Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to publish the answer key for the combined NDA I and NDA II exam on its website after a few hours of the exam on September 6, 2020. The conducting authority releases the set-wise (A, B, C, and D) NDA answer keys for Mathematics and General Ability Test separately. Candidates need to follow certain steps to download the subject-wise NDA 2020 answer key. Apart from UPSC, the top-notch NDA coaching institutes like Major Kalshi and Aim & Achieve also release NDA answer key unofficially.
As indicated in the UPSC official notification, the combined NDA I and NDA II exam will take place on September 06, 2020. Hence, the conducting body will release NDA answer key 2020 only once this year. Usually, the answer keys are released twice in a year, separately for NDA (I) and NDA (II) exams.
NDA answer key is the best tool for the examinees to predict their probable NDA score well before the result declaration. Applicants need to visit the UPSC website i.e. upsc.gov.in to get access to the official NDA 2020 answer key online. Only online mode is available to download the answer key. Get a grab on the important information about NDA 2020 answer key in this article.
NDA Answer Key – Important Dates
Candidates can check out all the important dates related to NDA 2020 in the table below:
Schedule for NDA 2020 Answer Key
| Events | Key Dates |
| NDA I and NDA II exam date (combined) | September 06, 2020 |
| Release of NDA 2020 answer key | September 06, 2020 (tentative) |
| NDA 2020 result announcement | To be declared |
How to Download NDA answer key 2020?
Candidates should follow the below-given steps to easily download NDA 2020 answer key online:
- Go to the official website of UPSC, i.e., upsc.gov.in
- Tap on the examination tab and get the dropdown list
- Click on the answer key button given in the dropdown list and explore the answer keys for NDA I and NDA II
- Tap on the given links and download the answer keys in PDF form
- Take the printout of NDA 2020 answer key for further use
Note – Once UPSC releases the NDA answer key 2020, we will update the direct download link here.
NDA Exam Pattern 2020
Calculating the section-wise and overall score in the NDA exam through the answer key requires applicants to learn about exam pattern and marking scheme, as mentioned below:
Overview of NDA Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of exam | Offline or Pen & Paper Based |
| Medium of exam | English or Hindi |
| Total sections | 2 (Mathematics and General Ability Test) |
| Type of questions | MCQs |
| Total questions | 270 (Mathematics – 120 and General Ability Test – 150) |
| Section-wise marks | Mathematics – 300 and General Ability Test – 600 |
| Total marks | 900 |
| Time duration | 2.30 hours (for each section) |
NDA 2020 – Marking Scheme
Candidates must also check the NDA marking scheme to calculate overall score through the answer key. Below given table contains the NDA exam marking scheme:
Highlights of NDA Marking Scheme
| Particulars | Marking pattern |
| Mathematics | 2.5 marks for every right answer |
| General Ability Test | 4 marks for every right answer |
| For an incorrect answer in both sections | 0.33% marks will be deducted |
| For unattempted questions | Zero marks |
| For picking more than one answer | 0.33% marks will be cut |
How to evaluate score through NDA answer key 2020?
NDA answer key facilitates applicants to calculate their probable score prior to result declaration. For this, candidates must be aware of the NDA exam pattern. NDA Mathematics question paper carries a maximum of 300 marks while NDA GAT (General Ability Test) question paper contains a maximum of 600 marks. A 3-step formula to evaluate the tentative score of NDA exam is as under:
| Step 1: Total Score in Mathematics = 2.5 marks X total correct answers – 0.83 marks X total wrong answers
Step 2: Total Score in General Ability = 4.0 marks X total correct answers – 1.33 marks X total wrong answers Step 3: Total NDA Score = Total Score in Mathematics + Total Score in General Ability |
NDA Previous Years’ Answer Keys
Candidates can find the links to download the NDA answer keys of previous years in the table below:
| Subjects | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||
| NDA I | NDA II | NDA I | NDA II | NDA I | NDA II | |
| General Ability | Click Here | NA | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here |
| Math | Click Here | NA | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here |
NDA Previous Years’ Question Papers
The table below comprises the NDA question papers of last three years that candidates can refer to:
| Subjects | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||
| NDA I | NDA II | NDA I | NDA II | NDA I | NDA II | |
| General Ability | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here |
| Math | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here |
Note – Until the NDA answer key 2020 releases, candidates can refer to the answer keys and question papers of previous years to practice evaluating the score using the 3-step formula explained above.
NDA Result 2020
UPSC is yet to notify the date for the declaration of NDA result 2020. NDA result is declared in two phases – one is for NDA written exam and then the final NDA result is declared after the SSB interview and medical examination of the candidates (who qualify the NDA written test). Candidates can download NDA result through online mode only on UPSC official website.
NDA Answer Key – FAQs
✔️ How can I check the NDA answer key 2020?
Candidates will get the official answer key of NDA 2020 exam on the website of UPSC. They can download the answer key in PDF form without using their login credentials.
✔️ Can I evaluate my score using the NDA answer key?
Yes. candidates can find the correct answers in the answer key and calculate the tentative score after gaining a know-how of the NDA marking scheme and exam pattern.
✔️ Does the commission release NDA answer keys separately for all sets of papers?
Yes, UPSC will publish separate answer keys for different paper sets (Section A, B, C, and D).
✔️ Can I raise an objection against the NDA answer key?
No. Candidates cannot challenge the official NDA answer key released by UPSC. UPSC ensures to release the answer key after scrutinizing each answer stringently.
✔️ Do the NDA coaching institutes also release the unofficial NDA answer key?
Yes, renowned NDA coaching institutes like Major Kalashi and Aim & Achieve release the unofficial answer key after a few hours of the exam on their respective websites.
