provides an overview of the average difficulty level and the estimated range of good attempts for each subject. For Mathematics, a good attempt is estimated at 72-88 questions, while for the General Ability Test (GAT), it's 79-90 questions. Both subjects are rated as "Easy to Moderate" in difficulty, indicating that the exam was generally manageable with a mix of straightforward and moderately challenging questions. This analysis provides a benchmark for candidates to assess their performance.

UPSC NDA II 2024 Topic-Wise Question Distribution

The data below details the number of questions asked from various topics in each section, providing valuable insights into the exam's focus areas. This breakdown helps candidates identify the key subjects and topics that were emphasized in the exam, aiding in better preparation and understanding of the overall exam structure.

No. of Questions Asked in Mathematics Paper

The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the Mathematics paper, listing the number of questions asked from various topics. This distribution highlights the key areas of focus, such as Integration, Quadratic Equations, and Matrices, helping candidates understand the emphasis placed on each topic in the exam.

No. of Questions Asked in GAT Paper

The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the General Ability Test (GAT) paper, highlighting the number of questions asked from various subjects, including Polity, History, Economics, and Biology. This distribution offers insight into the areas of focus within the GAT section, helping candidates understand the weightage of each subject in the exam.

The NDA Paper Analysis 2024 is available here. Candidates can ascertain their score using the NDA paper analysis 2024.

NDA 1 2024 Mathematics Paper Analysis

The overall difficulty level of the UPSC NDA 1 2024 Mathematics paper was moderate. Candidates who have a strong foundation of concepts will easily score well on the exam. There were some new topics asked in the question paper however the exam pattern and overall structure of the paper were unchanged. Around 8 questions were taken directly from the JEE Main Paper. Check out the detailed analysis mentioned below:

NDA 1 2024 GAT Paper Analysis

The GAT 2024 question paper for NDA 1 was relatively easier than the mathematics paper and the overall difficulty level of the paper was easy to moderate. Candidates were able to attempt most of the questions. Some of the most common topics in the NDA 1 GAT 2024 paper were from Current affairs. Take a look at the detailed analysis below:

UPSC NDA 1 2024 Exam Analysis

The NDA Paper Analysis 2024 is available here. Candidates can ascertain their score using the NDA paper analysis 2024.

NDA 1 2024 Mathematics Paper Analysis

The overall difficulty level of the UPSC NDA 1 2024 Mathematics paper was moderate. Candidates who have a strong foundation of concepts will easily score well on the exam. There were some new topics asked in the question paper however the exam pattern and overall structure of the paper were unchanged. Around 8 questions were taken directly from the JEE Main Paper. Check out the detailed analysis mentioned below:

NDA 1 2024 GAT Paper Analysis

The GAT 2024 question paper for NDA 1 was relatively easier than the mathematics paper and the overall difficulty level of the paper was easy to moderate. Candidates were able to attempt most of the questions. Some of the most common topics in the NDA 1 GAT 2024 paper were from Current affairs. Take a look at the detailed analysis below:

UPSC NDA Exam Analysis 2023

The paper analysis of both NDA (1) and NDA (2) have been mentioned here take a look:

NDA 1 Exam Analysis 2023

The overall difficulty level was of NDA 2023 moderate, especially for the Maths paper. It was simple to moderate for the GAT document. Maximum questions in mathematics came from the topics of functions and trigonometry. This paper had questions from a variety of subjects, including calculus, determinants, algebra, probability, trigonometry, algebra, arithmetic and geometric progression, and matrices. Complex number questions were absent. Candidates can learn more about the exam's overall difficulty level and sectional breakdown by using the NDA exam analysis. Aspirants to the NDA can utilize the exam analysis to plan their study strategy by determining the exam's difficulty level. 

NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2023

It has been reported by several sources that the UPSC NDA II 2023 exam will be harder than the previous one. The NDA 2 written exam is generally challenging, falling between moderate and demanding. Applicants seeking information on exam patterns, including topic difficulty levels, good attempts, and more, should consult the NDA 2 Analysis 2023.

NDA 1 Exam Analysis 2022

The Mathematics paper of NDA (I) 2022 was moderate to difficult. All the questions in GAT came from the NDA syllabus.As per the students' review, the difficulty level of the NDA (I) Mathematics paper was moderate. Moreover, the difficulty level of the paper was tough compared to the NDA (I) 2021 Exam. In 2022, there werefewer questions from complex number. In the Mathematics paper, questions were asked from Permutation and Combination, Arithmetic Progression, Geometric Progression, Quadratic Equation, Probability and Statistics. Most of the questions in GAT were from Social Studies, History, Current Affairs and English.

NDA (I) Paper Analysis 2022 for Mathematics

The topic-wise distribution of questions in Mathematics is given below:

NDA (I) Paper Analysis 2022 for GAT

NDA (II) Paper Analysis 2022 for GAT

In NDA (II) GAT paper, the Physics and Chemistry sections were easy. While the General Studies section was moderate to difficult. Questions came from Medieval History and Culture chapters. Current Affairs questions came from the events that occurred till July, 2022. Questions of Current Affairs came from Govt Schemes, Defence Acquisitions and Deals. The topic-wise distribution of questions in GAT is given below.

NDA (II) Paper Analysis 2022 for Maths

Section-wise UPSC NDA 2021 Exam Analysis for Paper II (General Ability)

The UPSC NDA 2 section-wise analysis for Paper II exam 2021 can be checked below:

In all, the difficulty level of UPSC NDA 2 written exam was moderate to difficult, and the candidates with good preparation might have a chance to score higher marks.

UPSC NDA (II) Section Wise Analysis for Paper I (Mathematics) 2021

The UPSC NDA (II) section-wise analysis for Paper I exam 2021 can be checked below -