Understand the NDA Exam Pattern.      While preparing for the NDA Exam the first thing you should do is to get acquainted with the selection process, syllabus and exam pattern as to understand what is your target.

NDA Selection Process.    National level examination conducted by the UPSC twice a year. To check details of examination, kindly go through UPSC official website & download the NDA Exam Notification directly. The selection process consists of two stages. First, the Written Test comprising of Maths and General Ability (GAT)Tests which is followed by the SSB Interview. The SSB Interview will comprises of various Intelligence and Personality Test.

NDA Exam Pattern.    In order to achieve success in your first attempt, it's important to understand the exam pattern. The exam has two parts - a written examination and an SSB interview - each carrying 900 marks. Knowing the paper-wise breakdown of the exam pattern is essential for planning your preparation.

Qualification Process in NDA Written Examination

·     Number and Type of Questions.   NDA Written Test will contain objective type multiple choice questions and will have 2 papers, Mathematics and General Ability Test. Maths exam will have 120 Questions and GAT exam will have 150 Questions to attempt.

·     Negative Marking.   As you are aware, there is a system of negative marking in the Written Examination. For every incorrect answer, 0.83 marks will be deducted in the mathematics section, while 1.33 marks will be deducted in GAT.

·     Sectional Cut Off & Qualification Criteria.   To qualify for the NDA (National Defence Academy) written exam, candidates need to score a minimum of 25% marks in each section or subject of the written exam. 

·     Minimum Qualification Marks.    The written exam has two papers: Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test (600 marks), totalling 900 marks. Therefore, minimum marks for qualifying the written exam are 225 marks; i.e., minimum 75 marks for mathematics and 150 marks for General Ability Test.

·     Factors Affecting NDA Written Cut off Marks.  Qualifying the written exam is a prerequisite for being called for the SSB (Services Selection Board) interview. However, to be called for SSB Interview. NDA written cut off is calculated out of 900 marks based on the following factors:

ü  Number of Aspirants applied.

ü  Total Vacancies in NDA / NA

ü  Exam Difficulty Level

SSB Interview Cut Off.   Minimum marks of 40% out of total 900 are required for aspirant to be recommended from the board of SSB Interview.  Each Independent assessors has 275 Marks. Candidates are required to qualify NDA exam by securing separate cutoff marks in both the written exam and SSB Interview.

NDA Cut Off or Final Merit List.    The final merit list is prepared based on the combined marks of the written exam and the SSB interview. NDA cutoff for both the exams (Written and SSB Interview) is released after the declaration of the final result. On the basis of NDA cutoff, candidates are recommended for admission to Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy and Naval Academy. 

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s

Secure Range of Marks in Written to make it to Final cut Off or Merit List?

A score in the range of 400-500 in NDA written is considered a secure range to get into the final merit list. Furthermore, you have to clear the SSB Interview and as assuming, you have scored minimum 40% in SSB Interview making it in the range of 760 to 860 of overall marks out of possible 1800 marks.

Where can I check the NDA cutoff scores?

NDA cutoffs are released on the official website in PDF form after the declaration of the final result. The steps to check NDA cut off marks are given below:

·          Visit the official website of UPSC 

·          From the 'Examination' tab, candidates need to go to the 'Cut off' tab

·          In the cut off page, candidates will find the NDA cut off marks

·          Check the cut off marks

What is NDA cut off?

NDA cut off is the minimum qualifying marks that candidates need to secure in the written exam and SSB interview. UPSC prescribes cut off marks for written exam and final selection. Candidates need to secure separate qualifying marks in written exam and SSB interview. Candidates qualifying the written exam by securing the required cut off are called for the SSB interview. Candidates need to secure the cut off marks in the SSB interview also. 

Does each wing of armed force have separate NDA cut off marks?

No, NDA cut off are the same for all armed forces - Army, Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy. After securing the sectional marks criteria of 25% in each section, the cut off for the written exam is calculated out of 900 marks followed by 900 marks for SSB Interview. The last selected candidates’ scores are used to determine the final selection cutoff, which is based on their performance out of 1800 marks.

What is the sectional cut off in NDA exam?

The sectional NDA cut off is decided out of the total marks in each subject. The sectional cutoff is 25 per cent in each subject. Apart from the qualifying marks, candidates are also required to secure the overall cut off marks. The cut off marks are calculated out of 900 marks. NDA cut off marks are calculated based on the various factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, number of vacancies, total marks and number of test takers. Candidates need to secure the cut off marks separately in the written exam and SSB interview. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the written exam and SSB interview.

What is the policy in case of tie in Cut Off Marks?

Wherever two or more candidates have secured equal aggregate marks in NDA & NA exam, the ties are resolved in accordance with the following principles approved by the UPSC.

·     In case of equal marks in aggregate, the candidate senior in age may be placed at higher rank and

·     In case of the candidates having same age and same aggregate marks, the candidate getting higher aggregate score in written papers may be placed at higher rank

What does 25% marks mean in each subject in the NDA? 

In the National Defence Academy NDA 25% marks in each subject means that the candidates need to secure this percentage in a particular subject. It is important to note that the exact passing marks may vary depending on certain factors. Besides the qualifying marks, candidates are also required to secure the cut off marks fixed by the examination authority for the written exam and final selection.

What is NDA result name-wise?

NDA result name-wise comprises the names of the candidates in result PDF. NDA result is announced online on the official website. The total marks allotted to the written exam of NDA are 900. Based on NDA result for written exam, candidates are called for SSB Interview. The final result is based on the performance in the written exam and SSB Interview.

NDA Cut off for Written Exam

NDA cutoff for the written exam is decided out of 900 marks. UPSC also decides on sectional for the written exam. The sectional cut off is calculated on the basis of the total marks of each section. The sectional cut off is 25 per cent in each subject. Candidates securing equal to or more than the cut off marks are called for SSB Interview.

Conclusion.     In conclusion, preparing for the NDA entrance exam requires a systematic and disciplined approach. With the right approach, candidates can crack the NDA exam and fulfil their dreams of serving the nation. Remember, the path to becoming an officer in the Indian Armed Forces is demanding, but with determination and the right approach, you can embark on a rewarding career in the defence forces.   

Good Luck & God Bless!

Jai Hind.

Latest NDA Updates

·          Notification Release: May 28, 2025

·          Application Dates: May 28, 2025 to June 17, 2025

·          Exam Date: September 14, 2025

·          Total Vacancies: 406

·          Application Mode: Online

·          Official Website: upsconline.nic.in