The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the General Ability Test (GAT) question paper for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2025. Candidates who appeared for the written examination can now download the official GAT paper in PDF format from the UPSC portal. The paper is a valuable resource for those preparing for future NDA exams, as it helps in understanding the pattern, level of questions, and key focus areas covered by UPSC.
I am covering this update because the NDA examination is one of India’s most competitive and prestigious entry routes into the Indian Armed Forces. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for it, but only a few make it through. Accessing the official question paper helps aspirants familiarise themselves with real exam conditions and plan smarter preparation strategies. This is especially useful for those aiming for the next NDA session in 2026.
NDA & NA (II) 2025 General Ability Test – Overview
The General Ability Test (GAT) is one of the two papers conducted under the NDA and NA Examination by UPSC, the other being Mathematics. The GAT paper primarily assesses a candidate’s command over English, general knowledge, current affairs, and reasoning skills.
Here’s a quick overview of the examination details:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2025 |
| Conducted By | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Paper Name | General Ability Test (GAT) |
| Exam Date | Conducted as per UPSC schedule 2025 |
| Paper Format | Objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Total Marks | 600 marks |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Availability | Official PDF on UPSC website |
Structure of the GAT Paper
The General Ability Test carries 600 marks and is divided into two main sections — English and General Knowledge. The paper aims to evaluate candidates’ awareness, comprehension skills, and analytical ability.
Section A: English (200 Marks)
This part tests candidates on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and usage. The questions are based on:
- Spotting errors and sentence correction
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Fill in the blanks
- Reading comprehension
- Idioms and phrases
- Sentence improvement
Section B: General Knowledge (400 Marks)
This section covers a wide range of subjects, including:
- Physics, Chemistry, and General Science
- History and Geography
- Current Affairs and Defence-related topics
- Social Studies and Indian Polity
- Environmental awareness and basic biology
The questions are designed to test both factual knowledge and conceptual understanding.
How to Download NDA & NA (II) 2025 GAT Question Paper
Candidates who wish to download the General Ability Test (GAT) paper can follow these simple steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website – www.upsc.gov.in
- Go to the Examination section on the homepage.
- Click on Previous Question Papers.
- Under the NDA & NA section, select Examination (II) – 2025.
- Click on the General Ability Test link to download the PDF.
- Save or print the file for future reference.
The question paper is available free of cost for all candidates and can be downloaded without login credentials.
N.B: If you want to download the question paper without any difficulty, you can easily download it by clicking here.
