If you are planning to appear for NDA 1 2026, then understanding the GAT Syllabus 2026 in a clear and simple way is your first big step. Many students focus a lot on Maths and ignore GAT, but in reality, GAT carries 600 marks and plays a major role in your selection.
In this blog, you will get:
Full NDA 1 2026 GAT syllabus in simple language
Subject-wise important topics
Best GS book and best English book for GAT
Strategy for high score in GAT
Why Doon Defence Dreamers is trusted as Best GAT Coaching in Dehradun, best Maths coaching for NDA, and Best SSB Coaching in India
NDA 1 2026 Exam Pattern (Quick View)
Before going deep into the GAT Syllabus 2026, you should understand the basic exam pattern:
Paper I – Mathematics
Questions: 120
Marks: 300
Duration: 2.5 hours
Paper II – General Ability Test (GAT)
Questions: 150
Marks: 600
Duration: 2.5 hours
Language: English & Hindi (except English section)
GAT itself is divided into two broad parts:
English (around 50 questions)
General Knowledge (GK) (around 100 questions – Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Polity, Current Affairs, etc.)
So, mastering the GAT Syllabus 2026 is as important as mastering Maths.
NDA 1 2026 GAT Syllabus – Full Overview
English Section (Part A of GAT)
The English part checks your understanding of basic and applied English. Main areas under the GAT Syllabus 2026 for English are:
Grammar & Usage
Parts of speech
Tenses (all three with their uses)
Articles, prepositions, conjunctions
Active and passive voice
Direct and indirect speech
Subject–verb agreement
Vocabulary
Synonyms and antonyms
One word substitutions
Idioms and phrases
Homophones and confusing words
Word formation and prefixes–suffixes
Comprehension & Cohesion
Reading passages with questions
Main idea, tone of the author, inference
Meaning of phrases/words from context
Error Spotting & Sentence Improvement
Finding grammatical errors
Choosing the best corrected form of the sentence
Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles
Arranging jumbled sentences to form a logical paragraph
If your English basics are strong, this portion of GAT Syllabus 2026 can give you very high marks in less time.
General Knowledge Section (Part B of GAT)
The GK part covers multiple subjects. It looks big, but with a smart plan, you can easily cover the complete GAT Syllabus 2026.
(a) Physics (Class 9–12 level)
Physical world, units and measurements
Motion, laws of motion, work, energy and power
Gravitation, pressure, Archimedes’ principle
Heat and temperature, thermal expansion, calorimetry
Waves and sound, basic optics (reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors)
Electricity (current, resistance, Ohm’s law, simple circuits)
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Modern physics basics – atoms, nuclei, radioactivity
(b) Chemistry
Matter and its states, types of substances
Atomic structure and periodic table basics
Chemical bonding and reactions
Acids, bases and salts
Metals and non-metals, alloys
Carbon and its compounds, hydrocarbons (basic idea)
Daily life chemistry – soaps, detergents, fertilizers, drugs
Environmental chemistry, pollution basics
(c) General Science / Biology
Cell structure, plant and animal tissues
Human body systems – digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, excretory
Nutrition, health and disease
Food and its components
Microorganisms and their uses/harms
Common epidemics, causes and prevention
(d) History & Freedom Movement
Ancient India – basic culture and important dynasties
Medieval India – Delhi Sultanate, Mughals (overview)
Modern India – arrival of Europeans, British rule
Social and religious reform movements
Indian National Movement – from 1885 to 1947
Major movements – Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India
Important leaders and events of freedom struggle
(e) Geography
Earth – shape, movements and their effects
Latitudes, longitudes and time zones
Landforms – mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers
Climate and weather of India and world (basics)
Soils and vegetation of India
Indian agriculture and major crops
Resources – minerals, energy, industries
Map-based questions on India and the world
(f) Polity, Economy & Current Affairs
Indian Constitution – key features, Preamble, Fundamental Rights & Duties
Union and State government structure
Parliament, President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court basics
Panchayati Raj and local government (overview)
Very basic ideas of Indian economy – sectors, national income, planning in simple terms
Current Affairs focus on last 6–12 months:
Defence exercises, missiles, aircraft, ranks & appointments
National and international events
Awards, sports, important summits, books and authors
All this together forms the heart of GAT Syllabus 2026 for GK.
Most Important Topics to Focus in GAT
NDA papers of previous years clearly show that some topics of GAT Syllabus 2026 are more scoring:
High-value topics in English
Reading comprehension
Error spotting and sentence improvement
Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions)
Idioms and phrases
High-value topics in GK
Physics: motion, work–energy–power, sound, light, electricity
Chemistry: periodic table basics, acids–bases, everyday chemistry
History: Indian National Movement and important leaders
Geography: Indian rivers, climate, soils, agriculture, world map basics
Polity: Constitution basics, fundamental rights, Parliament
Current Affairs: defence news, sports, awards, important days
If you are short on time, complete these high-weightage parts of GAT Syllabus 2026 first and then move to low-weight areas.
Best Books for NDA 1 2026 GAT
Best GS Book for NDA GAT
For covering General Knowledge part of GAT Syllabus 2026, one compact and trusted book is:
Lucent’s General Knowledge – helps in History, Geography, Polity, Science and basic Economy in a short, crisp format. Use it for revision and quick fact learning.
Along with this, use NCERT books (Class 6–10 for History & Geography; 9–10 for Science) to clear concepts. Once NCERT concepts and Lucent notes are strong, the GK portion of GAT Syllabus 2026 becomes much easier.
Best English Book for NDA GAT
For the English part of GAT, two very popular books are:
Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi
High School English Grammar & Composition – Wren & Martin
You can use Wren & Martin to understand grammar rules and S.P. Bakshi for practice of exam-oriented questions. Both books together give a strong base for the English part of GAT Syllabus 2026.
How to Prepare GAT Syllabus 2026 in a Smart Way
Here is a simple, practical plan:
Start with English every day
2 short passages for comprehension
20–30 questions of error spotting / sentence improvement
Revise 20 new vocabulary words daily
Make NCERT + One GK Book your core
Read NCERT chapters of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History and Geography
Make one-page notes and revise them frequently
Use Lucent or similar GK book for quick revision and fact strengthening
Weekly Current Affairs
Read weekly current affairs magazine or notes
Focus on defence news, national events and government schemes
Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Solve last 5–10 years’ NDA GAT papers
Mark frequently asked topics – these are your “must-do” areas of GAT Syllabus 2026
Mock Tests and Analysis
Give timed mock tests for GAT
After each test, analyse mistakes:
Was it due to concept gap?
Silly error?
Time management problem?
Improve step by step
Best GAT Coaching and Maths Coaching – Why Doon Defence Dreamers?
Self-study is important, but a structured environment and expert guidance can give you a big advantage, especially when competition is so high.
Best GAT Coaching in Dehradun – Doon Defence Dreamers
In Dehradun, Doon Defence Dreamers is widely known among aspirants as one of the Best GAT Coaching in Dehradun because:
GAT classes are taken by experienced faculty with defence-exam background
Daily “DNA routine” with balanced schedule of English, GS, PT and doubt-sessions
Regular GAT tests, detailed analysis and personal feedback
Focus on basics first, then high-level NDA questions
Integration of current affairs with static GK so that your GAT Syllabus 2026 is fully covered
If you are serious about NDA 1 2026 and searching for the Best GAT Coaching in Dehradun, a disciplined system like this can change your preparation journey.
Best Coaching for NDA Maths – Doon Defence Dreamers
Along with GAT, Maths is the other pillar of NDA selection. At Doon Defence Dreamers:
Maths is taught from zero level to NDA level with proper concept building
Topic-wise practice sheets, speed tests and doubt clearing
Focus on high-weightage topics – Algebra, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus
Strong coordination between Maths and GAT faculty so that your overall NDA 1 2026 preparation stays balanced
Because of this structured approach in both GAT and Maths, many aspirants consider Doon Defence Dreamers as one of the best choices for complete NDA coaching in Dehradun.
Best SSB Coaching in India – Role of Doon Defence Dreamers
Clearing the written exam is just the first half. For final selection, you must clear the 5-day SSB Interview. That is why students also look for the Best SSB Coaching in India along with written coaching.
Doon Defence Dreamers is often preferred as Best SSB Coaching in India by many aspirants because:
Dedicated SSB mentors with rich experience
GTO ground exposure, psych tests, personal interview practice
Regular mock SSBs simulating real board conditions
Focus on developing officer-like qualities, not just “tips and tricks”
Free SSB batches for written qualified students in some cases
So, in one place you get guidance for GAT Syllabus 2026, NDA Maths and full SSB preparation. This reduces confusion and keeps your preparation on one clear track.
Final Tips for NDA 1 2026 GAT Preparation
Treat GAT as equally important as Maths – it carries 600 marks
Finish basic NCERTs and then move to advanced books
Make your own short notes for every part of GAT Syllabus 2026
Revise vocabulary and current affairs daily
Practice minimum 1–2 previous year GAT papers every week
Take help from good mentors or the Best GAT Coaching in Dehradun if you need structured support
Start early so that you also get enough time for SSB preparation at a good academy that many aspirants call the Best SSB Coaching in India
If you follow a disciplined routine, use the right books, and take proper guidance, the GAT paper will not feel “heavy”. Instead, it will become your strongest scoring weapon in NDA 1 2026.
