The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination II 2026 on September 13, 2026, across hundreds of centres nationwide. Within hours of the pen-and-paper test, leading defence coaching institutes began publishing unofficial NDA 2 answer key 2026 documents for question paper sets A, B, C, and D covering both Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT). For lakhs of Class 12 and graduate aspirants targeting the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, these provisional keys offer the first reliable window into expected scores before UPSC releases the official answer key on upsc.gov.in after the final result.
This Academic247 guide explains what the set-wise NDA 2 answer key 2026 contains, how unofficial keys differ from the official version, where to download PDFs for Sets A through D, and how to calculate your probable marks using the UPSC marking scheme. We also map the result timeline, cut-off expectations, and coaching-hub resources for students preparing from cities such as Sikar, Kota, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
NDA 2 Answer Key 2026: What Candidates Need to Know
An NDA answer key is a subject-wise list of correct responses corresponding to each question number in the exam booklet. Because UPSC rotates questions across four parallel sets labelled Set A, Set B, Set C, and Set D candidates must match their booklet code before comparing answers. Using the wrong set key can inflate or deflate your estimated score by dozens of marks.
The NDA written exam has two papers held on the same day:
Paper I Mathematics: 300 marks, 120 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes
Paper II General Ability Test (GAT): 400 marks, 150 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes
Both papers use multiple-choice questions with four options and carry negative marking. Combined, the written stage totals 900 marks and serves as the gateway to the five-day Services Selection Board (SSB) interview for shortlisted candidates.
Official vs Unofficial NDA 2 Answer Key 2026
Understanding the difference between official and unofficial keys helps candidates set realistic expectations:
| Feature | Unofficial Answer Key | Official UPSC Answer Key |
|---|---|---|
| Released by | Coaching institutes, educators, defence portals | Union Public Service Commission |
| Typical timing | Same day or within 24–48 hours of exam | After declaration of final NDA result |
| Availability | Institute websites, YouTube live sessions, PDF downloads | upsc.gov.in under Examinations → Answer Keys |
| Objection window | Not applicable | No challenge facility for NDA keys |
| Accuracy | High for most questions; disputed items may be revised | Final and binding for result calculation |
Major coaching brands including Major Kalshi Classes and Cavalier India traditionally release set-wise Maths and GAT keys within hours of the September 13 exam. Students who appeared at centres covered under local arrangements such as those listed in our Dehradun UPSC CDS, NDA and NA Exams 2026 guide or the Gurugram CDS NDA Exam 2026 centre guide can cross-check keys alongside their own response sheets once memory is still fresh.
NDA 2 Exam 2026: Important Dates at a Glance
UPSC publishes the NDA calendar in its annual notification. For 2026, both sessions followed a predictable schedule that helps aspirants plan answer-key checks and result tracking.
| Event | NDA I 2026 | NDA II 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Written examination date | April 12, 2026 | September 13, 2026 |
| Provisional / coaching answer keys | April 16, 2026 (institute keys) | September 13–14, 2026 (institute keys) |
| Official UPSC answer key | After final result | To be announced after final result |
| Written result (expected pattern) | Online PDF with roll numbers | Expected in late 2026 / early 2027 |
| SSB interview | For qualified candidates | For qualified candidates |
Candidates in hill-state centres should note that district administrations sometimes impose temporary traffic and gathering restrictions near exam venues. Aspirants who tested in Uttarakhand can review the Almora CDS and NDA exam-day 200-metre zone rules for September 13, 2026 for context on how local orders interact with national exam schedules.
Download NDA 2 Answer Key 2026 PDF: Sets A, B, C, and D
UPSC does not release the official NDA 2 answer key 2026 immediately after the exam. Until the commission publishes final keys, candidates rely on coaching institutes and subject experts. Below is a practical breakdown by paper and set.
NDA 2 Maths Answer Key 2026 Set A, B, C, D
The Mathematics paper tests algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, and mensuration at the Class 11–12 level. Each set contains the same questions arranged in a different sequence, so the answer key must align with your booklet code.
After the September 13 exam, unofficial Maths keys for all four sets became available through major defence coaching channels. For a detailed question-by-question review with worked solutions, refer to Academic247's dedicated resource on the NDA 2 Maths question paper 2026 with answer key and solution PDF.
What to verify when downloading a Maths key:
Confirm the session is NDA II 2026, not NDA I or a previous year.
Match your OMR sheet or admit card for Set A, B, C, or D.
Check that the key lists 120 answers for Paper I.
Compare at least five questions from memory before trusting the full PDF.
NDA 2 GAT Answer Key 2026 Set A, B, C, D
The General Ability Test blends English comprehension, general knowledge, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, and current affairs. Coaching institutes typically release GAT keys separately from Maths keys because the paper is longer and includes passage-based English items that may have nuanced marking debates.
GAT is split into two parts: Part A covers English (200 marks within the 400-mark paper weightage structure), while Part B covers general studies in science, history, geography, and current events. Institute keys usually list all 150 answers sequentially. If your coaching centre provides live paper discussions on YouTube, watch the segment matching your set to resolve ambiguous questions before finalising your score estimate.
How Coaching Institutes Release Unofficial NDA Answer Keys
India's defence preparation ecosystem concentrated in hubs like Sikar, Kota, Jaipur, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru moves quickly on exam day. Institutes deploy faculty teams to reconstruct questions from candidate memory and solve them in real time.
Students training at specialised academies often receive keys faster than self-study candidates. Rajasthan's Sikar district, in particular, hosts a dense cluster of NDA-focused institutes. Parents and aspirants comparing options can explore Academic247 rankings and guides such as:
Beyond Sikar, city-wise coaching rankings help families evaluate institute quality holistically. Academic247's 2026 lists cover top coachings in Delhi, top coachings in Kota, top coachings in Hyderabad, top coachings in Bengaluru, top coachings in Mumbai, and top coachings in Jaipur useful for students who combine school education with weekend defence batches.
NDA 2026 Marking Scheme: Calculate Your Score from the Answer Key
Before using any NDA 2 answer key 2026 PDF, memorise the UPSC marking pattern. Incorrect penalty calculations are the most common reason aspirants misjudge cut-off readiness.
Paper-Wise Marking Details
| Paper | Total Marks | Questions | Marks per Correct Answer | Negative Marking per Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 300 | 120 | +2.5 | −0.83 (one-third of 2.5) |
| GAT | 400 | 150 | +4 | −1.33 (one-third of 4) |
Unattempted questions carry zero marks neither reward nor penalty. The effective formula for each paper is:
Paper Score = (Correct × Marks per correct) − (Incorrect × Negative marks per wrong)
Example: If you answered 70 Maths questions correctly and 20 incorrectly (30 blank), your estimated Maths score is (70 × 2.5) − (20 × 0.83) = 175 − 16.6 = 158.4 marks. Repeat the process for GAT and add both paper totals for your composite written estimate out of 900.
Using Set A, B, C, D Keys Without Error
Each set shuffles question order but not content. When a coaching PDF says "Q14 Option (B)" for Set A, the same concept may appear as Q31 in Set C. Always match question numbers from your specific booklet photograph or memory notes, not from a friend's different set.
Expected NDA 2 Cut-Off 2026 and What Your Score Means
UPSC applies separate cut-offs for the written exam aggregate and for each paper. Historical trends suggest candidates generally need roughly one-third of total marks as a baseline, with higher scores required for competitive wings and categories. Final cut-offs depend on paper difficulty, vacancy count, and normalisation is not applied raw marks decide ranking within categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS).
Past cycles indicate that General category candidates often require aggregate written scores well above 350 out of 900 to remain comfortably above the threshold, though this varies each session. After calculating scores from the unofficial NDA 2 answer key 2026, compare against previous years' cut-offs as a directional guide only. The written result PDF lists roll numbers clearing the threshold; only those candidates receive SSB call letters.
Students awaiting medical and SSB stages should continue physical fitness training regardless of estimated scores overconfidence and premature relaxation are common pitfalls after strong mock performances.
Official NDA 2 Answer Key 2026: UPSC Release Process
The official NDA answer key 2026 for Sets A, B, C, and D will appear on the UPSC website only after the commission declares the final result following SSB interviews and medicals. This differs from exams like JEE or NEET where provisional keys arrive within days.
Steps to download the official key when published:
Visit upsc.gov.in.
Navigate to the Examinations section and locate Active or Previous Answer Keys.
Select National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination.
Choose the year and session (NDA II 2026).
Download the PDF for Mathematics and GAT, identifying your set code.
UPSC does not provide an objection or representation window for NDA answer keys. The published official key is final. This makes same-day accuracy checks against multiple institute keys a worthwhile cross-verification exercise.
For comparison, other national exams follow different answer-key timelines. Medical postgraduate aspirants tracking NBEMS releases can read our coverage of the NEET PG 2026 answer key and response sheet process to see how objection windows and percentile logic differ from UPSC defence exams.
NDA Exam Pattern 2026: Quick Reference for Answer-Key Users
Revisiting the exam pattern helps candidates interpret answer keys section by section rather than treating the paper as a single block of marks.
Mathematics: 120 MCQs, +2.5/−0.83 marking, no calculator permitted
GAT English (Part A): Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension passages
GAT General Studies (Part B): Physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, current affairs
Language of paper: Bilingual Hindi and English except for the English language section
Qualifying requirement: Separate minimums may apply per paper at the commission's discretion during result processing
Candidates who sat NDA I 2026 on April 12 and received institute keys on April 16 would follow the same set-matching logic. Keeping a personal log of attempted questions across both 2026 sessions helps repeaters identify recurring weak topics when official keys eventually publish.
Who Should Use the NDA 2 Answer Key 2026 Right Now?
The answer key serves different purposes for different candidate profiles. First-time NDA aspirants use it to benchmark whether their preparation strategy worked and to decide if a second attempt in the next cycle is realistic. Repeaters compare section-wise accuracy against their previous attempt to see whether Maths speed or GAT current affairs was the limiting factor. Parents funding coaching in cities like Sikar or Delhi use estimated scores to plan whether to continue a full residential programme or shift to a hybrid model.
Teachers at school-affiliated NCC units also benefit from institute keys when guiding cadets through post-exam counselling. Sharing set-wise PDFs within study groups accelerates collective error analysis, provided every member confirms they are reviewing the same booklet code.
Preparing for NDA Result 2026 and SSB Next Steps
The NDA 2 2026 written result will be published as a PDF containing roll numbers of qualified candidates. UPSC does not display individual marks in the initial list. Shortlisted aspirants proceed to SSB interviews at designated centres, followed by the medical examination board.
The final NDA 2026 merit list merges written and SSB performance. Candidates who miss the written cut-off should begin planning for NDA I 2027 or parallel entries such as CDS while strengthening weak subjects identified through answer-key analysis.
School and Coaching Choices for Future NDA Cycles
Long-term NDA success often starts with disciplined school routines plus structured coaching. Academic247's school rankings including best schools in Sikar 2026, best schools in Delhi 2026, best schools in Kota 2026, best schools in Hyderabad 2026, best schools in Jaipur 2026, best schools in Mumbai 2026, and best schools in Bengaluru 2026 help parents align board curriculum choices with defence exam syllabi.
For dedicated NDA academy comparisons including hostel facilities and recorded results explore guides such as top 10 NDA coaching academies in Sikar 2026, top 5 defence coaching institutes in Sikar 2026, top 3 NDA academy in Sikar 2026, and Alpha NDA Academy vs Prince NDA Academy Sikar comparison. Sikar also features strong JEE pipelines; students keeping dual options open may review top 5 JEE coaching in Sikar 2026 and top coachings in Sikar 2026.
Actionable Tips After Checking the NDA 2 Answer Key 2026
Record your responses now: Memory fades within 48 hours. Note uncertain question numbers before discarding rough sheets if permitted.
Cross-verify with two institute keys: Discrepancies flag questions worth discussing in mentor groups.
Calculate conservative and optimistic scores: Treat disputed GAT items as wrong in the conservative estimate.
Start SSB preparation early: Candidates near the expected cut-off should not wait for the result to begin Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and picture perception practice.
Archive PDFs: Save both unofficial and official keys for future NDA attempt analysis.
Review previous-year official keys: UPSC-published keys from earlier NDA cycles remain valuable practice tools for understanding question standards and difficulty trends.
Conclusion
The NDA 2 answer key 2026 for Sets A, B, C, and D is now available through unofficial coaching releases for Mathematics and GAT, giving September 13 examinees an early performance snapshot. Match your exact set code, apply the UPSC marking scheme carefully, and treat institute keys as provisional until UPSC publishes final answers after the complete selection cycle. Whether you prepared in a dedicated defence hub like Sikar or through self-study in metro cities, systematic score estimation and immediate SSB planning turn exam-day uncertainty into a clear next-step roadmap. Stay tuned to Academic247 for official key updates, result alerts, and verified coaching and school rankings across India.
