ZE
ZESTEXAM

NDA Exam Pattern 2026

Section-wise marks · Negative marking · Time limit · Selection process

Tier 1 — Preliminary

120Q · 150 min
120
Total Questions
300
Total Marks
150 min
Duration
+2.5
Correct Answer
−0.83
Wrong Answer

Tier 1 — Preliminary

150Q · 150 min
150
Total Questions
600
Total Marks
150 min
Duration
+4.0
Correct Answer
−1.33
Wrong Answer

Selection Process

1
Tier 1 — Preliminary
120 Questions · 300 Marks · 150 min
2
Tier 1 — Preliminary
150 Questions · 600 Marks · 150 min
✓
Final Selection
Merit list based on combined performance

Pattern Insights — What Toppers Know

Attempt Strategy
With 150 minutes for 120 questions, you have ~75 seconds per question. Skip and return.
Negative Marking
+2.5/-0.83 (Maths), +4/-1.33 (GAT). Do not guess randomly — attempt only when you can eliminate 2+ options.
Section Focus
Practise all subjects equally. One weak section can cost you the cutoff.

Practice as per the Exam Pattern

Full-length free mock tests that exactly mirror the NDA 2026 pattern.

Take Free Mock TestView Full Syllabus

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are in NDA 2026?+
NDA Stage 1 has 120 questions for 300 marks in 150 minutes.
Is there negative marking in NDA?+
Yes. The marking scheme is +2.5/-0.83 (Maths), +4/-1.33 (GAT). Attempt a question only when reasonably confident.
How many stages are in NDA selection process?+
NDA has 2 stages in the selection process. You must clear each stage to proceed to the next.