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NDA 2025 Guide: From Application to Marking Scheme Explained

NDA 2025 Guide: From Application to Marking Scheme Explained

UptoSkills Team 2 min 112/26/2025Career

The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is one of India’s most prestigious national-level exams for students aspiring to join the Army, Navy, or Air Force after Class 12. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts this exam twice a year, and the 2025 application process is closely followed by defence aspirants across the country.

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Application Form & Important Dates

The NDA 2025 application form was released as per UPSC’s official notification. Candidates could submit their online application during the designated window, with the exam scheduled for 14th September 2025. There was also a correction window after the submission period, allowing applicants to fix minor errors in their forms.

To complete the NDA application, aspirants must follow the UPSC guidelines carefully, provide accurate personal and educational details, and upload required documents before the deadline.

Eligibility Criteria

To successfully apply for the NDA exam, candidates need to meet the following criteria:

1. Nationality

  • Must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin settled in India.

2. Age Requirement

  • Applicants should generally be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age as specified in the official notification.

3. Educational Qualification

  • For the Army Wing: A 12th pass (10+2) from a recognized board is required.
  • For the Air Force and Naval Wings: Candidates must have passed 12th with Physics and Mathematics. Final-year 12th students can also apply if they will complete the exam before joining the academy.

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NDA Syllabus & Exam Pattern

The NDA exam has two major stages: Written Examination and SSB Interview.

Written Exam

The written test includes two objective-type papers:

1. Mathematics (300 Marks)

Covers topics such as algebra, trigonometry, calculus, geometry, and more.

2. General Ability Test (600 Marks)

Comprises English, general knowledge, science, history, geography, current affairs, and more.

Both papers are of 2.5 hours duration each and are conducted offline with multiple-choice questions only.

Marking Scheme

  • Mathematics: 120 questions, 2.5 marks each with negative marking for wrong answers.
  • GAT: Includes English and general knowledge, with different sections and similar objective marking.
  • Total written marks: 900
  • SSB Interview/Personality Test: 900 marks
  • Final selection score: 1800 marks combined (Written + SSB).

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Candidates must aim to balance both knowledge and interview performance to succeed in the NDA selection process.

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