NPS Grade A Syllabus 2025: Detailed Phase 1, 2 & Interview

The NPS Grade A Syllabus is the most important guide for anyone preparing for this exam. With the recent release of the NPS Grade A notification, it’s the perfect time to start planning your preparation. The NPS Grade A exam is a great opportunity for candidates looking to build a career in the financial and pension sector.

In this article, we will cover the syllabus in detail and give you a clear understanding of the exam pattern. You’ll also find key details about the exam date, exam pattern,  phase 1 and phase 2 structure, and the interview process. 

Whether you’re a first-time aspirant or retaking the exam, this article will help you focus on the right areas and prepare more effectively. Let’s dive in!

NPS Grade A Exam Pattern 2025

Before you dive into the detailed syllabus, it’s essential to first understand the exam pattern. Knowing the structure of the exam will help you plan your preparation better. Here’s an overview of the NPS Grade A exam pattern for the General Stream:

Phase 1: Online Examination (One Paper)

Phase I is the first hurdle you need to clear, and it consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The exam is designed to assess your knowledge in a variety of areas, and it is structured as follows:

You will have 90 minutes to answer 120 questions. Here’s how the sections are divided:

• English Language: 25 questions (25 marks)
• Reasoning & Analytical Skills: 25 questions (25 marks)
• Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics, Pension Sector: 25 questions (25 marks)
• Quantitative Aptitude: 25 questions (25 marks)
• General Awareness: 20 questions (20 marks)

It’s important to manage your time well. If you spend too long on one section, you may run out of time for others. Also, remember that there is negative marking for wrong answers, so it’s better to skip a question if you’re unsure rather than guessing.

Phase 2: Online Examination (Two Papers)

Once you clear Phase I, you’ll move on to Phase II, which consists of two papers. Each paper is designed to test your knowledge in specific areas, and it’s essential to prepare thoroughly for both.

In Paper 1, you will be required to answer descriptive questions that test your writing skills, including your understanding of English and general studies. Paper 2 will focus on multiple-choice questions related to the subjects you’ve studied in Phase I, such as Commerce, Finance, and Economics.

It’s important to note that negative marking applies in Paper 2, just like in Phase I. Be sure to focus on accuracy.

Download the NPS Grade A exam official notification in PDF format directly from the official NPS Trust website.

Phase 3: Interview

If you pass both Phase I and Phase II, you’ll progress to the interview stage. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your personality and communication skills. The interview will be conducted in either Hindi or English, depending on your preference.

The final selection will be based on a 50-50 weightage: 50% from your Phase II exam marks and 50% from your interview performance. This means both your exam scores and how you present yourself in the interview matter equally.

For more detailed information on the pattern, make sure to check out our article on the NPS Grade A Exam Pattern.

NPS Grade A Syllabus 2025

Now that we have the exam pattern in place, let’s move on to the NPS Grade A syllabus. This syllabus outlines everything you need to study:

NPS Grade A Syllabus: English Language

Here is the decoded English syllabus for NPS Grade A.

• Grammar
• Error Spotting
• Sentence Improvement
• Comprehension Ability 
• Comprehension passage
• Cloze test
• Rearrangement
• Para jumbles
• Double Fillers
• Vocabulary – Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Phrasal Verbs

NPS Grade A Syllabus: Reasoning & Analytical Skills

Here is the decoded NPS Grade A Reasoning and Analytical syllabus:

• Alphanumeric Series
• Coding and Decoding
• Syllogism
• Direction Sense
• Inequality
• Ranking and Order
• Blood Relation
• Puzzles
• Seating Arrangement
• Input-Output
• Critical Reasoning 
• Questions Based on Data Sufficiency

NPS Grade A Syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude

Here is the decoded NPS Grade A Quant syllabus:

• Ratio and Proportion
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Average and Ages
• Time and Work
• Pipes and Cistern
• Time and Distance
• Mixture and Alligation
• Series and Quadratic Equation
• Mathematical Inequalities
• Number Series
• Data Interpretation
• Simplification/Approximation
• Quantity Comparisons
• Data Sufficiency 
• Partnership 

NPS Grade A Syllabus: General Studies

• Economic and Social Development
• Indian Economy (including recent trends, fiscal and monetary policy, banking, and infrastructure development)
• Data and Digital Economy (including cyber security and digital literacy)
• Technology Innovations (AI, space technology, and biotechnology)
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Initiatives
• Emerging Global Challenges (energy security, water scarcity, urbanization)
• General Issues on Environment (biodiversity and climate change)
• Ethical Issues in governance and public administration
• International Relations (India’s foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral relations)
• Social Justice (welfare schemes, inclusive development, rights movements)

NPS Grade A Syllabus: General Stream

A. Commerce & Accountancy

• Accounting as a financial information system
• Accounting Standards with specific reference to:
  • Accounting for Depreciation
  • Inventories
  • Revenue Recognition
  • Fixed Assets
  • Foreign Exchange Transactions
  • Investments
• Cash Flow Statement, Fund Flow Statement, Financial Statement Analysis, and Ratio Analysis
• Accounting for Share Capital Transactions, including:
  • Bonus Shares
  • Right Shares
• Employees Stock Option and Buy-Back of Securities
• Preparation and Presentation of Company Final Accounts

B. Management

• Nature and Scope of Management
• Management Processes: Planning, Organization, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling
• The Role of a Manager in an Organization, Leadership: The Tasks of a Leader
• Leadership Styles, Leadership Theories, Successful vs. Effective Leader
• Human Resource Development (HRD): Concepts, Goals of HRD
• Motivation, Morale, and Incentives:
  • Theories of Motivation, 
  • How Managers Motivate, 
  • Concept of Morale, 
  • Factors Determining Morale, 
  • Role of Incentives in Building up Morale
• Communication:
  • Steps in the Communication Process
  • Communication Channels
  • Oral vs. Written Communication
  • Verbal vs. Non-verbal Communication
  • Upward, Downward, and Lateral Communication
  • Barriers to Communication
  • Role of Information Technology

C. Finance

• Financial System: Role and Functions of Regulatory bodies in the Financial Sector
• Financial Markets: Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity), functions, instruments, recent developments.  
• General Topics:
  • Basics of Derivatives (Forward, Futures, and Swap)
  • Recent Developments in the Financial Sector
  • Financial Inclusion and use of technology
  • Direct and Indirect taxes; Non-tax sources of Revenue, GST, Finance Commission, Fiscal Policy, Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM)
  • Inflation: Definition, trends, estimates, consequences, and remedies (control): WPI, CPI – components and trends.

D. Data Analytics, Statistics 

• Measures of Central tendency & dispersions, Correlation, Sampling methods, Sampling Distribution, Statistical Inferences, Hypothesis testing, Regression Analysis. 
• Data Analytics:
  • Overview
  • Importance of Data Analytics
  • Types of Data Analytics
  • Descriptive Analytics
  • Diagnostic Analytics
  • Predictive Analytics
  • Prescriptive Analytics
  • Benefits of Data Analytics
  • Data Visualization for Decision Making
  • Data Types
  • Measure of central tendency
  • Measures of Dispersion
  • Graphical Techniques
  • Skewness & Kurtosis
  • Box Plot
  • Descriptive Stats
  • Sampling Funnel
  • Sampling Variation
  • Central Limit Theorem
  • Confidence interval.

E. Companies Act

• The Companies Act, 2013: Specific reference to Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter VIII, Chapter X, Chapter XI,  Chapter XII    and Chapter XXVII. 
• The Indian Trusts Act.

F. Economics

• Demand and Supply, Market Structures, National Income:
  • Concepts and Measurement
  • Classical & Keynesian Approach Determination of output and employment
  • Consumption Function
  • Investment Function
  • Multiplier and Accelerator
  • Demand and Supply for Money
  • IS – LM
  • Inflation and Phillips Curve
  • Business Cycles
• Balance of Payments, Foreign Exchange Markets, Inflation, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Non- banking Financial Institutions. 

G. Pension Sector of India and World

• Status of Pension Sector in India
• Different types of retirement schemes in India and their features
• National Pension System
• Atal Pension Yojana
• Annuity Plans
• Basics of investment decision making and portfolio management

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the NPS Grade A syllabus is key to your preparation. With a clear grasp of the NPS Grade A exam pattern, a focus on the syllabus for Phase 1, Phase 2, and the interview, you’ll be all set to tackle the exam with confidence.