NDA 2026

Latest cycle

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

NDA (National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination) is conducted twice a year by UPSC for entry into the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy, straight after Class 12. Also searched: upsconline nic in 2026 nda, nda 2 2025 notification, upsc gov in nda 2026, nda paper 2024 pdf download.

PendingVacancies

Class 12Eligibility

11 June 2026Last date

13 September 2026Exam date

Application guide Official updates

Trusted Information

Facts are checked against linked official sources.

Last verified 2026-09-26

About Exam

Conducting body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Eligibility: Class 12
Current cycle: NDA & NA (II) 2026 · next: NDA & NA (I) 2027
Official source: UPSC official portal

Highlights

Vacancies: Not announced
Application deadline: 11 June 2026
Exam schedule: 13 September 2026
Selection stages: 3 stages in the current guide
Negative marking: Check the current official notification

Important Dates

View full lifecycle

20 May 2026 (NDA & NA II 2026)Notification
20 May 2026Applications open
11 June 2026Last date to apply
13 September 2026NDA & NA (II) 2026 written exam
11 April 2027 (UPSC Calendar 2027)NDA & NA (I) 2027 written exam

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NDA 2026 Maths and GAT Master Guide

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NDA & NA (II) 2026 · next: NDA & NA (I) 2027

Apply onlineExpected Admit cardCompleted ResultAwaited

NDA exam date 2026

NDA & NA (II) 2026 written exam: 13 September 2026 (completed)
NDA & NA (I) 2027 written exam: 11 April 2027 (UPSC Calendar 2027) (announced)

Eligibility summary

Qualification: Class 12 pass (Army wing: any stream; Navy/Air Force wing: Physics and Mathematics required)
Age: Unmarried male/female candidates, typically 16.5-19.5 years on the notified date

Process

Selection process

Written exam — Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT), conducted by UPSC.
SSB (Services Selection Board) interview for written-qualified candidates — a multi-day process including psychological tests, group tasks and a personal interview.
Medical examination, followed by the final merit list and academy allotment.

Exam pattern

Mathematics: 120 questions, 300 marks, 2.5 hours
General Ability Test: 150 questions, 600 marks, 2.5 hours

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Latest

NDA current affairs

Indian Navy to induct record 18 warships in 2026, marking largest single-year force expansion in its history

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described 2026 as a historic year for the Indian Navy, with plans for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships during the year.

PM Modi, US President Trump discuss bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy over phone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump today reviewed bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy and critical technologies, among other areas. Prime Minister Modi held a telephonic conversation…

10th India-Republic of Korea JCM on Defence Industries & Logistics Cooperation takes place in New Delhi

The 10th India-Republic of Korea Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Defence Industries and Logistics Cooperation was held in New Delhi yesterday. The Defence Ministry said, both countries reviewed the ongoing bilateral co…

Indian, ASEAN navies participate in second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in Philippines

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish, along with BRP Jose Rizal, BRP Tarlac and RSS Justice from ASEAN member states, are participating in the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in the Philippines today.

India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2026 conducted in Kazakhstan

The Opening Ceremony of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2026 was conducted in Kazakhstan today. The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of Regional Command East of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan,…

INS Sahyadri, Kulish Conclude Maritime Security Exercise in Philippines

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish have concluded their participation in the 23rd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperation Activity at Subic Bay in the Phil…

Source

Official links

UPSC official portalNotifications, admit card, result and the annual exam calendar UPSC exam calendarPublished notification/exam dates for the year NDA & NA (II) 2026 exam pageNotification 20/05/2026, last date 11/06/2026, exam 13/09/2026 UPSC Calendar 2027 (PDF)NDA & NA (I) 2027: notification 02.12.2026, last date 22.12.2026, exam 11.04.2027

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NDA stage guides

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NDA 2026 Maths and GAT Master Guide

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Common questions

NDA FAQ

Is NDA open to women candidates?

Yes — UPSC opened NDA to women candidates starting with the NDA II 2021 exam onward, for both the Army and other wings subject to policy.

How many times a year is NDA conducted?

UPSC conducts NDA twice a year (NDA I and NDA II) as part of its published annual exam calendar.