The Union Public Service Commission has released the provisional UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key 2026 on its official website, upsc.gov.in. The key has been issued for all candidates who appeared in the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026, held on 13 September 2026.
Separate PDFs have been published for both papers — Paper I (Mathematics) and Paper II (General Ability Test) — and each PDF covers all four question booklet series, A, B, C and D. The provisional key is an open document: no registration number, roll number or password is needed to view it. Candidates can match their marked responses against the key and estimate their written score well before the result is announced.
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UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key 2026 Download Link
The provisional UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key for the NDA & NA (II) 2026 examination are available in the Answer Keys section of the official UPSC portal. Candidates can download the paper-wise PDFs from the direct links shared below.
| Paper | Subject | File Size | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 1.66 MB | UPSC NDA 2 Maths Answer Key 2026 – Click to Download |
| Paper II | General Ability Test (GAT) | 2.02 MB | UPSC NDA 2 GAT Answer Key 2026 – Click to Download |
Also Read: UPSC CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 Out: Download Provisional Key PDF for English, GK & Maths
UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key 2026: Key Highlights
An important point for candidates calculating their scores: no question has been dropped in either paper. All 120 Mathematics questions and all 150 GAT questions have been taken for scoring, so the full paper counts towards the final evaluation.
| Particulars | Paper I – Mathematics | Paper II – General Ability Test |
|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 120 | 150 |
| Maximum Marks | 300 | 600 |
| Questions Dropped | 0 | 0 |
| Questions Taken for Scoring | 120 | 150 |
| Series Released | A, B, C, D | A, B, C, D |
| Duration | 2 Hours 30 Minutes | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
Before matching answers, candidates must confirm the series code printed on the cover of their question booklet. The sequence of questions differs across Series A, B, C and D, so using the wrong series will produce a completely misleading score.
How to Download UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key 2026?
Candidates can follow the steps given below to download the NDA 2 provisional answer key:
- Visit the official UPSC website at https://www.upsc.gov.in.
- Click on the Examination tab in the top menu.
- Select UPSC NDA 2 Answer Kes from the drop-down menu.
- Locate the link for National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026.
- Click on Mathematics or General Ability Test, depending on the paper you want.
- The provisional answer key PDF will open, showing the keys for Series A, B, C and D.
- Download the PDF and save or print it for future reference.
- Match your responses against the column for your own series code only.
- Calculate your estimated score using the prescribed marking scheme.
Direct NDA Answer Key Link Here
UPSC NDA 2 Exam 2026 Overview
The NDA & NA (II) 2026 examination was conducted in two sittings on a single day, 13 September 2026, across designated centres in the country. The provisional answer key has been released three days after the exam.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC NDA & NA (II) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Papers | Paper I – Mathematics, Paper II – General Ability Test |
| Total Marks (Written) | 900 (Maths 300 + GAT 600) |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Release Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based, pen and paper) |
| Answer Key Type | Provisional |
| Answer Key Format | PDF (Series A, B, C, D) |
| Questions Dropped | Nil in both papers |
| Objection Portal | upsconline.nic.in (QPRep) |
| Final Answer Key | To Be Released |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC NDA 2 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme 2026
The NDA written examination carries 900 marks in total, followed by the SSB interview which carries an equal 900 marks. Both papers are of 2 hours 30 minutes each.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Paper II | General Ability Test | 150 | 600 | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Total | — | 270 | 900 | — |
The General Ability Test is further divided into two parts — English, carrying 200 marks, and General Knowledge, carrying 400 marks. The General Knowledge section covers Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and Current Events.
UPSC applies negative marking in both papers. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every wrong answer. If a candidate marks more than one option for a question, it is treated as a wrong answer even if one of the marked responses is correct. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
How to Calculate UPSC NDA 2 Marks 2026?
Since the two papers carry different weightage per question, candidates must apply the correct value for each paper rather than a single common formula.
| Paper | Questions | Marks per Correct Answer | Deduction per Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 ÷ 120 = 2.5 | 0.83 |
| General Ability Test | 150 | 600 ÷ 150 = 4.0 | 1.33 |
Formula: Estimated Marks = (Number of Correct Answers × Marks per Question) − (Number of Wrong Answers × Deduction per Question)
Example (Mathematics): Suppose a candidate attempts 90 questions, of which 70 are correct and 20 are wrong.
Estimated Marks = (70 × 2.5) − (20 × 0.83) = 175 − 16.6 = 158.4 marks
Example (GAT): Suppose a candidate attempts 120 questions, of which 95 are correct and 25 are wrong.
Estimated Marks = (95 × 4) − (25 × 1.33) = 380 − 33.25 = 346.75 marks
Adding both papers gives the estimated written score out of 900. In the example above, the candidate’s total would be approximately 505 marks.
FAQs
When was the UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key 2026 released?
The provisional answer keys for NDA & NA (II) 2026 were released on 16 September 2026 at upsc.gov.in, three days after the exam held on 13 September 2026.
Do I need a login to download the UPSC NDA 2 answer key 2026?
No. The provisional answer key is a public PDF available in the Answer Keys section of the UPSC website. Login credentials are needed only for submitting representations.
How many questions have been dropped in NDA 2 2026?
None. Both papers have been taken fully for scoring — all 120 questions in Mathematics and all 150 questions in the General Ability Test.
What is the marking scheme for NDA 2 2026?
Mathematics carries 2.5 marks per correct answer with a deduction of 0.83 for each wrong answer. GAT carries 4 marks per correct answer with a deduction of 1.33 for each wrong answer.
Is there negative marking in the NDA exam?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every incorrect answer, and marking more than one option counts as incorrect.
