NDA 2 · 2026

NDA 2 2026 Answer Key

Q: What is the negative marking in NDA 2 2026?

The NDA exam is conducted with negative marking. Marks obtained in the Mathematics section will have a positive marking of 2.5 marks for each correct answer, and roughly 0.83 marks will be deducted per question attempted wrongly. For the General Ability Test, candidates will be awarded 4 marks for each correct attempt, and roughly 1.33 marks will be deducted per incorrect attempt. Unattempted questions will get 0 points deducted.

Q: What is the difference between NDA 1 and NDA 2 2026?

NDA1 and NDA2 are two different recruitments, both conducted by the UPSC in the same year. The eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and the selection process are almost the same for both recruitments. Only the notification date, application process, examination date, and vacancy are different for the 2 exams, but still they tend to be at different times of the year. For instance, NDA 1 is held in the first semester of the year and NDA 2 in the second semester. The fact of the matter is that the level of competition or the cutoff trends, in the case of the NDA 2, can be slightly different from the previous exams of NDA 1, as per the questionnaire type.

Q: Is the NDA 2 2026 cutoff lower than the NDA 1 2026?

The NDA 2 2026 cut-off can only be confirmed once UPSC releases its official result and final merit list. Cut-offs can differ from NDA 1 to NDA 2 owing to the factor of paper being easy or tough, no of vacancies, performance of candidates, etc. If the NDA 2 papers are harder than the ones of NDA 1, then the cut-off mark for the written exam can be a little lower. As a general rule, the higher the ease of paper, the higher the cut-off mark. Candidates may also refer to the NDA 2 2026 cut-off prediction for the aptitude test as an estimate, and then refer to the UPSC source for official cut-off.

Q: When will the NDA 2 2026 written result be declared?

The NDA written exam results are announced by the UPSC within a few weeks of the exam date. The written results publish the roll numbers of all candidates selected for the next stage, i.e., the SSB interview stage. Candidates are encouraged to follow the official UPSC website for result publication, instructions for SSB interview, and other subsequent processes. Candidates clearing the SSB interview and the medical examination are considered for final merit and academy allocation.

Q: Can I challenge an answer in the NDA 2 2026 key?

There is no official answer-key challenge window or formal objection process provided by UPSC for the NDA exam, unlike in some other competitive exams. Candidates would not be able to formally challenge answers through a post-exam review process. However, coaching institutes and educational institutions can publish comprehensive analyses and hold open discussions about disputed questions through internal reasoning. The final assessment is decided fully by UPSC.

Q: Is the same answer key valid for all sets?

No. When there are several sets of question papers for the NDA exam, all exam papers will be of the same questions but in a different order with different answer choices. This order varies with various sets of question papers. If you are to use the answer key, always choose the correct answer key that is consistent with the set code of the question paper you have given.

Q: Do I need to clear a minimum in each subject?

Yes. Apart from the overall written cutoff, the candidates will have to achieve sectional cutoffs in each paper at a minimum. That means that a candidate has to score best in mathematics and the GAT (General Ability Test- with the GK section). Otherwise, even if the candidate has scored enough to go to the final round, he will be eliminated if he fails to qualify in that paper individually, as per UPSC standards.

Q: I scored below the NDA 2 2026 cutoff. What next?

In case your estimated score is below the expected NDA 2 2026 cutoff, learn from the experience and also start preparing for the next defence exam cycle. Work on your weak points, understand, and focus on accuracy, speed of solving, and conceptual knowledge. The candidate may plan for the forthcoming NDA attempts, depending on age eligibility, and may also explore other routes for defence entries like CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer, or technical entries, if applicable. With determined hard work and steady practice, your performance can definitely top the scores in your next attempts.

Q: Where can I find the NDA 1 2026 analysis to compare?

The NDA 1 2026 exam analyses can be found on the best educational sites, defence exam coaching portals, and coaching institutes that publish detailed analyses of the Mathematics and GAT papers. Usually, they touch on the section-wise difficulty levels, good attempt estimation, question topics allotment, and predicted cut-off trends. If NDA 1 and NDA 2 analysis can be compared, one can get an idea about the major changes, in terms of the pattern, number, and types of questions, competitiveness, etc. But besides these analytical sources, candidates should also go through various official UPSC notifications about results, cut-offs, and recruitment processes.

The UPSC NDA 2 2026 exam is one of the most searched defence entrance exams for students aiming to join the Army, Navy or Air Force wing of the NDA. The NDA 2 2026 Answer Key, after the exam, acts as the first perception for the students, helping them predict their obtained mark, analyze how they performed, and find the probability of being selected for an interview for SSB.

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NDA 2 2026 Answer Key – Quick Summary

The unofficial NDA 2 2026 answer key shall be obtainable from the best coaching institutions a few hours after the test. These unofficial answer keys enable candidates to predict how well they have performed in the examination, well in advance of the official UPSC results.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 official answer key will be released after the conclusion of the whole recruitment process, that is, the completion of all the SSB interviews and publication of the final merit list. However, aspirants may check the unofficial keys for instant performance estimation and score calculation.

Key Highlights

Answer key available for Mathematics and GAT papers
Set-wise solutions released after the exam
Helps estimate expected score and cutoff chances
Official answer key released by UPSC after final results
Useful for identifying disputed or controversial questions

NDA 2 2026 Overview Table

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026
Conducting Body	UPSC
Exam Mode	Offline (Pen & Paper)
Papers	Mathematics & GAT
Total Marks	900
Negative Marking	Yes
AnswerKey Availability	Unofficial: Same Day; Official: After Recruitment Process
Selection Process	Written Exam + SSB Interview + Medical Examination
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

NDA 2 vs NDA 1 2026 – Key Differences to Note

Parameter	NDA 1 2026	NDA 2 2026
Notification Cycle	First Recruitment Cycle	Second Recruitment Cycle
Exam Month	April 2026	September 2026 (Tentative)
Competition Level	High	High
Vacancy Distribution	As Notified by UPSC	As Notified by UPSC
Difficulty Level	Varies Every Year	Varies Every Year
Candidate Pool	12th Appearing & Passed	12th Appearing & Passed

Although the syllabus is identical for the two papers, the questions in them are varied in levels of difficulty, sectional importance and trends in cutoffs.

Set-Wise PDF Download Links – Maths & GAT

Question papers are generally given to the candidates in different sets. Coaching institutes publish answer keys accordingly.

Mathematics Answer Key PDFs

Set	Status
Set A	Available After Exam
Set B	Available After Exam
Set C	Available After Exam
Set D	Available After Exam

GAT Answer Key PDFs

Set	Status
Set A	Available After Exam
Set B	Available After Exam
Set C	Available After Exam
Set D	Available After Exam

Candidates should ensure they download the answer key corresponding to their question paper set.

NDA 2 2026 Exam Analysis – Maths Paper

The Mathematics paper carries 300 marks and consists of 120 questions.

Common Topics:

Algebra
Matrices and Determinants
Trigonometry
Analytical Geometry
Differential Calculus
Integral Calculus
Vector Algebra
Statistics and Probability

Expected Analysis

Parameter	Assessment
Overall Difficulty	Moderate
Length	Moderate to Lengthy
Calculation Intensity	High
Good Attempts	70–90 Questions

Candidates with high conceptual understanding and who practice regularly are likely to perform well in this section.

NDA 2 2026 Exam Analysis – GAT Paper

The General Ability Test carries 600 marks and evaluates both language skills and general awareness.

Section-Wise Distribution

Section	Marks
English	200
General Knowledge	400

Areas Covered

English

Grammar
Vocabulary
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Improvement
Synonyms & Antonyms

General Knowledge

Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Geography
History
Current Affairs
Defence Awareness

Expected Difficulty

Component	Difficulty
English	Easy to Moderate
Science	Moderate
History & Polity	Moderate
Current Affairs	Moderate
Overall GAT	Moderate

Expected Good Score & Overall Difficulty Verdict

Candidates who want to ensure they attain a safe score should score considerably more than the aim cutoff, given the patterns seen in previous years.

Expected Score Categories

Score Range	Performance Level
450+	Excellent
400–450	Very Good
350–400	Competitive
300–350	Borderline
Below 300	Difficult to Qualify

Overall Difficulty Verdict

The NDA 2 2026 paper is expected to be moderate in nature, with the Mathematics being more difficult than the English paper of the GAT.

Score Calculator – How to Calculate Your Marks

Candidates can estimate their scores using the official marking scheme.

Mathematics

Correct Answer: +2.5 Marks
Incorrect Answer: −0.83 Marks

GAT

Correct Answer: +4 Marks
Incorrect Answer: −1.33 Marks

Formula

Estimated Score = Total Correct Marks – Negative Marks

Example

Suppose a candidate scores:

Mathematics

Correct: 80
Incorrect: 20

Score:

(80 × 2.5) − (20 × 0.83)
= 200 − 16.6
= 183.4 Marks

Candidates can similarly calculate their GAT score and combine both totals for an overall estimate.

Expected Cutoff vs Previous Years

The NDA 2 2026 written exam cutoff is predicted to be between 340 and 380 if scaled out of 900.

Written Exam Cutoff Trends

Year	Written Cutoff (Out of 900)
NDA 1 2025	Approx. 355 marks.
NDA 2 2024	Between 320 and 360 marks
NDA 1 2024	Approx. 291 marks.
NDA 2 2023	Approx. 305 marks.

NDA 2 2026 Expected Cutoff

Category	Expected Range
Written Exam	340–380
Final Selection	Subject to UPSC Merit

Cutoffs are indicative and may change based on actual exam conditions.

How to Download from the UPSC Website (Step-by-Step)

Candidates can download the official answer key after UPSC releases it on the official website.

Steps

Go to the dedicated UPSC website.
Go to the Examination part.
Click on Answer Keys.
Choose the option NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026.
Choose any 5 GAT or Mathematics.
Download the PDF file.
If the answers are not a perfect match, compare them to the exact answers to see where you went wrong.
The candidates must also keep one copy.

Important Dates

Particulars	Details
Date of Notification	20/05/2026
Date of Commencement of Examination	13/09/2026
Duration of Examination	One Day
Last Date for Receipt of Applications	11/06/2026 - 6:00 pm
Date of Upload	20/05/2026
Date of Notification	20/05/2026
Date of Commencement of Examination	13/09/2026
Duration of Examination	One Day

Candidates should verify all dates through the official UPSC notification.

What to Do After Checking the Answer Key

After calculating your estimated score:

If Score Is Above Expected Cutoff

Begin SSB interview preparation.
Improve communication and officer-like qualities.
Practice psychological tests and group tasks.

If Score Is Near the Cutoff

Continue preparing for SSB while waiting for results.
Monitor cutoff predictions from reliable sources.

If the score is below expectations

Analyze weak areas.
Create a preparation strategy for the next NDA cycle.
Focus on improving Mathematics and current affairs.

Plan your next NDA cycle with structured preparation resources

Start preparation

Contested Questions & Objection Window

Unlike other recruitment organizations, UPSC has no immediate answer-key objection forum for answer-key objection after the examination in public, but students usually raise their voices for some controversial questions in the form of coaching centers and experts’ examinations. Where, after scrutiny by the UPSC board, the questionable questions will be considered erroneous and objectionable by them, they could give suitable moderation for them. Candidates are therefore advised not to depend on such external objections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the NDA 2 2026 Answer Key been officially released?

The answer keys published across various educational sites and coaching centers immediately after the NDA 2 2026 result are just unofficial answer keys prepared by expert individuals based on the paper. The actual answer key published by the UPSC for NDA recruitments is released after the completion of the recruitment procedure; this includes the SSB interview stage and final results declaration too. Unofficial answer keys are solely meant to give you a bird's-eye view of your scores or your performance. Final scoring only comes out through official records.

What is the negative marking in NDA 2 2026?

What is the difference between NDA 1 and NDA 2 2026?

Is the NDA 2 2026 cutoff lower than the NDA 1 2026?

When will the NDA 2 2026 written result be declared?

Can I challenge an answer in the NDA 2 2026 key?

Is the same answer key valid for all sets?

Do I need to clear a minimum in each subject?

I scored below the NDA 2 2026 cutoff. What next?

Where can I find the NDA 1 2026 analysis to compare?

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