Topics Covered: NPS Grade A Exam Pattern for 2025 – Subjects, Number of Questions, Total Marks, Negative Marking & Duration, NPS Assistant Manager Syllabus for Phase 1 (Prelims) & Phase 2 (Mains), NPS Grade A Officer Interview, and Final Selection.

Understanding the NPS Grade A exam pattern is essential for every aspirant, as this exam follows a multi-phase process, with each phase featuring its own unique structure and syllabus. Familiarizing yourself with the NPS Grade A pattern provides valuable insights into:

  • Total number of papers 
  • Subjects covered
  • Marking scheme (Maximum marks, negative marking, etc.)
  • Number of questions
  • Mode of the exam
  • Language options
  • Exam Duration

By grasping the NPS Grade A exam pattern, you can:

  • Compare the exam format with your strengths and background
  • Choose the right study materials 
  • Prioritize high-weightage sections
  • Maximize time efficiency
  • Develop a focused study plan
  • Reduce exam-related stress and anxiety

Now that you know why understanding the pattern is so crucial, let’s dive into the latest NPS Grade A exam pattern and syllabus as per the official notification.

NPS Grade A Pattern 2025

As per the latest notification released by NPS Trust, the selection procedure for the NPS Grade A 2025 exam consists of:

  • Phase 1 (Pre)
  • Phase 2 (Mains)
  • Phase 3 (Interview)

Let’s discuss each stage starting from the NPS Grade A Phase 1 pattern.

NPS Grade A
Free Course
  • Demo Classes
  • Concept Notes
  • Quizzes
  • Summary Sheets
  • PYQs

NPS Grade A Phase 1 Pattern 2025

I have broken the prelims pattern of the NPS Grade A 2025 exam to make it simpler for you:

Sections of NPS Grade A

The NPS Grade A Phase 1 exam consists of 5 sections:

  • English Language 
  • Test of Reasoning & Analytical Skills
  • Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics and Pension Sector
  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • General Awareness (including some questions related to the Financial Sector)

Number of Questions of NPS Grade A

The number of questions per section varies in the NPS Grade A Phase 1 exam:

  • English Language: 25 questions
  • Test of Reasoning & Analytical Skills: 25 questions
  • Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics and Pension Sector: 25 questions
  • Quantitative Aptitude: 25 questions
  • General Awareness (including some questions related to the Financial Sector): 20 questions

Marks of NPS Grade A 

Each question carries 1 mark in the NPS Grade A Phase 1 exam, so the maximum marks for each subject are:

  • English Language: 25 Marks
  • Test of Reasoning & Analytical Skills: 25 Marks
  • Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics and Pension Sector: 25 Marks
  • Quantitative Aptitude: 25 Marks
  • General Awareness (including some questions related to the Financial Sector): 20 Marks

Duration of NPS Grade A

  • You’ll get 90 minutes to complete the NPS Grade A Phase 1 exam. 
  • There is no sectional time limit.  

I’ve summarized all of this information in the table below to help you visualize it better.

NPS Grade A 2025 
Phase 1 Pattern
SubjectNo. of QuestionsMarksDuration (Minutes)
English Language 252590
Test of Reasoning & Analytical
Skills
2525
Commerce, Accountancy,
Management, Finance, Data
Analytics, Statistics, Companies
Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics
and Pension Sector
2525
Quantitative Aptitude2525
General Awareness (including
some questions related to the
Financial Sector)
2020
Overall Total12012090

Now that you have understood the NPS Grade A preliminary stage exam pattern for the generalist posts, let’s take a look at the additional details. These points will help you get a clearer picture of the exam structure and how to approach it strategically.

Additional Details of NPS Grade A Phase 1 Pattern 2025

Here are some other essential NPS Grade A Phase 1 pattern details:

Mode of NPS Grade A

The NPS Grade A assistant manager Phase 1 exam is conducted in online mode. You’ll be required to tick the right answers on a computer screen, so it’s important to be familiar with the exam interface.

Paper Structure of NPS Grade A

NPS Grade A Prelims exam consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Nature of NPS Grade A

The NPS Grade A Phase 1 exam is qualifying in nature. This means the marks from this phase won’t count toward your final selection—just clearing the cut-off is enough to get your Phase 2 exam evaluated.

Paper Language of NPS Grade A

You’ll have the flexibility to choose between Hindi and English to answer most of the questions, except for the English Language section, which is only available in English.

Total Number of Questions of NPS Grade A

There are a total of 120 questions

Total Marks of NPS Grade A

Each question is worth 1 mark, making it a total of 120 marks for 120 questions.

Cut-Off Marks of NPS Grade A 

The overall and sectional cut-off marks are decided as per the calling ratio, which varies each year depending on the difficulty level of the exam and the number of candidates. Be sure to focus on maximizing your score to comfortably clear the cut-offs.

Negative Marking of NPS Grade A 2025

Be cautious about the negative marking. For each incorrect answer, 1/4th (0.25) marks will be deducted. So, it’s better to skip questions you’re unsure about rather than guessing as there’s no penalty for leaving a question unattempted.

Time Duration of NPS Grade A 2025

Candidates have a total of 90 minutes to complete the NPS Grade A Phase 1 exam. There is no sectional timing. 

I’ve summarized all of this information in the table below to help you visualize it better.

NPS Grade A 2025
Phase 1 Pattern Other Details
ModeOnline
Paper StructureObjective-Type (MCQs)
NatureQualifying
LanguageHindi & English (Except the test of English) 
Total Number of Questions120
Total Marks120
Overall Cut-Off MarksDecided as per the calling ratio
Sectional Cut-Off MarksDecided as per the calling ratio
Negative Marking0.25 (1/4th for every wrong answer)
Total Duration90 minutes
Sectional TimingNo
NPS Grade A
Free Course
  • Demo Classes
  • Concept Notes
  • Quizzes
  • Summary Sheets
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NPS Grade A Phase 2 Pattern 2025

Phase 2 is the second stage of the NPS Grade A officer selection process. It evaluates candidates in 2 sections:

  • English & General Studies (Descriptive Test)
  • Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics and Pension Sector

As per the official notification, here is the NPS Grade A Phase 2 pattern:

NPS Grade A 2025
Phase 2 Pattern 
PaperTypeMarksTime (minutes)
Pape 1English & General Studies (Descriptive Test) 10060
Paper 2MCQs on
Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data
Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act,
Economics and Pension Sector.
10040

Additional Details of NPS Grade A Phase 2 Pattern 2025   

Here are some other essential details of the NPS Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern.

Mode of the NPS Grade A

The NPS Grade A Phase 2 exam is conducted online. For objective-type questions, you will select your answers on the screen, and for descriptive questions, you will type your responses using the keyboard.

Paper Language of NPS Grade A

The exam is offered in Hindi and English languages, except for the descriptive English paper which is solely in English.

Total Marks of NPS Grade A

The total marks for the NPS Grade A Phase 2 exam are 200 (100 for each paper).

Cut-Off Marks of NPS Grade A

Cut-off marks of the NPS Grade A Phase 2 exam are decided as per the calling ratio.

Negative Marking of NPS Grade A

  • There is no negative marking for in Phase 2 Paper 2
  • There is a 1/4 negative marking for in Phase 2 Paper 2

I have summarised the above-mentioned details below.

NPS Grade A 2025
Phase 2 Pattern
Other Details
ModeOnline
LanguageHindi & English for both objective and descriptive
papers(Except for the test of English) 
Total Marks200 (100 for each paper)
Cut-Off MarksDecided as per the calling ratio
Negative Marking Paper 1: No negative marking
Paper 2: 1/4th, 0.25 marks

Candidates who clear the NPS Grade A Phase 2 cut off are then shortlisted for an interview. This stage evaluates the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and suitability for the NPS Grade A officer role.

NPS Grade A
Free Course
  • Demo Classes
  • Concept Notes
  • Quizzes
  • Summary Sheets
  • PYQs

NPS Grade A Interview Pattern 2025

The NPS Grade A interview is the final stage of the selection process for candidates who have successfully cleared Phase 1 and 2 exams. Below, I have mentioned the details of the NPS Grade A interview:

  • Mode: The interview is conducted in person at various exam centers.
  • Language Options: You can take the interview in Hindi or English, depending on your preference.
  • Number of Questions: The number of questions varies depending on the panel.
  • Marks: The interview marks are not mentioned by the NPS Trust in the official NPS Grade A notification.
  • Time Duration: The interview typically lasts between 20 and 45 minutes

Final Selection as NPS Grade A Officer

The final NPS Grade A selection process is based on the aggregate marks obtained in NPS Grade A Phase 2 (Papers 1, 2) and interview.

Final Selection Weightage

Below, I have mentioned the final selection weightage of the NPS Grade A assistant manager:

NPS Grade A
Final Selection Weightage
ParticularsWeightage (in %)
Marks obtained in Phase 2 50%
Marks obtained in Interview50%

After understanding the NPS Grade A Phase 1 pattern, you should also take a look at the NPS Grade A syllabus.

Conclusion

Understanding the NPS Grade A exam pattern and syllabus provides a roadmap for your 2025 preparation. This knowledge empowers you to start your preparation journey with confidence. By familiarizing yourself with the latest requirements, you can:

  • Compare the exam format with your strengths and background.
  • Choose the right study materials 
  • Prioritize high-weightage sections
  • Develop a focused study plan

If you still have any doubts, please check out the FAQs section.