NDA Exam 2026: Shift 1 & Shift 2 Exam Timings, Paper Analysis, Memory- Based Questions

2 minute read

Paulami Chandra

Update on 13 Sep, 2026, 11:34 PM IST

The Union Public Service Commission conducted the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 in two sessions on September 13, 2026. The Mathematics paper was held from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, followed by the General Ability Test from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Both shifts have now been completed, marking the conclusion of the NDA 2 2026 written examination.

 

The UPSC released the NDA 2 Admit Card 2026 ahead of the examination, and candidates appearing for the exam were required to carry a printed copy of the e-Admit Card along with the same photo ID mentioned on the admit card to the examination centre. Candidates were also required to report well in advance, as the entry gates closed 30 minutes before the commencement of each session.

 

The NDA 2 Maths Paper Analysis 2026 indicates that the paper was moderate in difficulty, with questions asked from topics such as Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra, Matrices, Coordinate Geometry, Vectors, Statistics and Probability. Based on students' reviews, the good attempts can be considered with 55 to 65 questions. The NDA 2 memory-based questions 2026 will also be based on questions recalled by candidates.

 

The NDA 2 GAT Paper Analysis 2026 indicates that the paper was easy to moderate overall. The English section was comparatively manageable, while the General Knowledge section covered areas such as Science, History, Geography, Polity and Current Affairs, requiring good conceptual understanding and factual recall. Based on the available exam analysis, the good attempts can be considered around 100 to 115 questions.

 

Table of Contents

  1. NDA Exam Timing 2026
  2. NDA 2 Exam Paper Analysis 2026
  3. NDA 2 Exam 2026 Difficulty Level
  4. NDA 2 Mathematics Paper Analysis 2026
  5. NDA 2 GAT Paper Analysis 2026
  6. NDA 2 Memory-Based Questions 2026
  7. NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026
  8. NDA Exam Analysis 2026 FAQs

 

NDA Exam Timing 2026

The NDA 2 Exam 2026 is scheduled for September 13, 2026, with the two papers conducted in separate shifts. The NDA Mathematics Paper 2026 is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, followed by the General Ability Test (GAT) from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The examination will follow Indian Standard Time (IST).

 

NDA 2 Exam Paper Analysis 2026

The NDA 2 Exam Paper Analysis 2026 has now been updated for both Mathematics and GAT based on the questions asked in the examination and feedback from candidates. The Mathematics paper was analysed after the first shift, while the GAT analysis has been added following the completion of the second shift. The overall exam review and section-wise difficulty are provided below.

 

NDA 2 Exam 2026 Difficulty Level

The NDA 2 Exam Difficulty Level 2026 has been assessed separately for the Mathematics and GAT papers based on the questions asked and feedback from candidates after both shifts. The section-wise analysis provides an overview of the difficulty of each paper and highlights which sections were comparatively easier or more time-consuming.

  1. NDA Mathematics Paper 2026: The NDA 2 Mathematics 2026 paper was moderate in difficulty, with questions covering Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra, Matrices, Coordinate Geometry, Vectors, Statistics and Probability. Candidates also found time management difficult, particularly while solving questions involving multiple steps and lengthy calculations.
  2. NDA GAT Paper 2026: The NDA 2 GAT Paper Analysis 2026 indicates that the paper was easy to moderate overall. The English section was comparatively manageable and scoring, while the General Knowledge section included questions from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Polity and Current Affairs. Based on the post-exam analysis, the GAT paper was less time-consuming than the Mathematics paper.

 

NDA 2 Mathematics Paper Analysis 2026

The NDA 2 2026 Mathematics Paper analysis covers the performance of candidates in the Shift 1 paper conducted from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The Mathematics paper carries 300 marks, with 120 objective questions. The initial students' feedback indicated that the Mathematics paper was tricky, lengthy, and time-consuming. The table below contains the paper difficulty, good attempts, time required, and topics reported by candidates after the exam.

 

NDA 2 GAT Paper Analysis 2026

The NDA 2 GAT Paper Analysis 2026 is now available after the General Ability Test was conducted in the second shift on September 13, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The GAT paper comprised 150 questions carrying 600 marks and included English and General Knowledge. Based on the initial post-exam analysis, the paper was easy to moderate overall, with English being relatively manageable and General Knowledge requiring broader conceptual and factual knowledge.

 

NDA 2 Memory-Based Questions 2026

The NDA 2 2026 memory-based questions are compiled from questions recalled by candidates after the completion of the Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) papers. The NDA 2 written examination was conducted on September 13, 2026, with Mathematics carrying 300 marks and GAT carrying 600 marks. The memory-based analysis covers the major topics and question types reported from both papers.

 

NDA 2 2026 Memory-Based Questions for Mathematics

Candidates can use the NDA 2 Mathematics memory-based questions 2026 to review the questions asked in the first shift and compare them with their attempted answers. The paper included questions from Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra, Matrices, Coordinate Geometry, Vectors, Statistics, and Probability. The recalled questions can help candidates assess their performance and understand the topic-wise coverage of the paper.

 

NDA 2 2026 Memory-Based Questions for GAT

The NDA 2 GAT memory-based questions 2026 cover questions recalled from the second shift examination. The GAT paper included questions from English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Indian Polity, and Current Affairs. Candidates can refer to the memory-based questions to review the topics asked in the examination and assess their overall performance. The GAT syllabus officially combines English with General Knowledge areas including Science, History, Geography and Current Affairs.

 

NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026

The NDA 2 expected cutoff 2026 will be estimated after analysing the difficulty level of both papers, candidates' attempts, and the overall performance of the students. In the NDA 2 exam 2025, the written cutoff was 304.90 marks for male candidates and 358.84 marks for female candidates, with a minimum of 25% in each subject. The expected NDA 2 cutoff 2026 is given below:

 

NDA Exam Analysis 2026 FAQs

What are the shift-wise timings for the NDA 2 Exam 2026?

The NDA 2 Mathematics paper 2026 is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, while the GAT paper is conducted from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Both papers have a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

How difficult was the NDA 2 Mathematics Paper in Shift 1?

The NDA 2 Mathematics paper difficulty level 2026 is reported as moderate based on the students' reactions.

What is the difficulty level of the NDA 2 GAT Paper 2026?

The NDA 2 GAT Paper 2026 was easy to moderate in difficulty, based on the questions asked and feedback from candidates after the examination. The English section was comparatively manageable, while the General Knowledge section included questions from Science, History, Geography, Polity and Current Affairs, requiring factual recall and conceptual understanding.

When can candidates check the NDA 2 Paper Analysis 2026?

The NDA 2 Exam Paper Analysis 2026 is available after the completion of both shifts of the examination. The Mathematics paper analysis covers the first shift, while the GAT paper analysis is based on the questions asked and candidate feedback from the second shift. The complete analysis provides insights into the difficulty level, good attempts, time required, and topics covered in both papers.

Where can I find the NDA 2 memory-based questions 2026?

The NDA 2 memory-based questions 2026 can be checked on this page after the completion of the examination. The Mathematics memory-based questions cover topics such as Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra, Matrices, Coordinate Geometry, Vectors, Statistics and Probability, while the GAT memory-based questions include topics from English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Indian Polity and Current Affairs. These questions are based on questions recalled by candidates after the exam.

How many attempts are considered good in NDA 2 2026?

The number of good attempts in NDA 2 2026 depends on the difficulty level of the paper and the accuracy of candidates' responses. Based on the post-exam analysis, around 55 to 65 questions in Mathematics and 100 to 115 questions in GAT can be considered good attempts. Candidates should also focus on accuracy, as incorrect answers carry negative marking.

What could be the NDA 2 expected cutoff 2026?

The NDA 2 expected cutoff 2026 is estimated at around 310 to 358 marks out of 900, based on the difficulty level of the September 13, 2026 examination, previous cutoff trends and post-exam analysis. The actual cutoff will be announced by UPSC and may vary depending on candidate performance, vacancies and the overall difficulty of both Mathematics and GAT.

Students learning

Your opinion matters to us!

Rate your experience on this page so far

Get Started

What are you waiting for?

Discover Your Education Journey With Us

college reviewcollege review