NDA / CDS Syllabus 2026 - Official Exam Pattern & Subject-wise Topics

This page gives the official exam pattern and syllabus of NDA / CDS (UPSC). Every number and topic here is taken from the official notification or syllabus published by the exam body - the source links are given at the end. Always match with the latest official notification before the exam.

Exam pattern at a glance

• NDA Paper I - Mathematics: 300 marks, 150 minutes
• NDA Paper II - General Ability Test: 600 marks, 150 minutes
• CDS - English: 100 marks, 120 minutes
• CDS - General Knowledge: 100 marks, 120 minutes
• CDS - Elementary Mathematics: 100 marks, 120 minutes

NDA Paper I

• Mathematics

• Pattern: 300 marks, 150 minutes
• Negative marking: 1/3 of the question's marks for each wrong answer
• Note: Objective, bilingual. No calculator.

Mathematics

• syllabus

• Algebra: sets, relations, complex numbers, binary system, AP/GP/HP, quadratic equations, linear inequations, permutation and combination, binomial theorem, logarithms
• Matrices and determinants
• Trigonometry, inverse trigonometric functions, heights and distances, properties of triangles
• Analytical geometry of two and three dimensions
• Differential calculus: functions, limits, continuity, derivatives, maxima and minima
• Integral calculus and differential equations
• Vector algebra
• Statistics and probability

NDA Paper II

• General Ability Test

• Pattern: 600 marks, 150 minutes
• Negative marking: 1/3 of the question's marks for each wrong answer
• Note: Written total 900 + SSB interview 900 = 1800.

Subject-wise split:

• Part A - English: 200 marks
• Part B - General Knowledge: 400 marks

Part A

• English
• syllabus

• Grammar and usage
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension and cohesion in extended text

Part B

• General Knowledge
• syllabus

• Physics (about 25%)
• Chemistry (about 15%)
• General Science (about 10%)
• History, Freedom Movement, Constitution (about 20%)
• Geography (about 20%)
• Current Events (about 10%)

CDS

• English

• Pattern: 100 marks, 120 minutes
• Negative marking: 1/3 of the question's marks for each wrong answer

English

• syllabus

• Understanding of English and workmanlike use of words

CDS

• General Knowledge

• Pattern: 100 marks, 120 minutes
• Negative marking: 1/3 of the question's marks for each wrong answer

General Knowledge

• syllabus

• Current events
• Everyday science
• History of India
• Geography

CDS

• Elementary Mathematics

• Pattern: 100 marks, 120 minutes
• Negative marking: 1/3 of the question's marks for each wrong answer
• Note: Not taken for OTA entry.

Elementary Mathematics

• syllabus

• Arithmetic
• Elementary number theory
• Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Statistics

Selection process

Written exam by UPSC, then SSB interview (Stage I screening, Stage II psychology, GTO, interview). Merit on written + SSB.

Not given in the official notification

• Number of questions per paper is not printed in the UPSC notification

We do not guess these numbers. Check the latest official notification.

Practise free

• Free mock tests and real previous year papers of this exam: https://www.publicnaukri.com/tests/exam/nda-cds

Official source

• https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-NDA-NA-I-2026-Engl-101225.pdf
• https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-CDSE-I-2026-Engl-101225.pdf

Written exam by UPSC, then SSB interview (Stage I screening, Stage II psychology, GTO, interview). Merit on written + SSB.