Quick Insights: Looking for the NDA 2 Previous Year Cut Off? Here you can check the last 10 years' NDA 1 and NDA 2 cut off marks released by UPSC. The NDA cut off helps candidates understand the competition level, estimate a safe score, and prepare an effective strategy for the upcoming NDA examination.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the NDA Cut Off only after the entire recruitment process, including the Written Examination and SSB Interview, is completed.
The cut off is released in two stages:
- Written Exam Cut Off - Minimum marks required to qualify for the SSB Interview.
- Final Cut Off - Marks secured by the last recommended candidate after combining Written Exam and SSB Interview marks.
Analysing the NDA previous year cut off helps aspirants understand score trends, competition level, and the target marks required for selection.
✔️ Key Takeaway: Download Here NDA Previous Year Cut Off - Last 10 Years
NDA Previous Year Cut Off
The NDA 2 cut off varies every year depending on the difficulty level of the exam, number of candidates, vacancies, and overall performance. Candidates preparing for NDA 2026 should analyse the previous years' cut off to set a realistic score target.
How to Check NDA 2 Previous Year Cut Off PDF?
Candidates can download the official NDA cut off PDF from the UPSC website by following these steps:
- Visit the UPSC official website.
- Open the Examinations section.
- Click on Cut-Off Marks.
- Select National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination.
- Open the required year's PDF.
- Download and save it for future reference.
NDA 2 Cut Off 2026: Minimum Qualifying Marks
Apart from the overall written cut off, UPSC has also prescribed minimum qualifying marks.
Candidates must secure:
- At least 25% marks in Mathematics
- At least 25% marks in GAT (General Ability Test)
Scoring the sectional minimum alone does not guarantee qualification. Candidates must also clear the overall written cut off.
NDA 2 2026 Tie-Breaking Policy
If two or more candidates obtain equal final marks, UPSC follows the following tie-breaking principles:
- Candidates securing higher aggregate marks in the Written Examination are ranked higher.
- If the tie continues, the candidate securing higher Mathematics marks is given preference.
- If the tie still exists, the older candidate is ranked higher.
- If required, UPSC may apply additional criteria as per its rules.
Factors Affecting NDA 2 Cut Off 2026
Several factors influence the NDA cut off every year:
- Number of vacancies
- Number of candidates appearing
- Difficulty level of Mathematics paper
- Difficulty level of GAT paper
- Overall performance of candidates
- Previous year cut off trends
- Normalization (if applicable)
- Reservation policies
- SSB qualification ratio
NDA 2 Cut Off Trend Analysis (2016-2025)
A close look at the last ten years shows that the written cut off generally remains between 290 and 360 marks, while the final cut off usually ranges from 650 to 725 marks. Easier papers and fewer vacancies often result in a higher cut off, whereas tougher papers lead to a lower qualifying score.
Candidates targeting 380+ marks in the written examination generally stay in a safer range, although the actual cut off depends on the overall performance of candidates and the exam's difficulty level.
Note: The NDA cut off is declared only after the completion of the written examination, SSB interview, and final merit list. Candidates should always refer to the official UPSC cut off PDF for the final marks.
NDA 2 Previous Year Cut Off (Written Exam)
The NDA written cut off is the minimum score required to qualify for the SSB Interview. Candidates must also score at least 25% marks in each subject (Mathematics and GAT) to be considered for qualification.
NDA 2 Previous 10 Years Written Cut Off
Year | NDA 1 Written Cut Off (Out of 900) | NDA 2 Written Cut Off (Out of 900) |
2024 | 291 | 305 |
2023 | 342 | 335 |
2022 | 345 | 340 |
2021 | 341 | 338 |
2020 | 340 | 332 |
2019 | 339 | 330 |
2018 | 336 | 328 |
2017 | 335 | 325 |
2016 | 288 | 229 |
Analysis:
The NDA written cut off has generally remained between 325 and 345 marks over the years, except in 2016 and NDA 1 2024. Candidates preparing for NDA 2026 should aim to score 360+ marks to stay in a safer range for SSB qualification.
NDA 2 Previous Year Final Cut Off
The NDA final cut off is released after the completion of the Written Examination, SSB Interview, and Medical Examination. It represents the marks secured by the last recommended candidate in the final merit list.
NDA Previous Year Final Cut Off Marks
Year | NDA 1 Final Cut Off (Out of 1800) | NDA 2 Final Cut Off (Out of 1800) |
2024 | 654 | 673 |
2023 | 664 | 656 |
2022 | 720 | 720 |
2021 | 709 | 726 |
2020 | 723 | 719 |
2019 | 705 | 709 |
2018 | 708 | 624 |
2016 | 656 | 602 |
2015 | 656 | 674 |
Analysis:
The final NDA cut off has usually ranged between 650 and 725 marks. A strong performance in both the written examination and the SSB Interview is essential to secure a place in the final merit list.
NDA Cut Off Trend Analysis (2015-2024)
A comparison of the previous years shows that the NDA cut off changes every year based on several factors, including the difficulty level of the paper, the number of vacancies, and the overall performance of candidates.
Some important observations are:
- The written cut off has generally remained between 325-345 marks.
- NDA 1 2024 recorded one of the lowest written cut offs (291 marks) in recent years.
- The final cut off usually remains between 650-725 marks.
- Candidates should target 360+ marks in the written examination to improve their chances of receiving an SSB call.
- A high SSB score significantly increases the chances of final selection.
Note: UPSC releases the official NDA cut off only after the entire recruitment process is completed. The written cut off is for SSB shortlisting, while the final cut off is based on the combined marks of the Written Examination and the SSB Interview.
Quick Link-
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