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UPSC Defence Exam PYQ
5,153 previous year questions across 5 UPSC defence exams — with answers, explanations, and cross-exam analysis.
5
Exams
5,153
Questions
32
Year-Papers
Choose Your Exam
NDA
National Defence Academy
NDA exam is conducted by UPSC for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA and Indian Naval Academy.
1,469
Questions
2019–2025
Years
50%
Answered
CDS
Combined Defence Services
CDS exam is conducted by UPSC for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy.
1,426
Questions
2020–2025
Years
83%
Answered
CAPF
Central Armed Police Forces
CAPF exam is conducted by UPSC for recruitment of Assistant Commandants in CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB.
734
Questions
2020–2025
Years
50%
Answered
ESE
Engineering Services Examination
ESE is conducted by UPSC for recruitment to posts of engineers in government departments and public sector undertakings.
684
Questions
2020–2026
Years
70%
Answered
Geo-Scientist
Geo-Scientist Examination
Geo-Scientist exam is conducted by UPSC for recruitment of Geologists and Geophysicists in the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board.
840
Questions
2020–2026
Years
57%
Answered
Exam Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | NDA | CDS | CAPF | ESE | Geo-Scientist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total PYQs | 1,469 | 1,426 | 734 | 684 | 840 |
| Years | 2019–2025 | 2020–2025 | 2020–2025 | 2020–2026 | 2020–2026 |
| Frequency | 2x/year | 2x/year | 1x/year | 1x/year | 1x/year |
| Eligibility | 12th Pass, Age 16.5-19.5 | Graduation | Graduation | Engineering Degree | MSc in Geology/Applied Geology/Geophysics |
Detailed Exam Comparisons
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which defence exams does UPSC conduct?▼
UPSC conducts five major defence and technical examinations: NDA (National Defence Academy), CDS (Combined Defence Services), CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces), ESE (Engineering Services Examination), and Geo-Scientist Examination. Each targets different career paths in defence and government technical services.
How many previous year questions are available here?▼
We have 5,153 previous year questions across all five defence exams with answers and detailed explanations. Questions span from 2019 to 2026, covering all papers and sessions.
Is there overlap between NDA and CDS GK questions?▼
Yes, significant overlap exists. Both NDA GAT and CDS GK test History, Geography, Polity, Economics, and Current Affairs. Our cross-exam comparison feature helps you identify common concepts tested across multiple exams, making your preparation more efficient.
Can solving defence exam PYQs help with UPSC CSE Prelims?▼
Absolutely. NDA, CDS, and CAPF GK sections share substantial topic overlap with UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper I. Practicing these PYQs gives you additional question sets on the same UPSC syllabus, strengthening your preparation across exams.