NDA 2 2025: Preparation Strategies by Students as per Shiksha Polls
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam 2026 ( NDA )
Exam On - 12 Apr '26
To ace NDA 2 2025 exam, candidates must be thorough with the syllabus and exam pattern. They must also solve previous years' question papers and mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
NDA 2 2025: Preparation Strategies by Students as per Shiksha Polls
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct NDA 2 2025 exam on September 14, 2025. The notification for NDA 2 2025 exam has been released for more than 400 vacancies. Candidates who are appearing in the NDA 2 2025 exam have started their preparation. The first and foremost step towards NDA 2 2025 preparation is going through the syllabus and exam pattern. After completing the syllabus, candidates must begin with solving the UPSC NDA previous years question papers as it will help them to know the important topics for the exam as well as improve the speed and accuracy of solving problems. Candidates must also attempt mock tests to get the experience of actual test. Scroll down to know about the preparation strategies by students for the NDA 2 2025 exam as per Shiksha Polls.
- Preparation Strategies by Students as per Shiksha Polls: Detailed Analysis
- How to Prepare for NDA 2 2025 in 3 Months?
- NDA Exam Pattern 2025
- NDA Syllabus 2025
Preparation Strategies by Students as per Shiksha Polls: Detailed Analysis
Shiksha created one poll on ‘How long have you been preparing for NDA 2 2025 exam?’ to gather the feedback of students regarding their preparation strategies for the exam. According to Shiksha Polls, 54 per cent of students said that they do not start preparing for the exam. A total of 25 per cent students said that they have just preparing for the exam. A total of 10 per cent of candidates voted that they have been preparing for last two to three months.
NDA exam centres are released along with the notification. The details related to the test cities are to be filled while filling the application form. The examination authority allots test cities as per their preferences.
The medicals after NDA SSB are called SMB (Special medical Board). This done at the Military Hospitals. Each recommended candidate are required to go through it. The TR/PR candidates get another chance to prove themselves medically fit within 42 days from the medical conference, this is called AMB (Appeal medical Board). This takes place at Command Hospitals. The candidates who are rejected from AMB may or may not get the chance for Review Medical Board (RMB). RMB is not the right of the candidate but is given by reviewing your ailment by senior doctors of Army at the office of DGMS behind North Block, near Rashtrapati Bhavan. It usually takes about a month.
How to Prepare for NDA 2 2025 in 3 Months?
To ace in NDA 2 2025 exam, candidates must have a well-designed preparation strategy. Besides, they should put in consistent efforts. Candidates must plan a study routine and follow that diligently. The tips and tricks to prepare for NDA 2 2025 exam in 3 months are given below:
- Create Effective Study Plan: Students must device a balanced timetable that covers all the subjects. They should set achievable targets and follow it consistently.
- Revise Formulas and Theorems: Focus on understanding concepts, formulas and theorems. Candidates must improve speed and accuracy.
- Stay updated with current affairs: Read newspapers, magazines to stay updated with the national and international news.
- Solve Previous Years Question Papers: Gain familiarity with the exam pattern and types of questions by practicing NDA previous years’ question papers. Analyse performance and work on improving the weak areas.
- Take Mock Tests: Attempt mock tests regularly to assess the level of preparation and identify the areas for improvement.
- Begin SSB Interview Preparation Early: Dedicate time to prepare for the SSB interview. Indulge in some physical activities to prepare for SSB Interview.
NDA Exam Pattern 2025
NDA exam pattern is such that it is divided into written exam and SSB interview. The written exam comprises two papers-Maths and GAT. The written exam carries 900 marks. The SSB Interview carries 900 marks. NDA exam pattern is given below.
| Code | Exam Name | Duration | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 |
Mathematics |
2 ½ hours |
120 |
300 |
| 02 |
General Ability Test |
2 ½ hours |
50 |
200 |
| 100 |
400 |
|||
| - |
SSB Interview |
- |
50 |
900 |
| Total |
1800 |
|||
Army Group Insurance Fund provides insurance cover of INR 15 Lacs on payment of one time non-refundable premium of INR 7,200 (subject to revision from time to time) by cadets from the date of joining for pre-commission training i.e. for 3 years.
NDA exam dates 2026 ere announced through the annual calendar. NDA 1 exam will be held on April 12. The exam for UPSC NDA II will be held on September 13. Candidates can apply for both the sessions. The total marks allotted to the test are 900.
Few exam day guidelines for NDA exam are given below:
The entry gate closes 10 minutes before the exam begins
For the morning session, the entry closes at 9.50 am while for the afternoon session, the entry closes at 1.50 pm
Candidates need to preserve their admit cards till the exam day
Mobile phones, calculators, or any other electronic devices are banned inside the exam centre
Candidates should bring a black point
Candidates whose photograph is not clearly printed on NDA admit card should bring photo-identity proof and three passport-sized photographs
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
CTET
31 Jan '26 - 2 Mar '26
4 Feb '26 - 2 Mar '26
6 Mar '26
16 Feb '26 - 10 Mar '26
SSC CHSL
12 Apr '26
15 Mar '26 - 15 Apr '26
30 Apr '26 - 31 May '26
6 Oct '26 - 5 Nov '26
NDA Syllabus 2025
NDA syllabus is prescribed by UPSC for Maths and GAT. Candidates must be thorough with the topics given in the syllabus.
| NDA Math Syllabus |
Algebra, Calculus, Matrices and Determinants, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Trigonometry, Vector Algebra, Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and Probability. |
| NDA GAT Syllabus |
The GAT syllabus is divided into two parts. Part A comprises questions from English, while Part B carries questions from General Knowledge. Questions in English part are asked from Grammar and Usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Cohesion, Preposition. Questions in General Knowledge are asked from Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events. |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 5 days ago
Hi Krishna, NDA preparation and JEE preparation are very different in orientation. The General Studies and English paper in NDA makes all the difference. The General Studies in NDA has a vast syllabus and can not be prepared in one or two months.
JEE preparation need a concentrated effort because th
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 6 days ago
Hi Vaibhav, the NDA applications were open from December 10 to 30, 2025. The Commission also provided the application correction window for one week after that on its official website. Now it is not available.
The NDA exam 2026 will be conducted on April 12.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
The 4 new NDA recommendations of Doon Defence Dreamers were reported from multiple SSB and AFSB boards, reflecting performance across different centres rather than a single location. The recommendations came from Army SSB boards such as Allahabad and Bhopal, along with Air Force Selection Boards (AF
d
Beginner-Level 2
Answered a month ago
When I started looking for online NDA coaching programs, my main goal was to find something that went beyond just recorded lectures. I compared multiple online platforms and also visited several coaching institutes in Dehradun to understand how their online and hybrid programs actually support stude
d
Beginner-Level 2
Answered a month ago
Candidates after joining Navy gets the position of Sub Lieutenant. With promotions, candidates reach to the level of Admiral. The posts offered to candidates in Navy are given below.
Sub Lieutenant |
Lieutenant |
Lt Commander |
Commander |
Captain (Selection) |
Captain (Time Scale) |
Commodore |
Rear Admiral |
Vice Admiral |
Admiral |
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Candidates after clearing NDA and commissioning get the position of Lieutenant. The posts offered to candidates are given below.
Lieutenant |
Captain |
Major |
Lieutenant Colonel |
Colonel (Selection) |
Colonel (Time Scale) |
Brigadier |
Major General |
Lieutenant General |
General |
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
NDA salary from Lt. Col level 12A is between INR 1,21,200 to 2,12,400. The same for Col. level 13 is INR 1,39,600-2,17,600. It is INR 1,44,200-2,18,200 for Maj General Level 14.
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
NDA salary for Lt. Level 10 is INR 56, 100 to 1,77,500. The salary for Capt. level 10 B is INR 61,300-1,93,900. NDA Salary for Major Level 11 is INR 69,400-2,07,200.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NDA admit card is released one week before the exam day. NDA 1 hall ticket is expected in April. The call letter for NDA 2 will be released in September. Candidates can download their admit cards online only.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Candidates can start clearing their basics for NDA Chemistry from NCERT books of Classes 11 & 12. These books cover core topics like Acids, Chemical Reactions, Bases, Atoms, etc. The syllabus for this subject is prescribed by the examination authority.
S
Contributor-Level 7
NDA exam is conducted across multiple test centres in more than 70 cities. The exam is conducted in two shifts-morning and afternoon. Candidates are required to appear in both shifts. The details regarding the NDA exam centre are mentioned on the admit card. There is a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each of the centres except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur. Allotment of NDA centres is done on the first-apply-firstallot basis and once the capacity of a particular centre is attained, the same is frozen. Applicants who cannot get a centre of their choice due to ceiling, are required to choose a NDA exam centre from the remaining ones. Applicants should apply early so that they get their preferred exam centre.