NPS Trust Preparation: The NPS Trust notification 2025 has been officially released. It indicates that the time to prepare for the exam with focus and a strategy has arrived. However, for many aspirants, knowing where to start and navigate the preparation process is a hurdle. The exam comprises several sections, each with its own important topics. So you should know where and how to focus the most to cover the syllabus. Keep reading as we dive deep into NPS Trust preparation strategies and approach here.
Tips to Prepare for NPS Trust Recruitment
The NPS Trust Recruitment for different streams consists of papers 1 and 2. Here are some effective ways to streamline your preparation for it.
Study the Exam Pattern Properly
Without knowing the exam structure and how marks are allocated, it isn’t possible to create the best study plan. So, get a detailed understanding of the NPS Trust syllabus and exam pattern to proceed properly.
Phase 1 Online Exam
The table below lists the NPS Trust exam pattern for General stream. The duration of this exam is 90 minutes.
Section | Total Questions | Maximum Marks |
English Language | 25 | 25 |
Test of Reasoning & Analytical Skills | 25 | 25 |
Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics and Pension Sector | 25 | 25 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
General Awareness (including questions related to Financial Sector) | 20 | 20 |
Total | 120 | 120 |
This table lists the pattern for Risk Management & Human Resource stream
Section | Total Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration (in minutes) |
English Language | 25 | 25 | 90 |
Test of Reasoning & Analytical Skills | 25 | 25 | |
Specialized subject related to the stream | 25 | 25 | |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | |
General Awareness (including questions related to Financial Sector) | 20 | 20 | |
Total | 120 | 120 | 90 |
Phase 2 Online Exam
The phase 2 exam is more important because its marks are used for the final selection. Check the exam pattern for different streams below.
Stream | Paper | Subject | Max. Marks | Duration |
All Streams | Paper 1 | English & General Studies (Descriptive exam) | 100 | 60 minutes |
Risk Management, Human Resource | Paper 2 | MCQ on specialized subject related to stream | 100 | 40 minutes |
General | Paper 2 | MCQ on Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Companies Act, Indian Trusts Act, Economics, and Pension Sector | 100 | 40 minutes |
Focus More on the Syllabus for Paper 2
In the NPS Trust exam, the marks of paper 2 are used for the final selection. However, you need to pass both the papers 1 and 2 to get ahead. This means that your preparation strategy should be around the syllabus for paper 2 more than paper 1. If you are able to study properly for paper 2, cracking paper 1 will be easy and your chances for selection will also increase.
Familiarize Yourself with the Questions in Paper 2
As mentioned above, paper 2 holds more significance for the final selection. The questions in it are also part of paper 1. So, if you get familiar with the MCQs on the different subjects in paper 2, you can optimize your final score. The following topics deserve the most attention:
- Commerce
- Accountancy
- Management
- Finance
- Data Analytics
- Statistics
- Companies Act
- Indian Trusts Act
- Economics
- Pension Sector
Do Not Fully Neglect Paper 1 Syllabus
By now you know that effective NPS Trust preparation starts with focusing more on paper 2 syllabus. However, you should not completely overlook the syllabus of paper 1. After all, if you do not clear the first paper, how will you progress to paper 2. So, spend at least two hours everyday studying topics related to English, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and general awareness.
Strengthen Your Conceptual Clarity
Understand core concepts to prepare well for the NPS Trust exam. Review complex pension-related topics and build a solid understanding of key concepts like asset allocation, risk management, and the structure of pension funds. Also, use diagrams and charts to simplify learning financial concepts. Visuals make complex topics easier to grasp.
Know the Marking Schemes
You should be thoroughly aware of the marking schemes of the phase 1 and phase 2 NPS Trust exams. While the phase 1 exam is an online screening test comprising various streams, phase 2 is a blend of descriptive tests and MCQs. Here’s the marking scheme.
Phase 1 Online Exam
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Total Questions: 120
- Marking Scheme: +1 for correct answers, -0.25 for incorrect answers
Phase 2 Exam
- Paper 1: Descriptive test (English & General Studies)
- Paper 2: Specialized Subject MCQs
- Each paper carries 100 marks and has a duration of 40 minutes.
- Marking scheme: A negative marking of 1/4th of the marks for each wrong answer
Practice Mock Tests for Time Management
Mock tests for Assistant Manager and Manager posts based on the latest exam pattern up your ability to solve questions within the given timeframe. They make you familiar with types of question types, difficulty levels, and topic distribution. The simulated exam environment in these tests includes timed sections and an online interface.
When you do them within the prescribed time frame, it improves your speed and accuracy under pressure. A great benefit of attempting mock tests is the reduction in anxiety and fear because you are already accustomed to the format and question types.
NPS Trust Preparation – FAQs
Create a study schedule that covers the entire syllabus realistically. Practice mock tests and revise major topics periodically.
Utilize active learning methods such as summarizing notes, teaching concepts to others, and using flashcards for key terms. This approach helps reinforce understanding and retention.
The NPS Grade A exam is for recruiting Assistant Managers. It consists of papers 1 and 2 followed by an interview.
The syllabus for NPS Trust 2025 comprises General Awareness, English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and specialized subjects related to different streams. These include Risk Management, HR, Commerce, Finance, and Data Analytics.
Yes. The notification for the NPS Trust Grade A exam came out on 16th January 2025.
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