Defence | UPSC
UPSC's twice-a-year officer-cadet entry after Class 12 for the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA and the Naval Academy, decided by a written exam and the SSB interview.
UPSC National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA) is conducted by Union Public Service Commission. Selection runs through 3 stages: Written Examination — Paper I: Mathematics, Written Examination — Paper II: General Ability Test (GAT), SSB Interview.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification (NDA & NA II 2026) The NDA & NA (II) 2026 notification was released by UPSC on 20 May 2026 for 394 vacancies. UPSC conducts NDA twice a year, notified around December (NDA I) and May (NDA II). | 20 May 2026 | Closed |
| Online application window Applications for NDA & NA (II) 2026 closed on 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM) on upsconline.nic.in. | 20 May 2026 - 9 Jun 2026 | Closed |
| Written examination The NDA & NA (II) 2026 written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026, offline (OMR), in a single day across two papers. NDA (I) 2026 was held on 12 April 2026. | 13 Sept 2026 | Closed |
| SSB interview Candidates who clear the written cut-off are called to a Services Selection Board for a five-day assessment, held over the following months. | To be announced | Not announced |
For the Army wing of the NDA, a Class 12 pass (10+2) in any stream from a recognised board. For the Air Force and Naval wings of the NDA and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy, a Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (Physics and Mathematics required).
Candidates appearing in Class 12 may also apply, subject to producing proof of passing by the prescribed date. Both men and women candidates are eligible.
16 to 19 years as on the birth-date window stated in the notification (candidates must be about 16½ to 19½ years old at the course commencement).
A candidate must be one of the following:
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| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General and OBC Examination fee of Rs 100, paid online or by SBI challan. | ₹100 |
| SC, ST and sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs (as specified) Exempted from the examination fee as per the notification. | ₹0 |
Fees have been stable across recent cycles but are the kind of detail a notification can revise. Confirm on the official notification before paying.
Stage by stage structure with question counts, marks, timing and the marking scheme.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 |
| Total | 120 | 300 |
Duration: 2 hr 30 min|Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 200 |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 400 |
| Total | 150 | 600 |
Duration: 2 hr 30 min|Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer
Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None
Every subject in the paper, topic by topic. Open a subject for its weightage in this exam, the full topic list and the mock tests, practice sets and notes that cover it.
Register on the UPSC portal
Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) on upsconline.nic.in, then fill the NDA & NA application form with your personal and educational details.
Choose your wing preferences
Indicate your preferences among the Army, Navy and Air Force wings and the Naval Academy, subject to meeting the Physics and Mathematics condition for the technical wings.
Pay the fee and submit
Pay the Rs 100 fee (where applicable) online or by SBI challan, upload your photograph and signature, and submit before the deadline.
Cadets receive a fixed stipend during training. On commissioning as a Lieutenant (or equivalent), pay is at Level 10 (starting about Rs 56,100) plus Military Service Pay and allowances. Confirm current figures from the official notification.
Written to this exam's pattern, with the same interface, sectional locking and marking scheme you will face on exam day.
NDA & NA: 9-question practice mock
9 questions | 10 min
Clock and calendar problems: angles, odd days and no memorising
Reasoning Ability | 7 min read
How to prepare for the NDA: Mathematics, the GAT and the SSB
General Awareness | 9 min read
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Yes. Following the Supreme Court's direction, women candidates are eligible for the NDA & NA examination, and vacancies are reserved for them across the wings.
For the Army wing, a Class 12 pass in any stream is enough. For the Air Force and Naval wings and the Naval Academy, you must have taken Physics and Mathematics at Class 12.
One third of the marks for a question is deducted for a wrong answer. In Mathematics that is 0.83 marks on a 2.5-mark question; in the GAT it is 1.33 marks on a 4-mark question. Unattempted questions are not penalised.
Twice. UPSC notifies NDA I around December (exam in April) and NDA II around May (exam in September), so there are two chances each year.
Last verified 23 August 2026(33 days ago, by editorial)
Not yet confirmed for this cycle: the vacancy count, the application fee and pay scale. Where we have a figure from previous cycles we show it and label it as expected; where we do not, the page says "to be announced". Check the official source below before you rely on any of it.
Official sources
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