NDA Exam Syllabus 2024: Subjects, Topics, and Preparation Tips -

The (National Defence Academy) NDA exam Syllabus is a prestigious and challenging test conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select candidates for the Indian Armed Forces. The exam consists of two stages: a written test and a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The written test includes two papers, Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT), with a total of 900 marks.

The Mathematics paper carries 300 marks and covers topics from Class 12 syllabus, while the GAT paper carries 600 marks and includes questions from English, General Knowledge, and General Science. The SSB interview is a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s personality, including psychological tests, group testing, and personal interviews.

The exam is highly competitive, and candidates must prepare thoroughly to succeed. The NDA exam is a crucial step in the selection process for cadets at the National Defence Academy, which trains officers for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force

Understanding the National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam: A Comprehensive GuideThe National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is a highly competitive and prestigious test conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select candidates for the Indian Armed Forces. The exam is designed to assess the aptitude, knowledge, and potential of aspiring officers to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the details of the NDA exam, including its structure, syllabus, and preparation strategies.

Structure of the NDA ExamThe NDA exam consists of two stages: a written test and a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The written test is a multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam that tests a candidate’s knowledge and skills in various subjects. The SSB interview is a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s personality, including psychological tests, group testing, and personal interviews.

Written Test

The written test of the NDA exam is divided into two papers:

Mathematics Paper: This paper carries 300 marks and is designed to test a candidate’s mathematical skills and knowledge. The paper includes questions from Class 12 syllabus, covering topics such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus.

General Ability Test (GAT): This paper carries 600 marks and is designed to test a candidate’s general knowledge, English, and general science. The paper includes questions from various subjects, including English, General Knowledge, and General Science.

Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview

The SSB interview is a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s personality, including psychological tests, group testing, and personal interviews. The interview is designed to evaluate a candidate’s leadership skills, communication skills, and ability to work under pressure.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the NDA exam, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Age: Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old.

Education: Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognized board or university.

Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens.

Physical Standards: Candidates must meet the physical standards set by the Indian Armed Forces.

Preparation Strategies

Preparing for the NDA exam requires a comprehensive approach that includes both academic and non-academic preparation. Here are some strategies to help candidates prepare:

Academic Preparation: Candidates should focus on their Class 12 syllabus and practice solving problems in mathematics and science.

General Knowledge: Candidates should read newspapers, magazines, and books to stay updated on current events and general knowledge.

English: Candidates should practice reading and writing in English to improve their communication skills.

Psychological Preparation: Candidates should practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, to manage stress and anxiety.

Physical Fitness: Candidates should maintain a high level of physical fitness through regular exercise and sports.

Tips for the Written Test

Here are some tips to help candidates perform well in the written test:

Time Management: Candidates should manage their time effectively to complete all questions within the allotted time.

Read the Questions Carefully: Candidates should read each question carefully to avoid misunderstandings.

Eliminate Options: Candidates should eliminate obviously incorrect options and then choose the best answer.

Practice Mock Tests: Candidates should practice mock tests to get familiar with the exam pattern and timing.

Tips for the SSB Interview

Here are some tips to help candidates perform well in the SSB interview:

Confidence: Candidates should be confident and assertive during the interview.

Communication Skills: Candidates should practice their communication skills, including speaking, listening, and writing.

Body Language: Candidates should maintain good body language, including eye contact and posture.

Problem-Solving: Candidates should practice solving problems and thinking critically.

NDA exam syllabus

The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA. The exam is held twice a year. The syllabus for the NDA exam is divided into two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).

Mathematics Syllabus

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 and 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 applications

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

Trigonometry

Angles and their measures in degrees and in radians

Trigonometric 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

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

Differential Calculus

Concept of a real-valued function – domain, range and graph of a function

Composite functions, one-to-one, onto and inverse functions

Notion of limit, Standard limits – examples

Continuity of functions – examples, algebraic operations on continuous functions

Derivative of function at a point, geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative – applications

Derivatives of sum, product and quotient of functions, derivative of a function with respect to another function

Derivative of a composite function

Second order derivatives

Increasing and decreasing functions

Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima

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

Evaluation of definite integrals – determination of areas of plane regions bounded by curves – applications

Definition of order and degree of a differential equation, formation of a differential equation by examples

General and particular solution of a differential equation

Solution of first order and first degree differential equations of various types – examples

Application in problems of growth and decay

Vector Algebra

Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude and direction of a vector

Unit and null vectors, addition of vectors, scalar multiplication of a vector, scalar product or dot product of two vectors

Vector product and cross product of two vectors

Applications – work done by a force and moment of a force and in geometrical problems

Statistics and Probability

Statistics: Classification of data, Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution

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

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

Definition of probability – classical and statistical – examples

Elementary theorems on probability – simple problems

Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem – simple problems

Random variable as function on a sample space

Binomial distribution, examples of random walks and related simple problems

General Ability Test (GAT) Syllabus

Part A: English

Grammar and usage

Vocabulary

Comprehension and cohesion in extended text

Spotting of errors

Synonyms and antonyms

Sentence improvement

Fill in the blanks

Cloze test

Para-jumbles

Part B: General Knowledge

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

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 and simple Chemical Equations

Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems)

Properties of Air and Water

Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide

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 Gunpowder

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

Section D: History

A 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

The 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

Section F: Current Events

Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in the recent years

Current important world events

Prominent personalities – both Indian and International including those connected with cultural activities and sports

Conclusion

This syllabus is comprehensive and designed to assess the knowledge and understanding of candidates across various subjects essential for their roles in the defence services. Candidates are advised to go through the detailed topics and prepare accordingly.

The NDA exam is a challenging and competitive test that requires thorough preparation and dedication. By understanding the structure and syllabus of the exam, candidates can develop a comprehensive preparation strategy that includes both academic and non-academic preparation. With the right approach and mindset, candidates can perform well in the written test and SSB interview and join the Indian Armed Forces as officers.