Below are the first 5 questions from the UPSC NDA 2026 (NDA 2) General Ability paper. Practice each question below, check your answers, and read the step-by-step explanations written by our subject matter experts.
Question 1 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions: Choose the word nearest in meaning to the word given in capital letters.
PRUDENT
Step-by-Step Solution:
✓
1. Correct Answer
Option C is correct. "Prudent" means showing sound judgment, which is akin to being "sensible".
📖 Core Concept
The adjective "prudent" describes someone who makes decisions with care and forethought.
💡 3. Explanation
"Prudent" involves the characteristic of being wise or judicious in practical affairs, particularly in terms of personal conduct and decision-making. It's synonymous with thoughtful, cautious, and careful actions.
❌ 4. Option Analysis
•Option A: "Rash" involves acting without thought, the opposite of prudent.
•Option B: "Watchful" implies being vigilant, which is related but not synonymous with being prudent.
•Option D: "Generous" is related to being kind-hearted, which does not encompass the caution implied in "prudent".
⚡
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
Remember that "prudent" rhymes with "student", who typically make wise and sensible decisions!
🎯
5. Key Takeaways
"Prudent" means sensible, exercising good judgment and foresight.
Question 2 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions:
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option.
Neither the cadets nor their instructor ______ willing to cancel the route march.
Step-by-Step Solution:
✓
1. Correct Answer
Option D is correct. The correct verb form is "was" reflecting the singular subject 'instructor'.
📖 Core Concept
In English grammar, "neither...nor" constructions require verb agreement with the subject closest to the verb.
💡 3. Explanation
The rule for "neither...nor" is that the verb agrees with the noun nearer to it. Here, "their instructor" is singular, so the verb "was" is used. This agreement is crucial to follow standard English grammar rules.
Neither the cadets nor their instructor was willing.
❌ 4. Option Analysis
•Option A: "were" is incorrect because the subject "instructor" is singular.
•Option B: "are" is incorrect; the sentence indicates past willingness.
•Option C: "have been" implies ongoing duration, which doesn't fit here.
⚡
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
For "neither...nor", always match verb with the subject closest to it.
🎯
5. Key Takeaways
Verb agreements with "neither...nor" are based on the subject closest to the verb.
Question 3 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions:
Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error.
The platoon commander (a) / ordered the men (b) / to move quick (c) / towards the ridge. (d)
Step-by-Step Solution:
The verb "move" should be modified by the adverb "quickly", not the adjective "quick".
Question 4 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions:
Choose the word opposite in meaning to the word given in capital letters.
CONCISE
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concise means brief and expressed in few words. Its opposite is "lengthy".
Question 5 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions:
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
Step-by-Step Solution:
In direct speech, a comma precedes the quotation and the full stop is placed inside the closing quotation mark.
Question 6 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions: Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom.
To keep one's head in a crisis
Step-by-Step Solution:
The idiom means to stay composed and make sensible decisions under pressure.
Question 7 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions:
Choose the sentence in passive voice that correctly transforms the given sentence.
The rescue team carried the injured trekker to the base camp.
Step-by-Step Solution:
The active sentence is in simple past tense, so its passive form is "was carried" with the object made the subject.
Question 8 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Directions:
Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence.
Had the weather improved earlier, the aircraft ______ before sunset.
Step-by-Step Solution:
The sentence is a third conditional structure: "Had + past participle" is followed by "would have + past participle".
Question 9 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
A stone is dropped from rest from the top of a tower. Neglecting air resistance, which of the following statements about its motion is correct?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Under gravity near the earth's surface, acceleration is nearly constant and equal to g, so velocity increases uniformly with time.
Question 10 of 5 UPSC Official PYQ
Two resistors of 6 ohm and 3 ohm are connected in parallel across a battery. The equivalent resistance of the combination is
The full NDA 2026 (NDA 2) General Ability PYQ paper contains 150 questions. Practice all of them with timers, performance analytics, and immediate explanations on the SenaPrep App.
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