NDA Books 2024: Check Subject-wise Best Books for NDA Preparation

Registration: 11 Dec '24 - 31 Dec '24

Anangsha PatraDeputy Manager – Editorial

Updated on Dec 17, 2024 15:37 IST

NDA Books 2025: Are you preparing for NDA 2025 exam? If yes, refer to good NDA books that have covered the syllabus. To prepare for NDA 2025 exam, it is important to refer to good books that can clear your concepts. Clearing concepts is very important as it will help in solving the difficult to difficult questions in the exam. Many NDA books are available in the market but you should choose those that have covered all the important topics. It is not possible to crack the exam without good level of NDA preparation. Follow the right strategy and plan and success will be yours. As they say, hard work is the key to success. In this article we have provided NDA books that are recommended by experts.

Q: Which is the best book for NDA Preparation?

NDA is a competitive exam therefore to crack it candidates need to choose the right type of books. NDA books help candidates to ace the exam easily and clear the concepts of each and every topic given in the syllabus. To pass the exam, it is essential to select the right set of NDA books. The standard of the NDA syllabus is for Class 10, 11, and 12 levels. The best books for NDA exam are given below:

Best Maths Books for NDA

Mathematics for NDA and NA by RS Aggarwal
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by RS Aggarwal

Best English Books for NDA

Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
Objective General English by SP Bakshi

Best NDA Books for Physics

Objective Physics for the NDA and NA by D.C. Pandey
Concepts of Physics (Part 1 & Part 2) by H.C. Verma

Best NDA Books for History

History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra
India's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

Best NDA Books for Current Affairs

Manorama Yearbook by Mammen Mathew
Pratiyogita Darpan by Upkar Prakashan

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Q: How much time is required for NDA Exam Preparation?

The ideal time required for NDA preparation is one year to six months. During the preparation phase, candidates must focus on all subjects and topics relevant to the exam. Candidates must consider solving the NDA question papers. They should also attempt mock tests to increase speed and accuracy. Candidates must be thorough with the exam pattern and syllabus. The tips and tricks to prepare for NDA exam are given below:

To begin with the preparation, candidates need to understand the syllabus and exam pattern
Candidates can clear their basic concepts of the topics from the Class 10, 11 and 12 books
To improve speed and accuracy, candidates can attempt mock tests
After completing the syllabus, candidates must practice previous years' question papers to know the types of questions asked in the exam
Candidates must work on improving their weak areas

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Q: How to prepare for NDA exam after 12th?

NDA syllabus mostly comprises the topics/subjects that candidates have studied in Class 12. The preparation for Class 12 and NDA can go hand-in-hand. Some of the preparation tips or NDA exam after 12th are given below:

Candidates must go through the complete subject-wise syllabus
Create a proper study plan and dedicate time for each subject
Be consistent with the study plan Refer to good NDA books
Candidates must review the fundamentals of each subject. They should consult the books from Classes 6 to 12
Candidates must read the newspaper daily to enhance their English. Additionally, candidates must practice grammar and learn new words
Candidates must practice the previous years' question papers to get an idea about the exam structure

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Q: How can I improve my Vocabulary for NDA exam?

The tips and tricks to improve vocabularly for NDA exam are given below:

To enhance your NDA vocabulary for the exam, start by reading
Candidates must make a note of the topics they have learned during the exam preparation
Candidates must learn the orgin of the words
Candidates must practive questions based on the syllabus

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Table of Contents

NDA Books 2025
NDA Exam Pattern
NDA Syllabus
NDA Preparation Tips 2025
NDA Question Papers
NDA Books 2025 FAQs

NDA Books 2025

NDA exam consists of questions that are of Class 12 standard. If one goes through the NCERT books thoroughly and understand all the concepts mentioned in the books, they will not need any other reference book to clear the exam. In General Knowledge, candidates must read History of Modern India and Science and Technology in India. For English, candidates can read Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis and High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin for the English section of NDA. Listed below are the section-wise books for NDA preparation:

NDA Books for English

This section of NDA exam assesses a candidate's understanding of grammar and vocabulary. Here are the books that the students can refer to:

Objective General English by SP Bakshi
Wren & Martin High School English Grammar and Composition
Word Power Made Easy by Norman & Lewis

NDA Books for Physics

Questions in this section are generally asked from Classes 11 and 12. Usually, candidates will get questions related to electricity and mechanics. Candidates can refer to the NCERT books of Classes 11 and 12 and NCERT.

Best NDA Books for Chemistry

The chemistry section comprises questions that candidates have studied in Classes 11 and 12. Questions are basically from Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon-Di-Oxide, Acid, Bases, Oxidation and Reduction, Atoms, Valence, etc. For this section too, candidates can refer to NCERT books of Classes 11 and 12.

NDA Books for General Science, History, Geography

The General Science, History, and Geography section consists of topics that are related to Classes 9 and 10 Biology. Candidates can refer to Objective GK by Sanjiv Kumar.

NDA Books for Current Affairs

In NDA, Current Affairs are usually asked for the past six months. For this section, candidates can refer to Pratoyogita Darpan, Manorama Yearbook etc.

NDA Books for Mathematics

The Maths paper cover topics such as Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Trigonometry, Algebra, Vector Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Analytical Geometry, Statistics & Probability. The level of questions is very basic and simple. Candidates can refer to the NCERT books of Classes 11 and 12. Besides, they can refer to the following books.

Book Name	Author/Publisher
Quantitative Aptitude for competitive examinations	RS Aggarwal
NDA Entrance Exam	ES Ramasamy
Mathematics for NDA/NA: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy	RS Aggarwal

Q: Which are the best books for NDA SSB Interview?

Cracking SSB Interview is not easy task. The difficulty level is high and candidates must have sound knowledge of their subjects to clear the interview. The best books for SSB Interview are given below: SSB Interview: The Complete Guide by Dr N. K. Natarajan SSB OIR & PPDT: Complete Guide to Stage 1 SSB Interview by DDE.

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Q: Which books are best for NDA Maths?

Quantitative Aptitude for competitive examinations and Mathematics for NDA/NA: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy by RS Aggarwal are best for NDA Maths. NDA Maths syllabus cover topics such as Algebra Calculus, Matrices and Determinants Integral Calculus and Differential Equations Trigonometry Vector Algebra Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and Probability. He best books for NDA Maths are given below: Quantitative Aptitude for competitive examinations by RS Aggarwal Mathematics for NDA/NA: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy by RS Aggarwal.

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Q: Which books are the best for NDA Physics?

Candidates can refer to the NCERT books of Classes 11 and 12 for the Physics in NDA exam. NDA Physics syllabus is given below: Physical Properties and States of Matter Modes of transference of Heat Mass, Weight, Volume, Sound Waves and their properties Simple musical instruments Rectilinear propagation of Light Density and Specific Gravity Reflection and refraction Principle of Archimedes Spherical mirrors and Lenses Pressure Barometer Human Eye Motion of objects Natural and Artificial Magnets Velocity and Acceleration Properties of a Magnet Newtons Laws of Motion Earth as a Magnet Force and Momentum Static and Current Electricity Parallelogram of Forces Conductors and Non-conductors Stability and Equilibrium of bodies Ohms Law Gravitation Simple Electrical Circuits Elementary ideas of work Heating, Lighting, and Magnetic effects of Current Power and Energy Measurement of Electrical Power Effects of Heat Primary and Secondary Cells Measurement of Temperature and Heat Use of X-Rays General Principles in the working of Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariners Compass; Lightning Conductors, Safety Fuses.

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Q: Which are the best books for NDA English?

Candidates can refer to Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis and High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin for the English section of NDA. The syllabus for English comprises Grammar and Usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Cohesion. Candidates can prepare the English section by reading newspapers. They should also learn the basic grammar rules. Candidates must do the self-assessment of their preparation level.

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NDA Exam Pattern

It is important to go through the exam pattern before beginning with the preparation. The exam pattern helps candidates to understand the overall structure of the exam. According to NDA exam pattern, the written exam comprises two papers, Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The total marks of the written exam are 900. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for SSB Interview for Psychological Aptitude and Intelligence. The SSB Interview carries 900 marks.

NDA Exam Pattern for Written Exam

The structure of NDA exam written exam is given below.

Papers	Subject	Maximum marks	Duration
Paper 1	Mathematics	300	2 ½
Paper 2	GAT	600	2 ½
Total		900	5 hours

NDA Exam Pattern for SSB Interview

The SSB Interview is conducted in two stages. The Stage 1 of SSB interview comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Stage 2 comprises Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference. The structure of the SSB Interview is given below.

Stages	Tests
Stage 1	Screening Test	Verbal and non-verbal tests. PPDT
Stage 2	Psychological Test	Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Word Association Test (WAT) Situation Reaction Test (SRT) Self Description Test (SD)
	Group Testing Officers Test	GD GPE PGT HGT IOT Command Task Snake race/Group Obstacle Race Individual lecture FGT
	Personal Interview	-
	Conference	-

NDA Marking Scheme

The marking scheme of NDA exam is given below.

Subject	NDA Negative Marking
GAT	-1.33
Maths	-0.83

Q: Is NDA exam tough to crack?

NDA exam is known to be highly challenging and competitive exam. The exam tests the knowledge and aptitude of candidates in subjects such as Mathematics, General Ability and English . However, with proper preparation and practice, it is possible to crack the exam. It is important to note that success in the NDA exam also depends on factors such as dedication, focus, and time management.

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Q: How many times can a candidate appear for the NDA exam, and what is the minimum qualifying marks required to pass?

NDA exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC. Candidates can appear for both the sessions of NDA exam. NDA 1 exam is conducted for admission to the courses commencing in January. NDA 2 exam is conducted for admission to the courses commencing in July. To qualify each section of the NDA exam, candidates need to secure 25 per cent in each subject. NDA exam is conducted to select candidates for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Fotce wings of National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy.

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Q: What is NDA exam pattern?

The written exam of NDA comprises two papers-Mathematics and General Ability Tests (GAT). The Maths paper carries 120 questions and the GAT carries 150 questions. Total marks allotted to the written exam are 900. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for SSB interview. SSB Interview is divided into two stages. Candidates qualifying the Stage 1 are called for the Stage 2 exam. Stage 1 of the SSB Interview comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Stage 2 comprises Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference

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Q: Is NDA exam conducted online or offline?

NDA exam is conducted offline across various cities spread throughout the country. The exam is conducted in two shifts-morning and afternoon. The Maths paper is held in the morning shift- 10:00 AM-12:30 PM and GAT is held in the afternoon shift from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. Candidates are required to appear in both the shifts. The total marks allotted to the exam are 900. Candidates need to secure 25 per cent in each paper.

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NDA Syllabus

NDA syllabus outlines the topics and sub-topics that candidates need to cover for the exam. The standard of the NDA syllabus is of class 11 and 12 levels. NDA syllabus is given below:

Mathematics
Algebra	Matrices and Determinants
Trigonometry	Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions
Differential Calculus	Integral Calculus and Differential Equations
Vector Algebra	Statistics and Probability

GAT
English	Spotting Errors, Comprehension, Selecting Words, Ordering of Words in a Sentence, Sentence Improvement, Antonyms, Synonyms
General Knowledge	Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History & Freedom Movement, Geography, Current Events, etc.

Q: What level of math questions are asked in NDA?

The Paper 1 of NDA Maths section carries 300 marks. The exam comprises of 120 questions in maths from Class 12 level. For each correct answer, candidate get 2.5 marks. Additionally, 0.83 mark is deducted for wrong response. Questions in Maths are asked from Algebra, Calculus, Matrices and Determinants, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Trigonometry, Vector Algebra, Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and Probability.

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Q: Is the NDA entrance exam syllabus the same as Class 12?

Yes, the NDA syllabus is the same as class 12. To crack the NDA exam, candidates must have conceptual clarity for better application while handling tricky and simple questions. Candidates must practice previous years' question papers. For Maths candidates must practice from NCERT Class 11 books. Jot down important Mathematical formulas and concepts. For English, candidates must brush up on the concepts of English. Candidates must clear their basic grammar, improve reading comprehension, and build vocabulary to tackle Antonyms and Synonyms.

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Q: What is NDA syllabus?

NDA syllabus is prescribed by the examination authority so that candidates can know what they need to prepare for the exam. The standard of NDA syllabus is of Class 10, 11 and 12 levels. NDA syllabus is divided into two parts-Maths and GAT. NDA Maths syllabus carries questions from Algebra Calculus, Matrices and Determinants Integral Calculus and Differential Equations Trigonometry Vector Algebra Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and Probability.. NDA GAT syllabus carries questions from topics such as Usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Cohesion. Questions in General Knowledge are asked from Physics Chemistry Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events.

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Q: What is the standard of questions in the NDA exam?

Mostly, the standard of questions in the NDA exam is of Class 10, 11, and 12 levels. NDA exam carries two papers-Maths and GAT. The GAT paper is further divided into two parts-English and General Awareness. With a good preparation, candidates can crack the exam. Candidates can also refer to the high school level books to clear their concepts of topics asked in the exam.

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NDA Preparation Tips 2025

The tips and tricks to crack NDA preparation tips are given below:

Go through the exam pattern and syllabus
Solve and practice previous years' question papers to improve speed and accuracy
Candidates must attempt mock test
Candidates must clear their concepts of different topics by referring to good books

Q: Can I crack NDA through self-study?

There are many students who have cracked NDA exam with self-study. Replying only to coaching will not help in cracking the exam. Candidates should be consistent with their NDA preparation. The first and foremost step towards preparation should be going through the syllabus and exam pattern. Candidates must also solve previous years' question papers. By solving the previous years' question papers, candidates can know the type of questions asked in the exam.

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Q: How many hours should be given to study for NDA?

Everyday candidates should study for two to three hours on regular basis. Categorize the course as per your comfort and start preparing. Practice previous year question paper as much as possible. Candidates must be thorough with the syllabus and exam pattern. They should prepare study routine and follow it seriously. Candidates must also solve mock test.

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Q: How can I prepare for NDA exam?

Every year thousands of candidates appear for NDA exam. With so much competition, candidates need to have a proper preparation strategy for the exam. Candidates need to be consistent with their study plans. They should devote few hours every day to study. Candidates need to be thorough with the syllabus. Candidates must revise their notes and important formulae every day. Candidates must practise mock tests and previous years' question papers to get familiar with the exam pattern and syllabus. Candidates must clear their basic concepts of each and every topic given in the syllabus. This will help candidates to solve the questions easily in the exam.

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Q: How much time is required for NDA Exam Preparation?

To begin with the preparation, candidates need to understand the syllabus and exam pattern
Candidates can clear their basic concepts of the topics from the Class 10, 11 and 12 books
To improve speed and accuracy, candidates can attempt mock tests
After completing the syllabus, candidates must practice previous years' question papers to know the types of questions asked in the exam
Candidates must work on improving their weak areas

Upvote

NDA Question Papers

NDA question papers are released by UPSC separately for Maths and GAT. NDA previous year question papers help candidates to know the type of questions asked in the exam. Practising the question papers helps candidates to increase their speed of solving questions. It also enhances the time management skills of candidates. They should learn to solve questions accurately in the exam. Candidates can also challenge the NDA question papers through the question paper representation portal. The benefits of solving NDA question papers are given below:

Candidates can know the types of questions asked in the exam
Helps candidates in effective time management
Candidates can improve their speed and accuracy of solving questions

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Q: What questions are asked in an NDA SSB interview?

The questions that are asked in an NDA SSB interview are given below: 1) What is the meaning of your name? 2) How did your GTO and Psychology go, how many individual obstacles could you do, were you able to answer all the questions in psychology. 3) Why the IAF over the Army and Navy? 4) Tell me about your education background, the schools you've studied in (8th grade onwards), your marks, your favourite teacher, the teacher you disliked, favourite subject, disliked subject. 5) Tell me about the extracurricular and sport activities you actively took part in, your achievements, reason for taking part in those particular activities, level at which you participated. 6) Name few of your best friends from childhood, what do you like in them, what do you dislike in them, who supported you the most, what do they like in you, what do they dislike in you, who was your role model at school, reason for drop in percentage. 7) What are your weaknesses, how do you deal with them, is there any short coming you recently over came, how did you do so. 8) Tell me about your family background, the members of your family, what is their occupation, what do you like in each one of them, what do you dislike, what do they like in you, what do they dislike in you, which parent are you the closest to, why. 9) What is your routine on a holiday, how much pocket money do you get, how do you spend your money. 10) Tell me any 2 national and international news which you've come across recently. 11) Tell me how does an aircraft fly? What's the mechanism and principle. 12) What are your roles and responsibilities in your family, how do you help your family members and friends.

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Q: How are NDA question papers useful?

NDA question papers help candidates to know the types of questions asked in the exam as well the difficulty level of the questions. The question papers also give candidates an idea regarding the pattern of the exam, topic-wise distribution of questions, topics that are given maximum weightage, etc. Candidates can use NDA question papers to improve their speed and accuracy of solving questions.

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Q: When NDA question papers are released?

NDA question papers are released by UPSC within two to three days after the question papers are released. NDA 2 question paper is available now. NDA question papers are made available on the official website of UPSC in PDF. Candidates can download NDA question papers for different subjects-Maths and GAT. Practising the question papers, candidates can know the type of questions asked in the exam.

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Q: How many questions are asked in NDA exam?

A total of 120 questions are asked in the Maths paper of NDA. Questions are usually asked from Algebra Matrices and Determinants Trigonometry Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimensions, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, and Differential Equations Vector Algebra Statistics and Probability. In the GAT part of the NDA exam, a total of 150 questions are asked. This section is divided into parts. Part A comprises questions from English and Part B comprises questions from General Knowledge. In English questions are generally asked from Spotting Errors, Antonyms, Synonyms, Idioms, and Phrases and Fill in the Blanks. In General Knowledge, questions are asked from Physics Chemistry Biology Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Defence Specific, Current Affairs & Static GK, etc.

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NDA Books 2025 FAQs

Candidates can check below NDA books 2025 FAQs.

Q: How many students apply for NDA exam and qualify it?

Around two to three Lacs candidates apply for NDA exam. The written exam of NDA is cleared by around 8000 to 10,000 candidates. Such candidates are called for SSB interview. The pass percentage in SSB interview is around 10 to 15 per cent. Many students are rejected on medical ground as well. After the medicals, a merit list is prepared which features around 580 to 650 candidates. First 350 to 380 candidates are invited for admission to NDA and INAC. Some candidates do not join and some are not able to cope up with the tough training process. NDA selection process is bit tough therefore it takes about six months preparation to crack the exam.

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Q: Is NDA exam tough to crack?

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