Revised UPSC NDA Syllabus 2021: Topics and Marks Distributions.

Author : Silki Joshi

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UPSC has invited applications for National Defence Academy. Every year millions of entrants appear in the NDA exam to pursue their willingness to serve the nation. As per official UPSC NDA Notification 2021, the online application will start from 8th January 2021. Entrants can complete their UPSC NDA Online Application 2021 which started 8th Jan onwards. UPSC has also released the UPSC NDA Syllabus 2021. Entrants must go through the syllabus to know the subjects they have to study. UPSC has scheduled the written exam for NDA on September 6th 2021.

The NDA exam is conducted in two phases as per the UPSC NDA Exam Pattern 2021. The 1st phase is the written exam and the 2nd one is the interview. Although the question in the NDA exam will be MCQ and based on the 12th standard knowledge, it has lot many subjects to be covered. Entrants must give enough time to studies to crack the exam. Before we jump to the subjects included in UPSC NDA Syllabus 2021 let’s have a quick look at the exam pattern and marking scheme for the exam.

UPSC NDA Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme:

SL NO	Exams	Sections	No of Questions	Marks	Time Limit
1	Paper I	GAT (General Ability Test	150	300	2 hours & 30 mins
2	Paper 2	Maths	20	600	2 hours & 30 mins

Score Distribution:

English
Sl No	Subject Topics	Number of Questions	Marks per Topic
1	Error Spotting	5	20
2	Selecting Words	10	40
3	Comprehension	6	24
4	Sentence Improvement	10	40
5	Ordering of Words in a Sentence	9	36
6	Synonyms	5	20
7	Antonyms	5	20
	Total	50	200

General Ability
Sl No	Subject Topics	Number of Questions	Marks per Topic
1	Chemistry	16	64
2	Physics	23	92
3	General Science	11	44
4	Current Events	17	68
5	History & Freedom Movement	16	64
6	Geography	17	68
	Total	100	400

The above tables show how the scores are distributed among different subjects of the written exam. Now let’s have a look at the detailed topics entrants have to study to crack the exam:

UPSC NDA Syllabus 2021:

Physics:

1. Matter & its properties (mass, weight etc).

2. Specific gravity.

3. Archimedes principle.

4. Motion.

5. Velocity and Acceleration.

6. Newton’s Laws of Motion.

7. Force and Momentum.

8. Force Parallelogram.

9. Stability and Body Equilibrium.

10. Gravity.

11. Elementary Work Ideas.

12. Power and Energy.

13. Heat effects.

14. Telegraph.

15. Periscope,

16. Temperature and heat measurement.

17. State change and latent heat.

18. Heat transfer modes.

19. Rectilinear light.

20. Simple Pulleys.

21. Telephone

22. Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker.

23. Reflection and refraction propagation.

24. Spherical mirrors and human eye lenses.

25. Natural and artificial magnets.

26. A magnet’s properties.

27. Earth as a magnet.

28. Electricity.

29. Ohm’s Law.

30. conductors and non-conductors

31. Telescope, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps,

32. Simple Electrical Circuits, Current Heating.

33. Lighting and Magnetic Effects.

34. Electrical Power Measurement.

35. Primary and Secondary Cells.

36. X-Ray Use.

37. Simple Pendulum.

38. Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass.

Chemistry:

Chemistry
Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide preparation and properties	Chemical Combination Law.	Air and water properties	Changes in physical and chemical conditions.
Oxidation and reduction.	Acids, bases, salts, etc.	Fertilizers— Artificial and Natural.	Carbon— various forms
The material used in the preparation of substances such as Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Gun-Powder and Safety Matches.	Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights structure	Basic ideas on Atom	Valence

General Science:

General Science
Life basis — cells	Living and non-living difference.	Tissues	Protoplasm
Human Body’s basic knowledge and its important organs.	Plant and animal growth and reproduction.	Common epidemics, causes and prevention of them.	The Meteors and Comets Solar System.
Food — man’s energy source.	Eclipses.	Food constituents	Balanced diet
Eminent Scientists ‘ achievements

History:

History
A comprehensive survey of Indian History	Freedom movement.	Indian Constitution and Administration elementary study.	Focusing on culture and civilization.
Panchayati Raj.	The basic knowledge of India’s Five-Year Plans.	Community Development Co-operatives.	Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, Mahatma Gandhi’s Basic Teachings
National Integration and Welfare State.	Modern world forces.	Renaissance	Exploration and Discovery
American Independence War.	Russian Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.	French Revolution.	Impact on society of science and technology.
UN, Panchsheel, Democracy,	One World Concept.	India’s role in today’s world.	Socialism, and Communism.

Geography:

Geography
Latitudes, Longitudes.	The shape and size of the Earth.	Time Concept	Earth’s movements and effects.
Date-Line International.	Rocks and their classification; mechanical and chemical weathering, earthquakes and volcanoes.	Earth’s origin.	Ocean Currents and Tides Atmosphere and their composition
Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure	Humidity	Planetary Winds, Cyclones and Anti-cyclones	Condensation 23 and Precipitation
Climate Types, World’s Major Natural Regions.	Natural vegetation.	India’s regional geography— climate	Resources for minerals and power; location and distribution of agricultural and industrial activities.
Important seaports and major seaports	Land and air routes.

Current Affairs:

Current Affairs
Knowledge of major events that have occurred in India over the past few years.	Important personalities around the world including those related to cultural and sports activities	Current major events in the world.

English:

English

Vocabulary

Grammar & Usage

Comprehension

Maths:

Maths
Algebra	Matrices and Determinants	Trigonometry
Analytical geometry of two and three dimensions	Differential calculus	Integral calculus and differential equations
Vector Algebra	Statistics And Probability

Once the entrant clears the written exam they will further go for interview round & group discussion. So let have a look at some of the question that is being asked in the interview round:

UPSC NDA Syllabus 2021- Interview Questions:

Self-introduction.
Reason for choosing defence service.
Talk about negative qualities that you possess.
Talk about the kind of people you want to avoid.
What do you think about indo china relationship?
Explain why do you think India wants to tie up with Iran?
What role does an Army/ Navy/ Air force officer play for India?
When did you make your mind to join Indian defence services?
What does NDA stand for?
Explain the mutiny of 1857.
What changes do you want to make in India if given a choice?
Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line in Defence services?
Describe your course of action if you are in a group that is in danger of missing a deadline.
Give an example of a situation where is used your logical thinking to solve a problem.

They may also ask personal questions like :

Do you believe in love or arrange marriage?
If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
If you have smoked or drank?
Talk about your best friend and what are qualities you dislike about him or her?
Who are you close to the most? mother or father?
Describe your daily routine?
If you have adult movies who’s your favorite star?
If you have any questions for the interviewer you can ask.

These are tricky questions and entrants need to be very careful answering them. They would test how calm and composed you are. Answer wisely so that your answer doesn’t stir up new tricky questions.

UPSC NDA Physical Fitness Test:

Entrants who would clear the interview round will be going for the physical fitness test. Physical fitness test is a very important part of the NDA exam. Even if the entrants qualify in all the previous rounds of exam by UPSC they will have to qualify in fitness test or else they would not be able to get employed in any of the Defence departments. Rigorous training is also a part of selected entrants. Entrants would be tested on the basis of the physical standards required for various departments. On completion of all these tests entrants would be eligible to finally join the defence services.

In conclusion, the exam dates are already out now. Entrants must know UPSC NDA Syllabus and look into the UPSC NDA Vacancies 2021 to find out how many positions are open. Entrants must also prepare your UPSC IPS Study plan to crack the exam. It not very difficult to crack the exam if entrants study and do the revisions. Entrants must also be absolutely sure before applying for the NDA exam. Above all NDA offers great career and growth opportunities with a decent UPSC NDA Salary 2021 package.

UPSC NDA Syllabus FAQ:

How many attempts can an entrant make to clear NDA Exam?

There is no restriction on a number of attempts in the NDA exam. however, the entrant has to be within the age limit.

What is the minimum age of attempting NDA exam?

Entrants have to be at least 15.7years old to be able to appear in NDA exam.

What is the exam fee for NDA exam?

The exam fee for NDA is Rs 100.

An entrant qualifies in the written and interview round and failed to pass the physical test. Will the entrant be still selected?

No, an entrant who have qualified in written and interview round will have to pass the fitness test as well to be selected.

In an entrant fail in the physical test for Air force will the entrant be able to re-take the NDA exam for some other department?

Yes, it is possible. In fact, if an entrant does not match the physical standard required for Air Force can be absorbed immediately in any other depart of defence services. The candidates can check the syllabus for all the subjects asked in the examination to prepare well for the upcoming exam. The post also guides the candidates regarding the important preparation tips that the candidate has to follow to ace the UPSC NDA exam.

Author: Silki Joshi

Silki Joshi is a Content Writer with experience of 3+ years in the Edtech domain. She has mostly worked for competitive exams like Banking and SSC exams.

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