The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 on 13 September 2026 across examination centres in India. Candidates who appeared for the examination can download the NDA 2 2026 Question Papers for Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) from this page.
Candidates can also download the NDA 2 2026 Answer Keys for Sets A, B, C and D for both Mathematics and GAT. The set-wise answer keys will help candidates calculate their expected marks before the declaration of the NDA 2 2026 written result.
The examination was conducted for admission to the 158th NDA Course and 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC), scheduled to commence on 1 July 2027.
A total of 394 vacancies were notified for NDA 2 2026 across the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of the Indian Naval Academy.
NDA 2 2026 Exam Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification | 20 May 2026 |
| Notice Number | 10/2026-NDA-II |
| NDA 2 2026 Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Examination Mode | Offline – OMR Based |
| Mathematics | 300 Marks |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 600 Marks |
| Written Examination | 900 Marks |
| SSB Interview | 900 Marks |
| Total Selection Marks | 1800 Marks |
| Vacancies | 394 |
| Question Paper Sets | A, B, C and D |
NDA 2 2026 Exam Timings
The NDA 2 2026 written examination consisted of two papers conducted in separate shifts.
| Paper | Timing | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 2 Hours 30 Minutes | 300 |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 02:00 PM – 04:30 PM | 2 Hours 30 Minutes | 600 |
Candidates were required to appear in both Mathematics and GAT. The combined written examination carries 900 marks.
NDA 2 2026 Vacancy Details
UPSC notified 394 vacancies through NDA 2 2026. The vacancies are distributed among the Army, Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy.
| Academy / Wing | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| NDA – Army | 208, including 10 for women |
| NDA – Navy | 42, including 5 for women |
| NDA – Air Force Flying | 92, including 2 for women |
| NDA – Air Force Ground Duties (Tech) | 18, including 2 for women |
| NDA – Air Force Ground Duties (Non-Tech) | 10, including 2 for women |
| Naval Academy – 10+2 Cadet Entry | 24, including 3 for women |
| Total | 394 |
NDA 2 2026 Question Papers PDF
Candidates can download the NDA 2 2026 Mathematics and GAT question papers from the table below.
Only Set A question papers are provided here for download and practice. Candidates looking to analyse the examination or practise the questions can use these PDFs.
| NDA 2 2026 Question Paper | Set | Download PDF |
|---|---|---|
| NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Question Paper | Set A | [Download PDF] |
| NDA 2 2026 GAT Question Paper | Set A | [Download PDF] |
The question papers can be used along with the set-wise answer keys provided below to analyse the NDA 2 2026 examination.
NDA 2 2026 Answer Keys – All Sets
Candidates can check the NDA 2 2026 Answer Keys for Sets A, B, C and D below.
Unlike the question-paper download section, separate answer keys are provided for every booklet series because candidates need to match their answers according to the exact set they received during the examination.
Before checking the answer key, candidates should confirm the booklet series printed on their Mathematics and GAT question papers.
NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Answer Key
The NDA Mathematics paper consisted of 120 questions carrying a total of 300 marks.
Candidates can download the NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Answer Key for Sets A, B, C and D below.
| NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| Mathematics Answer Key – Set A | [Download PDF] |
| Mathematics Answer Key – Set B | [Download PDF] |
| Mathematics Answer Key – Set C | [Download PDF] |
| Mathematics Answer Key – Set D | [Download PDF] |
Candidates should match the answer key with their exact Mathematics booklet series before calculating their score.
NDA 2 2026 GAT Answer Key
The General Ability Test consisted of 150 questions carrying a total of 600 marks.
GAT includes two major components: English and General Knowledge. The English portion carries 200 marks, while the General Knowledge portion carries 400 marks.
Download the NDA 2 2026 GAT Answer Keys for all four sets below.
| NDA 2 2026 GAT Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| GAT Answer Key – Set A | [Download PDF] |
| GAT Answer Key – Set B | [Download PDF] |
| GAT Answer Key – Set C | [Download PDF] |
| GAT Answer Key – Set D | [Download PDF] |
Candidates must select the same set that appears on their GAT question booklet.
The answer keys released immediately after the examination should be treated as unofficial unless specifically identified as being released by UPSC. They are intended to help candidates estimate their performance before the official answer keys are available.
NDA 2 2026 Marking Scheme
The NDA written examination carries a total of 900 marks. Mathematics carries 300 marks and GAT carries 600 marks.
There is negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Paper | Questions | Maximum Marks | Marks Per Correct Answer | Negative Marks Per Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 | Approx. 0.83 |
| GAT | 150 | 600 | 4 | Approx. 1.33 |
One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for questions that are not attempted.
NDA Mathematics Score Formula
Mathematics Score = (Correct Answers × 2.5) − (Incorrect Answers × 0.83)
NDA GAT Score Formula
GAT Score = (Correct Answers × 4) − (Incorrect Answers × 1.33)
The final written score is:
NDA Written Score = Mathematics Score + GAT Score
The maximum possible written score is 900 marks.
How to Calculate NDA 2 2026 Marks Using Answer Key
Candidates should first check whether their question booklet is Set A, B, C or D.
Download the corresponding answer key from the tables above and compare each attempted question with the answer provided in the key.
For Mathematics, award 2.5 marks for every correct answer and deduct approximately 0.83 marks for every incorrect response.
For GAT, award 4 marks for every correct answer and deduct approximately 1.33 marks for every incorrect response.
For example, suppose a candidate has the following Mathematics performance:
Correct answers: 70
Incorrect answers: 20
Unattempted: 30
Marks for correct answers = 70 × 2.5 = 175
Negative marks = 20 × 0.83 = approximately 16.6
Estimated Mathematics score = approximately 158.4 marks
The same method can be followed for GAT before adding both scores to determine the candidate’s estimated NDA written score out of 900.
NDA 2 2026 Paper Analysis
Based on initial candidate feedback and examination reviews, NDA 2 2026 was broadly considered moderate, although the difficulty varied between Mathematics, English and General Knowledge.
| Section | Questions | Difficulty | Indicative Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | Moderate to Lengthy | 56–67 |
| GAT – English | 50 | Easy to Moderate | 32–38 |
| GAT – General Knowledge | 100 | Moderate | 55–65 |
| Overall | 270 | Moderate | 145–170 |
The Mathematics paper was considered calculation-heavy by many candidates. Topics included matrices and determinants, quadratic equations, vectors, sets and relations, permutations and combinations, three-dimensional geometry, conic sections, integration, differential equations, sequences and series, and trigonometry.
The English section of GAT was comparatively easier and provided candidates with an opportunity to improve their overall score.
The General Knowledge section had a mixture of questions from Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Polity, current affairs and other areas. Some candidates found the Physics questions comparatively challenging.
Because NDA has negative marking, accuracy is more important than simply attempting a very high number of questions.
NDA 2 2026 Expected Cut-Off
The NDA 2 2026 official written cut-off will be known only after UPSC releases the relevant cut-off marks.
Based on the difficulty of the examination and previous NDA trends, candidates can use the following range as an early estimate.
| Category | Expected Score |
|---|---|
| NDA 2 2026 Expected Written Cut-Off | 310–350 / 900 |
| Safer Target Score | 360+ / 900 |
These figures are indicative and should not be treated as the official UPSC cut-off.
The actual cut-off depends on multiple factors, including the difficulty of the examination, number of candidates, vacancies and overall candidate performance.
Candidates should also remember that merely clearing the aggregate written cut-off may not be sufficient if UPSC prescribes minimum qualifying marks separately for each paper.
NDA 2 2026 Official Answer Key
The answer keys released by coaching institutes and subject experts shortly after the examination are unofficial.
They are useful for estimating scores but candidates may find differences in a few answers because of interpretation or errors in unofficial solutions.
The final authority remains the Union Public Service Commission.
Once UPSC publishes the official NDA 2 2026 Mathematics and GAT answer keys, candidates should compare their responses with the official documents.
This page can also be updated with the official UPSC answer-key PDFs once they become available.
How to Download NDA 2 2026 Official Answer Key
Once released, candidates can download the official answer keys through the UPSC website.
Visit the UPSC website and open the Examinations section. Navigate to Answer Keys and locate the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026.
Download the relevant Mathematics and General Ability Test answer-key PDFs.
Candidates should rely on UPSC documents for final and official information regarding the examination.
What Happens After NDA 2 2026?
After evaluating the written examination, UPSC will declare the NDA 2 2026 written result.
Candidates who clear the written examination and fulfil the required eligibility conditions will be shortlisted for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.
The SSB process carries another 900 marks.
Therefore, the complete NDA selection process carries:
Written Examination – 900 Marks
SSB Interview – 900 Marks
Total – 1800 Marks
Candidates recommended by the SSB are subsequently required to satisfy the prescribed medical standards.
Final selection depends on merit, eligibility, medical fitness, vacancies and other conditions prescribed by the authorities.
The 158th NDA Course and 120th Indian Naval Academy Course are scheduled to commence on 1 July 2027.
Candidates who expect to clear the NDA 2 2026 written cut-off should begin their SSB interview preparation instead of waiting for the written result.
NDA 2 2026 Question Papers and Answer Keys – FAQs
When was NDA 2 2026 conducted?
UPSC conducted the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 on 13 September 2026.
Where can I download the NDA 2 2026 question papers?
Candidates can download the NDA 2 2026 Mathematics and General Ability Test question papers using the PDF links provided in the question-paper table above.
Is the NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Question Paper available?
Yes. The NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Set A question paper can be downloaded from the table provided on this page.
Is the NDA 2 2026 GAT Question Paper available?
Yes. Candidates can download the NDA 2 2026 GAT Set A question paper using the link provided above.
Where can I download the NDA 2 2026 Answer Key Set A?
Separate Set A answer-key PDFs are provided for Mathematics and GAT in their respective tables.
Are NDA 2 2026 Set B, C and D answer keys available?
Separate download links can be provided for NDA 2 2026 Sets A, B, C and D for both Mathematics and GAT.
Why is only Set A provided for the question paper?
The Set A question papers are provided as the main downloadable papers for candidates who want to review and practise the NDA 2 2026 examination.
Why are separate answer keys provided for Sets A, B, C and D?
Candidates need to match the answer key with the booklet series they received during the examination. Therefore, separate answer keys are provided for all four sets.
How many questions are there in NDA Mathematics?
The Mathematics paper contains 120 questions carrying 300 marks.
How many questions are there in NDA GAT?
The General Ability Test contains 150 questions carrying 600 marks.
Is there negative marking in NDA 2 2026?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
What is the total score for NDA 2 2026?
The written examination carries 900 marks. Candidates who qualify for the written examination subsequently face the SSB interview, which carries another 900 marks.
Where will the NDA 2 2026 result be released?
UPSC will publish the NDA 2 2026 written result on its official website. The result PDF will contain the roll numbers of candidates shortlisted for the next stage of selection.
Final Words
The NDA 2 2026 Question Papers and Answer Keys for Sets A, B, C and D will help candidates analyse their performance and estimate their probable written score.
Candidates should carefully identify their question-paper booklet series before downloading the corresponding Mathematics and GAT answer keys. They should also apply the negative-marking rule while calculating their expected marks.
The answer keys released immediately after the examination should be treated as provisional estimates until the official UPSC documents become available.
Candidates whose estimated scores are around or above the expected NDA 2 2026 cut-off should begin preparing for the SSB interview without waiting for the written result.
This page will be updated with additional NDA 2 2026 answer-key PDFs, official UPSC documents, results and cut-off information as they become available.
