NDA II General Ability Test 2022: Complete Question Paper Analysis & Preparation Strategy

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Subject-wise Distribution

SubjectQuestionsPercentage
Science & Technology5454%
History & Culture1717%
Geography1515%
Polity & Governance55%
Economy44%
Environment & Ecology22%
Miscellaneous & General Knowledge22%
International Relations & Global Affairs11%

Topic-wise Breakdown

SubjectTopicQuestions
Science & TechnologyBasic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)51
GeographyWorld Physical Geography9
History & CultureModern India (Pre-1857)5
History & CultureAncient India4
History & CultureNational Movement (1857–1947)4
Science & TechnologySpace & Defence Technology3
GeographyIndian Economic Geography2
GeographyMaps & Locations2
History & CultureMedieval India2
History & CultureCulture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy2
EconomySchemes, Inclusion & Social Sector2
GeographyIndian Physical Geography1
GeographyWorld Human & Economic Geography1
International Relations & Global AffairsInternational Organisations & Groupings1
EconomyAgriculture & Rural Economy1

The National Defence Academy (NDA) examination remains one of the most prestigious and challenging entry points into the Indian Armed Forces. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the NDA II 2022 examination served as a definitive benchmark for how the Commission is shifting its focus towards conceptual clarity rather than mere rote memorization. For any serious aspirant, the General Ability Test (GAT) is the make-or-break section. While the Mathematics paper tests your analytical speed, the GAT paper tests the breadth of your knowledge, your awareness of the world, and your scientific temperament.

In this comprehensive analysis, we will dissect the NDA II 2022 GAT paper, which consisted of 150 questions in total (including 50 English questions and 100 General Studies questions). With 4 marks awarded for every correct answer and a penalty of 1.33 for every wrong one, the stakes are incredibly high. Analyzing this specific paper is not just a look into the past; it is a strategic blueprint for your future preparation. By understanding the weightage of Science, the nuance of History, and the application-based nature of Geography in 2022, you can optimize your study hours to ensure you are not just working hard, but working smart.

1. Introduction & Exam Overview

The NDA II 2022 General Ability Test was a balanced yet demanding paper. It followed the standard UPSC format: 150 questions to be solved in 150 minutes. The GAT is divided into two parts—Part A (English) and Part B (General Studies). Our focus here is Part B, which comprises 100 questions covering Science, Social Sciences, and Current Affairs. The maximum marks for this section are 400, contributing significantly to the overall 900-mark written total.

What made the 2022 paper unique was its heavy leaning toward the "Pure Sciences." While many aspirants spend months mastering the intricacies of the Indian Constitution or the nuances of the Mughal Empire, the 2022 paper sent a clear message: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are the pillars of the NDA GAT. With 54% of the General Studies section dedicated to Science and Technology, the examiner’s intent was clear—future officers must have a robust understanding of the physical world. However, the Humanities sections were not to be ignored, as they required a deeper, more analytical approach than previous years. This analysis matters because it reveals the "UPSC Mindset"—a preference for candidates who can connect textbook theory with practical application.

2. Subject-wise Deep Dive

Science & Technology (54% Weightage)

In 2022, Science wasn't just a subject; it was the dominant force. With 54 questions, this section alone could determine your qualification status. The vast majority (51 questions) came from Basic Science—Physics, Chemistry, and Biology—rooted firmly in the NCERT syllabus of Classes 9 and 10, with some extensions into Class 11 and 12.

  • Physics: Focused heavily on Optics (mirrors and lenses), Electricity (resistance and circuits), and Mechanics. The questions were numerical-heavy compared to previous years.
  • Chemistry: Emphasized Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases and Salts, and Carbon compounds. There was a notable focus on the daily-life applications of chemistry.
  • Biology: Centered on Cell Biology, Human Physiology, and Plant Tissues.
  • Space & Defence: 3 questions focused on India's recent satellite launches and indigenization of defense technology.

Recommended Books: NCERT Science (Class 9 & 10) is your Bible. For Physics numericals, refer to Class 11 (selected chapters like Motion and Work-Energy). Common Mistake: Ignoring the diagrams and "Activity" boxes in NCERTs. UPSC often picks conceptual questions directly from these boxes.

History & Culture (17% Weightage)

History in NDA II 2022 was spread across different eras, with 17 questions in total. Modern India (Pre-1857) and the National Movement (1857–1947) together accounted for 9 questions, proving that the struggle for independence remains a priority. Ancient India saw 4 questions, while Medieval India and Culture had 2 each.

  • Trends: The questions moved away from simple dates to "Why" and "How." For instance, the administrative changes under the British and the philosophical underpinnings of the Bhakti movement were touched upon.

Recommended Books: 'A Brief History of Modern India' by Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir) and the New NCERTs (Themes in Indian History). Common Mistake: Memorizing only the years of battles while ignoring the socio-economic causes behind them.

Geography (15% Weightage)

With 15 questions, Geography remained a high-yield subject. World Physical Geography dominated with 9 questions, covering topics like atmospheric layers, ocean currents, and plate tectonics. Indian Economic Geography and Map-based questions made up the rest.

Recommended Books: NCERT Class 11 (Fundamentals of Physical Geography) and G.C. Leong’s 'Certificate Physical and Human Geography'. Common Mistake: Neglecting Map-work. In 2022, questions required a spatial understanding of India’s neighbors and major river systems.

Polity, Economy, & Environment (11% Combined)

These subjects were the "silent players." While Polity only had 5 questions, they were high-quality questions on Fundamental Rights and the Preamble. Economy (4 questions) focused on basic macroeconomics like GDP and Inflation. Environment (2 questions) focused on biodiversity conservation.

Recommended Books: M. Laxmikanth for Polity (selective reading) and NCERT Class 12 Macroeconomics. Common Mistake: Over-studying these subjects at the cost of Science. Balance is key.

3. Topic Trends & Pattern Analysis

The 2022 paper showcased a "Back to Basics" trend. While the Civil Services Examination (CSE) is becoming increasingly abstract, the NDA remains grounded in the fundamental concepts taught in secondary school, but with a twist of complexity. The dominance of Science (54%) suggests that the UPSC expects future military leaders to have a high degree of technical literacy. This is likely due to the increasing technologization of the modern battlefield.

Another emerging trend is the integration of Geography with Current Affairs. Questions about specific locations were often linked to places that were in the news due to geopolitical tensions or natural disasters. This tells us that the examiner is moving away from static "fact-checking" and toward "contextual awareness." Compared to general UPSC patterns, the NDA II 2022 paper was more direct but required a higher degree of accuracy. The "Mindset" of the examiner is to filter out candidates who rely on last-minute "crash courses" and reward those who have built a solid foundation over 6 to 12 months.

4. Preparation Strategy

To conquer a paper like NDA II 2022, your strategy must be data-driven. Based on the weightage, your time allocation should be: 40% Science, 20% History, 20% Geography, and 20% for Polity/Economy/Current Affairs.

Subject-Wise Resources:

  • Polity: Don’t read the whole Laxmikanth. Focus on the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Parliament, and the Judiciary. Subhash Kashyap’s 'Our Constitution' is excellent for building a narrative understanding.
  • History: Use the Tamil Nadu State Board Class 11 & 12 textbooks. They are concise and cover Ancient and Medieval history much better than standard NCERTs for competitive exams. For Modern History, Bipin Chandra's 'India's Struggle for Independence' provides the necessary depth for statement-based questions.
  • Geography: Stick to NCERTs. Supplement 'Physical Geography' with G.C. Leong for chapters on climate and landforms. Use an Atlas (Oxford or Orient Blackswan) daily for 15 minutes.
  • Economy: Focus on the 'Economic Survey' summary and 'Budget' highlights for current data. Use Ramesh Singh only for specific terms like Repo Rate, CRR, and Inflation types.
  • Current Affairs: Read 'The Hindu' or 'Indian Express' daily. Focus on the "Science & Tech" and "Defence" pages. Use the PIB (Press Information Bureau) website for authentic government data on schemes.

How to use PYQ (Previous Year Questions) effectively: Don't just solve the question; analyze the four options. If a question is about the 'Fundamental Rights', look up why the other three options (e.g., DPSP, Duties) were not the answer. This "360-degree" approach to PYQs is the secret of toppers.

5. Answer Elimination Techniques

The NDA GAT paper often contains "Statement-based" questions where you must identify if '1 only', '2 only', 'Both', or 'None' are correct. In the 2022 paper, these were the real score-protectors. Elimination is not guessing; it is the logical removal of improbable answers.

  • The Extreme Word Technique: In Science and Polity questions, statements containing words like "Only," "Always," "Never," or "Entirely" are often (though not always) incorrect. UPSC prefers nuanced, balanced statements.
  • Match the Following: These are "gift" questions. Usually, if you are 100% sure about just one pair, you can eliminate at least two of the four options. In 2022, several Geography questions could be solved this way.
  • When to Skip: If you cannot eliminate even two options, skip the question. With a 1.33 penalty, three wrong guesses wipe out the marks of one correct answer. Your goal is to maximize "Net Score," not "Attempts."
  • Contextual Guessing: If a question is about a new defense technology and you remember reading about a related DRDO project, use that context to narrow down the choices.

6. Current Affairs Integration

In the 2022 paper, Current Affairs acted as a bridge. For instance, a question on "Space Technology" wasn't just about the theory of orbits; it was linked to a specific ISRO mission. This is "Static-linked-to-Dynamic" questioning.

To build a daily habit, don't just read news; categorize it. When you read about a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, immediately revise the "Cyclones" chapter in your Geography NCERT. This integration ensures that you aren't memorizing isolated facts but building a web of knowledge. For monthly revisions, 'Yojana' is excellent for understanding government perspectives on socio-economic issues, while 'Kurukshetra' helps with rural development and environment-related topics. Avoid "Monthly Fact-books" that provide 1000 one-liners; they rarely help with the analytical questions UPSC is now favoring.

7. Smart Preparation Tips

The 6-Month vs. 1-Year Plan: If you have a year, spend the first 6 months building your base with NCERTs and standard books. Use the last 6 months for intense MCQ practice and Current Affairs. If you have only 6 months, you must adopt a "Reverse Engineering" strategy: solve PYQs first to identify your weak areas, then read only the relevant chapters from the books.

Revision Techniques: Use the 'Active Recall' and 'Spaced Repetition' methods. Instead of reading a chapter three times, read it once and then try to write down everything you remember on a blank sheet of paper. Re-visit the chapter after 24 hours, then 7 days, then 30 days. This moves information from short-term to long-term memory.

Mock Test Analysis: Giving a mock test is 20% of the work; analyzing it is 80%. After every test, categorize your mistakes into three buckets: 1. Silly Mistakes: (Misread the question) – Solution: Slow down. 2. Lack of Knowledge: (Never heard of the topic) – Solution: Add to notes. 3. Conceptual Confusion: (Knew the topic but got confused between options) – Solution: Re-read the core concept.

8. Key Takeaways & Action Items

The NDA II 2022 GAT paper teaches us that the path to Khadakwasla is paved with scientific clarity and a broad-minded approach to social sciences. The era of focusing only on History or only on English is over. You must be a "Generalist" in the truest sense.

  • The Big Three: Prioritize Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. They constitute over 50% of the GS paper.
  • The Core Five Books: 1. NCERT Science (9th & 10th) 2. NCERT Geography (11th & 12th) 3. Spectrum Modern History 4. M. Laxmikanth (Selected Chapters) 5. Oxford Student Atlas
  • Immediate Next Steps: 1. Download the NDA II 2022 GAT Official Question Paper. 2. Attempt the Science section without any preparation to gauge your "baseline" knowledge. 3. Start reading a daily newspaper for 30 minutes—no more, no less. 4. Create a dedicated notebook for "Mistakes" where you record every wrong answer from your practice sessions.

Remember, the NDA exam doesn't just test what you know; it tests who you are. The discipline you show in following this analysis and the persistence you bring to your daily schedule are the very qualities the Armed Forces look for in their future officers. Stay focused, stay consistent, and let the 2022 trends guide your 2024-25 success. Jai Hind!

Complete Question Index - NDA II General Ability Test 2022

Click on any question number to practice and view detailed explanation:

Q#SubjectPractice Link
1History & CultureSolve Question 1
2Polity & GovernanceSolve Question 2
3History & CultureSolve Question 3
4History & CultureSolve Question 4
5History & CultureSolve Question 5
6EconomySolve Question 6
7GeographySolve Question 7
8GeographySolve Question 8
9GeographySolve Question 9
10Science & TechnologySolve Question 10
11Science & TechnologySolve Question 11
12Science & TechnologySolve Question 12
13Science & TechnologySolve Question 13
14Science & TechnologySolve Question 14
15Science & TechnologySolve Question 15
16Science & TechnologySolve Question 16
17Science & TechnologySolve Question 17
18Science & TechnologySolve Question 18
19Science & TechnologySolve Question 19
20Science & TechnologySolve Question 20
21Science & TechnologySolve Question 21
22Science & TechnologySolve Question 22
23Science & TechnologySolve Question 23
24Science & TechnologySolve Question 24
25Science & TechnologySolve Question 25
26Science & TechnologySolve Question 26
27Science & TechnologySolve Question 27
28Science & TechnologySolve Question 28
29Science & TechnologySolve Question 29
30Science & TechnologySolve Question 30
31Miscellaneous & General KnowledgeSolve Question 31
32Polity & GovernanceSolve Question 32
33EconomySolve Question 33
34Environment & EcologySolve Question 34
35Miscellaneous & General KnowledgeSolve Question 35
36History & CultureSolve Question 36
37History & CultureSolve Question 37
38Polity & GovernanceSolve Question 38
39History & CultureSolve Question 39
40History & CultureSolve Question 40
41GeographySolve Question 41
42GeographySolve Question 42
43GeographySolve Question 43
44GeographySolve Question 44
45GeographySolve Question 45
46GeographySolve Question 46
47Science & TechnologySolve Question 47
48Science & TechnologySolve Question 48
49Science & TechnologySolve Question 49
50Science & TechnologySolve Question 50
51Science & TechnologySolve Question 51
52Science & TechnologySolve Question 52
53Science & TechnologySolve Question 53
54Science & TechnologySolve Question 54
55Science & TechnologySolve Question 55
56Science & TechnologySolve Question 56
57Science & TechnologySolve Question 57
58Science & TechnologySolve Question 58
59Science & TechnologySolve Question 59
60Science & TechnologySolve Question 60
61Science & TechnologySolve Question 61
62Science & TechnologySolve Question 62
63Science & TechnologySolve Question 63
64Science & TechnologySolve Question 64
65Environment & EcologySolve Question 65
66International Relations & Global AffairsSolve Question 66
67Science & TechnologySolve Question 67
68Science & TechnologySolve Question 68
69Science & TechnologySolve Question 69
70History & CultureSolve Question 70
71History & CultureSolve Question 71
72History & CultureSolve Question 72
73History & CultureSolve Question 73
74History & CultureSolve Question 74
75History & CultureSolve Question 75
76GeographySolve Question 76
77GeographySolve Question 77
78GeographySolve Question 78
79GeographySolve Question 79
80Polity & GovernanceSolve Question 80
81Science & TechnologySolve Question 81
82Science & TechnologySolve Question 82
83Science & TechnologySolve Question 83
84Science & TechnologySolve Question 84
85Science & TechnologySolve Question 85
86Science & TechnologySolve Question 86
87Polity & GovernanceSolve Question 87
88History & CultureSolve Question 88
89History & CultureSolve Question 89
90History & CultureSolve Question 90
91GeographySolve Question 91
92EconomySolve Question 92
93EconomySolve Question 93
94GeographySolve Question 94
95Science & TechnologySolve Question 95
96Science & TechnologySolve Question 96
97Science & TechnologySolve Question 97
98Science & TechnologySolve Question 98
99Science & TechnologySolve Question 99
100Science & TechnologySolve Question 100

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