NDA Exam 2026

The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is one of the most prestigious competitive exams in India for students wishing to join the Indian Armed Forces. Below are the key highlights for the 2026 cycle:

• Exam Name: National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
• Conducting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Exam Level: National
• Frequency: Twice a year (NDA I and NDA II)
• Exam Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper based)
• Total Marks: 900 (Written) + 900 (SSB Interview)
• Official Website: upsc.gov.in

The tentative schedule for NDA 2026 is as follows. Candidates should keep a close watch on official notifications for exact dates.

• Notification Release: December 2025
• Application Deadline: January 2026
• Exam Date: April 2026

• Notification Release: May 2026
• Application Deadline: June 2026
• Exam Date: September 2026

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the joint services academy of the Indian Armed Forces. Here, cadets of the three services—the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force—train together before they go on to their respective service academies for further pre-commission training. The NDA exam is the entry gate for male and female candidates who have completed their 10+2 education and wish to serve as officers.

The full form of NDA is the National Defence Academy. It is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It is the first tri-service academy in the world.

Historically, the NDA exam was restricted to male candidates. However, following a landmark Supreme Court judgment in 2021, the exam was opened to female candidates as well. Over the years, the competition has intensified, with lakhs of aspirants appearing for a few hundred seats, making it one of the toughest entrance exams at the undergraduate level in India.

To be eligible for NDA 2026, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Nationality: Must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from specific countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
• Age Limit: Candidates must typically be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age. For NDA I 2026, candidates should be born between July 2, 2007, and July 1, 2010.
• Gender: Both Male and Female candidates are eligible.
• Marital Status: Unmarried.
• Educational Qualification: 12th Class pass (10+2 pattern). For Air Force and Navy wings, Physics and Mathematics are mandatory in Class 12.

The application process is conducted online through the UPSC official website:

1. Visit upsconline.nic.in and complete the One-Time Registration (OTR).
2. Fill out the Part-I of the application with personal and educational details.
3. Pay the application fee (exempted for SC/ST/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs and Female candidates).
4. Complete Part-II by uploading scanned photographs, signatures, and ID proof.
5. Select the preferred exam center and submit the form.

The written examination consists of two main subjects:

• Mathematics: Focuses on calculative ability and conceptual clarity.
• General Ability Test (GAT): Divided into two parts: Part A (English) and Part B (General Knowledge).

The syllabus is based on the 10+2 level curriculum:

• Mathematics: Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Vector Algebra, Statistics, and Probability.
• GAT Part A (English): Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension, and cohesion.
• GAT Part B (General Knowledge): Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Events.

The exam is conducted in a single day across two sessions:

• Mathematics: 120 Questions | 300 Marks | 2.5 Hours
• GAT: 150 Questions | 600 Marks | 2.5 Hours
• Marking Scheme: Negative marking is applicable. 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every wrong answer.

The admission process is a multi-stage selection:

1. Written Examination: Qualifying the UPSC written test.
2. SSB Interview: A 5-day selection process involving Intelligence and Personality tests.
3. Medical Examination: Physical fitness standards check by military boards.
4. Final Merit List: Prepared based on combined marks of Written and SSB.

Technically, NDA is not a university but a training academy. However, upon successful completion of the three-year course, cadets are awarded a Bachelor's degree (B.A., B.Sc., or B.C.S) from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. The Naval cadets also undergo training at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala.

UPSC declares the written result approximately 45-60 days after the exam. The result is published in a PDF format containing the roll numbers of qualified candidates. Successful candidates must then register on the Indian Army recruitment website for SSB interview dates.

Candidates who clear the written cutoff are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview. This involves:

• Stage 1: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT).
• Stage 2: Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO), and Personal Interview.

There is no traditional "counselling" like engineering or medical exams. Instead, the process involves Document Verification during the SSB interview and the final allocation of wings (Army, Navy, Air Force) based on the candidate's merit rank, medical fitness, and preference indicated in the application form.

The cutoff is determined by UPSC based on exam difficulty and the number of vacancies. Expected cutoffs for 2026 are:

• Written Exam: 350 - 365 out of 900 (with at least 25% in each subject).
• Final Merit: 700 - 720 out of 1800 (Written + SSB).

Note: NDA is conducted by UPSC, not NTA. For official queries, contact:

• Address: Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110069
• Facilitation Counter: 011-23385271 / 011-23381125
• Official Website: www.upsc.gov.in