UPSC conducts the National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam, It is a prestigious institute that trains defence aspirants for the Indian Armed Forces as an Officer. The NDA exam includes a Mathematics and a General Ability Test (GAT) section covering subjects like English, General Knowledge, and Physics. The physics section is part of the General Ability Test (GAT) and is designed to test the candidate’s understanding of basic physical concepts and their ability to solve problems based on these principles.
Overview of the NDA Exam:
Before diving into weightage and tips to prepare for NDA, especially for Physics, we should take an overview of the NDA exam and its syllabus.
Name of the Exam | National Defence Academy (NDA) |
Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission, UPSC |
Frequency of Exam | Twice in a Year (April & September) |
Selection Process | Written Test consisting of Objective Type Questions, Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB) |
Mode of exam | Offline |
Papers in NDA Exam | Mathematics & General Ability Test |
Marks Segregation | Mathematics: 300 Marks, GAT: 600 Marks |
Total No. of Questions | Mathematics: 120, GAT: 150 |
Negative Marking | Mathematics: -0.83, GAT: -1.33 marks |
Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours For Each Paper (5 hours total) |
Language of Question Paper | English & Hindi (English Language paper has to be attempted in English) |

Syllabus of Physics for NDA
The second paper of the NDA is on GAT and is divided into two parts: (i) English Section and (ii) GAT Section. In the second part of the GAT, 20 to 25 questions are asked from Physics. Below we have given a list of topics in the Physics Syllabus.
- Mechanics
- General Properties of Matters
- Heat
- Electricity
- Wave and Sound
- Optics
NDA Physics Trend Analysis
Topics and Year | 1 2022 | 2 2022 | 1 2023 | 2 2023 | 1 2024 | 2 2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mechanics | 9 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
General Properties of Matters | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Heat | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Electricity | 3 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Wave and Sound | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Optics | 9 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Misc. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Total | 28 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
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English Practice Sheets and Class Notes
Teachers at Target Defence Academy give topic-wise Practice Sheets and Class Notes to students after completion of each topic. Below we have given practice sheets and class notes for samples that will help the students in their practice.
Conclusion
Target Defence Academy in Lucknow provides the best guidance to NDA aspirants, focusing on key concepts, problem-solving techniques, and exam strategies. Experienced Sainik School faculty offer personalized attention, regular practice tests, and doubt-solving sessions to help students grasp complex concepts and enhance their performance. With a focus on conceptual clarity and time management, Target Defence Academy equips students with the skills needed to excel in the Physics section of the NDA exam. Students preparing for defence exams can join Target Defence Academy for their preparation.