UPSC NDA 2026 notification
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UPSC NDA eligibility
- Marital status
- Only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible.
- Age
- A three-year birth window set in each notice. For NDA and NA (II) 2026 it was born not earlier than 1 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011.
- Education: Army wing
- 12th class pass of the 10+2 pattern or an equivalent examination from a state board or university.
- Education: Air Force and Naval wings
- 12th class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for the Air Force and Naval wings of NDA and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy.
- Students in the 12th
- Candidates appearing in the 12th class can also apply, and must show the pass certificate by the date in the notice.
- Nationality
- Citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from the countries listed in the notice to settle in India. The last two need a certificate of eligibility, except Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
UPSC NDA exam pattern
- 1. Written examinationTwo objective papers of 2 and a half hours each. Mathematics is 300 marks. General Ability Test is 600 marks, made of English (200) and General Knowledge (400). Together 900 marks. The Commission can fix qualifying marks in any paper. Calculators and mathematical tables are not allowed.
- 2. PenaltyThere are four options for each question. One third (0.33) of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer, and more than one answer to a question is treated as wrong.
- 3. SSB interviewUPSC calls the candidates who pass the written exam to a Services Selection Board for the intelligence and personality test, worth 900 marks. It has two stages. Candidates for the Air Force also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System if they qualify and are willing.
- 4. Final meritWritten marks and SSB marks are combined to make the final merit list for admission, subject to qualifying separately in both and passing the medical examination.
UPSC NDA syllabus
- Mathematics (300 marks)
- Algebra, matrices and determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry of two and three dimensions, differential calculus, integral calculus and differential equations, vector algebra, statistics and probability
- General Ability Test: English (200 marks)
- Understanding of English and workmanlike use of words: grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion in extended text
- General Ability Test: General Knowledge (400 marks)
- Six sections: Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History and the freedom movement, Geography, and Current Events
UPSC NDA FAQ
›How many times a year is the NDA exam held?
Twice a year, as NDA and NA (I) and NDA and NA (II), each with its own notice.
›What is the eligibility for NDA?
An unmarried male or female candidate within the birth window in the notice, who has passed or is appearing in the 12th class. The Air Force and Naval wings and the Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme need Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
›What is the age limit for NDA?
UPSC sets a three-year birth window in each notice instead of an age range. For NDA and NA (II) 2026 it was 1 January 2008 to 1 January 2011.
›Can girls apply for NDA?
Yes. Unmarried female candidates are eligible. Vacancies for men and women are notified separately, and the merit lists are made separately.
›What is the NDA exam pattern?
Two objective papers of 2 and a half hours: Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test (600 marks), then the SSB test of 900 marks.
›Is there negative marking in NDA?
Yes. One third (0.33) of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer. More than one answer to a question is counted as wrong.
›What is the NDA syllabus?
Mathematics covers algebra, matrices, trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus, vector algebra, statistics and probability. General Ability covers English and General Knowledge: Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and Current Events.
›What is the SSB?
The Services Selection Board holds the intelligence and personality test, worth 900 marks, for candidates who pass the written exam. It has two stages, and Air Force aspirants also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System.
›How many vacancies are there?
The notice for NDA and NA (II) 2026 listed about 394 vacancies: Army 208, Navy 42, Air Force 120 and Naval Academy 24, including 24 for women. The number changes in each notice.
›What is the NDA application fee?
Rs 100. SC, ST and female candidates, and wards of JCOs, NCOs and ORs as specified in the notice, pay no fee. OBC and EWS candidates pay the full fee.
›What happens after NDA selection?
Cadets train at the National Defence Academy and are awarded degrees by Jawaharlal Nehru University, as the notice describes. They then train at their service academy on a fixed stipend of Rs 56,100 a month (starting pay of Level 10).