UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) Syllabus, Exam Pattern

NDA Syllabus

UPSC NDA Exam Pattern

UPSC NDA (I) Exam paper consists of two sections – Mathematics and General Ability Test. Both test papers consist of Multiple Choice Questions.

• Sections: NDA entrance examination will be in two subsequent sections; (a) written test and intelligence & (b) personality test.
• Type of Questions: The question paper of written test will contain objective type questions and sectioned in code 1 & 2.
• Marks for Code 1: Code 1 will comprise of Mathematics questions of 300 marks & code 2 will comprise of general ability questions of 600 marks.
• Marks for Code 2: Code 2 will be divided in 2 sections that is A & B. Section A will cover Math of 200 marks while section B will cover general knowledge of 400 marks.
• Language: The language paper will be of both English & Hindi as per the NDA Syllabus 2019.
• Answering Method: Each question will have four optional answer candidates have to mark on the right one only.
• Negative Marking: There will be negative marking for incorrect answer.
• Instruction: Candidates use only black ball pen to mark answers.
• Subjects: The NDA exam paper will be consisted of two parts i.e. Mathematics and General Ability Test.
• Mode of Exam: The paper will be through offline mode.

Paper	Number of Questions	Time	Marks
Paper I: Mathematics	120	2.5 Hours	300
Paper II: English & General Ability	150	2.5 Hours	600
Total	270	5 Hours	900

Paper 1: Mathematics

• Marking scheme that is followed by UPSC for NDA Paper 1 is as follows:
• For every correct answer, 2.5 marks are rewarded.
• For every incorrect answer, 0.83 marks are deducted.

Paper 2: English & General Ability

Paper 2 will be divided into 2 sections:

Name of Section	Number of Questions	Marks
Section A: English	50	200
Section B: General Ability	100	400

Marking scheme for Paper II followed by UPSC is as follows:

• For every correct answer, 4 marks are rewarded.
• For every incorrect answer, 1.33 marks are deducted.
• If more than one answer are given by candidates for each question than same penalty will be applied.
• If candidates have not attempt nay question then no extra marks will be deducted.

NDA Syllabus

NDA Exam Syllabus of Paper I: Mathematics

NDA Syllabus of Algebra:

• Concept of a set
• operations on sets
• Venn diagrams. De Morgan laws
• Cartesian product relation
• equivalence relation
• Representation of real numbers on a line
• Complex numbers – basic properties
• modulus argument
• Cube roots of unity
• Binary system of numbers
• Conversion of a number in decimal system to binary system and vice-versa.
• Arithmetic
• Geometric and Harmonic progressions
• Quadratic equations with real coefficients
• Solution of linear inequations of two variables by graphs
• Permutation and Combination
• Binomial theorem and its application
• Logarithms and their applications.

Matrices and Determinants:

• Types of matrices
• Operations on matrices
• Determinant of a matrix

• Basic properties of determinants
• Adjoint and inverse of a square matrix
• Applications – Solution of a system of linear equations in two or three unknowns by Cramer’s rule and by Matrix Method.

NDA Syllabus for Trigonometry:

• Angles and their measures in degrees and in radians
• Trigonometrical ratios
• Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae
• Multiple and Sub-multiple angles
• Inverse trigonometric functions
• Applications – Height and distance
• Properties of triangles.

Analytical Geometry of two and three dimensions:

• Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system
• Distance formula
• Equation of a line in various forms
• Angle between two lines
• Distance of a point from a line
• Equation of a circle in standard and in general form
• Standard forms of parabola
• Ellipse and hyperbola
• Eccentricity and axis of a conic

NDA Syllabus Differential Calculus:

• Concept of a real valued function – domain
• range and graph of a function
• Composite functions
• Derivative of function at a point
• Derivatives of sum
• Product and quotient of functions
• Derivative of a function with respect of another function
• Derivative of a composite function
• Second order derivatives
• Increasing and decreasing functions
• Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima.
• NDA Eligibility Criteria

Integral Calculus and Differential Equations:

• Integration as inverse of differentiation
• Integration by substitution and by parts
• Standard integrals involving algebraic expressions
• Trigonometric
• Exponential and hyperbolic functions
• General and particular solution of a differential equation

NDA Syllabus Vector Algebra:

• Vectors in two and three dimensions

• Magnitude and direction of a vector
• Unit and null vectors addition of vectors
• Scalar multiplication of vector

Analytical Geometry of two and three dimensions:

• Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system
• Distance formula.
• Equation of a line in various forms
• Angle between two line.
• Distance of a point from a line
• Equation of a Circle in standard and in general form
• Standard forms of parabola, ellipse and hyperbola.
• Eccentricity and axis of a conic
• Point in a three dimensional space, distance between two points.
• Direction Cosines and direction ratios
• Equation of a plane and a line in various forms
• Angle between two lines and angle between two planes
• Equation of a Sphere

Statistics and Probability:

NDA Syllabus Statistics:

• Classification of data
• Frequency distribution
• Cumulative frequency distribution – examples
• Graphical representation – Histogram
• Pie Chart
• Frequency Polygon – examples
• Measures of Central tendency – Mean Median and Mode
• Variance and standard deviation – determination and comparison
• Correlation and regression

NDA Syllabus  Probability:

• Random experiment
• Outcomes and associated sample space
• Events
• Mutually exclusive and exhaustive events
• Impossible and certain events
• Union and Intersection of events
• Complementary
• elementary and composite events
• Conditional probability
• Bayes’ theorem – simple problems
• Random variable as function on a sample space
• Binomial distribution
• Examples of random experiments giving rise to Binominal distribution.

NDA Exam Syllabus of Paper II: English & General Ability

By comparison, English Syllabus for UPSC NDA 2019 is quite limited. The General Ability Portion will require a little extra time to cover.

Section A: English

The question paper in English is designed to test the candidate’s understanding of the English language and workman like use of words. The UPSC NDA Syllabus 2019 Pdf covers various broad topics, like

• Grammar and Application
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension and Cohesion

Section B: General Ability

The question paper on General Knowledge broadly covers the following subjects like Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events. So, for your benefit we have indicated below-

Section A: Physics

• Physical Properties and States of Matter
• Mass
• Weight
• Volume
• Density
• Specific Gravity
• Principle of Archimedes
• Pressure Barometer.
• Motion of objects
• Velocity and Acceleration
• Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Force and Momentum

• Parallelogram of Forces
• Stability and Equilibrium of bodies
• Gravitation
• elementary ideas of work
• Power and Energy.
• Effects of Heat
• Measurement of temperature and heat
• change of State and Latent Heat
• Modes of transference of Heat
• Sound waves and their properties
• Simple musical instruments
• Rectilinear propagation of Light
• Reflection and refraction
• Spherical mirrors and Lenses
• Human Eye
• Natural and Artificial Magnets
• Properties of a Magnet
• Earth as a Magnet
• Static and Current Electricity
• conductors and Non-conductors
• Ohm’s Law Simple Electrical Circuits
• Heating
• Lighting and Magnetic effects of Current
• Measurement of Electrical Power
• Primary and Secondary Cells
• Use of X-Rays

Section B: Chemistry

• Physical and Chemical changes.
• Elements Mixtures and Compounds Symbols Formulae
• simple Chemical Equations Law of Chemical Combination ( excluding problems )
• Properties of Air and Water
• Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen and Carbondioxide Oxidation and Reduction
• Acids bases and salts
• Carbon – different forms
• Fertilizers – Natural and Artificial
• Material used in the preparation of substances like soap Glass Ink Paper Cement Paints Safety Matches and Gun-Powder
• Elementary ideas about the Structure of Atom Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights Valency

Section C: General Science

• Difference between the living and non-living
• Basis of Life – Cells Protoplasms and Tissues
• Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals
• Elementary knowledge of human Body and its important organs
• Common Epidemics their causes and prevention
• Food – Source of Energy for man. Constituents of food Balanced Diet
• The Solar System – Meteors and Comets Eclipses
• Achievements of Eminent Scientists
• General Science Quiz

Section D: History Freedom Movement

• Broad survey of Indian History with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation.
• Freedom Movement in India.
• Elementary study of Indian Constitution and Administration.
• Elementary knowledge of Five Year Plans of India.
• Panchayati Raj Co-operatives and Community Development.
• Bhoodan Sarvodaya National Integration and Welfare State Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi
• Forces shaping the modern world
• Renaissance Exploration and Discovery
• War of American Independence
• French Revolution Industrial Revolution and Russian Revolution
• Impact of Science and Technology on Society
• Concept of one World United Nations Panchsheel Democracy
• Socialism and Communism
• Role of India in the present world

Section E: Geography

• Earth its shape and size.
• Latitudes and Longitudes Concept of time.
• International Date Line.
• Movements of Earth and their effects.
• Origin of Earth.
• Rocks and their classification
• Weathering
• Mechanical and Chemical Earthquakes and volcanoes.
• Ocean Currents and Tides
• Atmosphere and its composition;
• Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure Planetary Winds cyclones and Anti-cyclones;
• Humidity
• Condensation and Precipitation
• Types of Climate.
• Major Natural regions of the World.
• Regional Geography of India
• Climate Natural vegetation.
• Mineral and Power resources
• Location and distribution of agricultural and industrial activities.
• Important Sea ports and main sea land and air routes of India.
• Main items of Imports and Exports of India.
• World Geography Questions and Answers

Section F: Current Events

• Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in recent years.