| Exam Name | NDA and NA Exam |
| Vacancies | 394 Posts |
| Organization | UPSC |
| Qualification | 12th Pass / Appearing |
| Apply Mode | Online |
| Apply Fee | ₹100 |
| Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date | 11 June 2026 |
UPSC NDA Exam 2026
The Union Public Service Commission has released the official notification for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026. Unmarried male and female candidates can submit their online applications through the UPSC portal until 11 June 2026 (6:00 PM). The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026 and will fill 394 vacancies across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of the Indian Naval Academy.
Candidates selected through this examination will join the 158th NDA Course and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course, both starting on 1 July 2027. Before applying, candidates should read the eligibility conditions and other details carefully, since UPSC does not allow any corrections in the application after submission.
UPSC NDA II 2026 Details
Exam Name: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026
Organization: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Course Name: 158th NDA Course and 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC)
Course Commencement: 1 July 2027
Total Vacancies: 394 (370 Male and 24 Female)
Nationality: Indian citizen, subject of Nepal, or person of Indian origin from specified countries with a Certificate of Eligibility
Marital Status: Only unmarried candidates are eligible
Date of Birth Range: Born not earlier than 2 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011
Application Fee: ₹100 (SC/ST, female candidates and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military or Sainik Schools are exempt)
Exam Date: 13 September 2026
UPSC NDA II 2026 Vacancy Breakdown
Vacancies are notified separately for male and female candidates, and the written results and final merit lists will be prepared separately for both categories as per the notified vacancies.
| Academy / Service | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA – Army | 198 | 10 | 208 |
| NDA – Navy (Executive) | 37 | 5 | 42 |
| NDA – Air Force (Flying) | 90 | 2 | 92 |
| NDA – Air Force (Ground Duties Tech) | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| NDA – Air Force (Ground Duties Non-Tech) | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Total | 370 | 24 | 394 |
The above vacancies are provisional and may change depending on the training capacity of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy.
Educational Qualification
For the Army Wing of NDA, candidates must have passed Class 12 of the 10+2 pattern from a recognised State Board or University.
For the Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of the Indian Naval Academy, candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
Candidates appearing in the 12th class examination are also eligible to apply. They must submit proof of passing by 10 June 2027. Those still in 11th class cannot apply.
Application Fee
The application fee is ₹100 and can be paid through net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit or Debit Card, or UPI. The following categories are exempt from paying the fee:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹100 |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| Female Candidates | Nil |
| Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs (Military/Sainik School) | Nil |
Examination Pattern
The written examination has two papers, both with objective-type questions, followed by an SSB Interview for shortlisted candidates.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 2½ Hours | 300 |
| Paper II | General Ability Test | 2½ Hours | 600 |
| SSB | Interview / Personality Test | – | 900 |
| Total | 1800 |
There is a negative marking of one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to each question for every wrong answer in the objective papers. Question papers for Mathematics and Part B of the General Ability Test are set in both Hindi and English.
Selection Process
Selection is done in two stages. Candidates who clear the written examination are called for SSB Interview, which follows a two-stage process. Stage I includes the Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and Description Test. Only those who qualify Stage I move on to Stage II, which has Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Interview and the Conference, spread over four days.
Candidates opting for the Air Force flying branch also have to clear the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of total marks in the written examination and the SSB Tests, subject to medical fitness.
How to Apply for UPSC NDA II 2026?
Eligible candidates can apply online following the steps below. The application has four modules – Account creation, Universal Registration (URN), Common Application Form (CAF), and the Examination Specific Module. The URN is generated once and is used for all UPSC examinations in the future.
| Open the UPSC Online Application portal from the Important Links section below. |
| Create an account and complete the Universal Registration (URN) profile with your personal details and Aadhaar information. |
| Fill the Common Application Form, upload your photograph, signature and capture a live photograph as instructed. You can resize photos using the Image Resizer tool. |
| Open the Examination Specific Module for NDA II 2026 and fill in your service preferences (1 to 4) and exam centre. |
| Pay the application fee of ₹100 through net banking, Credit/Debit Card or UPI. SC/ST candidates, female candidates and eligible wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempt. |
| Submit the form and take a printout of the application for your records. |
Note: Once submitted, no correction, alteration or withdrawal of the application is allowed. Candidates should also note that the entry into the examination venue closes 30 minutes before the start of each session, and face authentication is mandatory at the venue.
After the written exam, candidates can check the e-Admit Card details on the UPSC NDA Admit Card page, and once results are out, qualified candidates can track them through the UPSC NDA Result page.
Important Dates of UPSC NDA II 2026
| Notification Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Apply Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Apply End Date | 11 June 2026 (6 PM) |
| Admit Card | September 2026 |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Result Date | October 2026 |
Important Links of UPSC NDA II 2026
| Application Form | Click Here |
| Date Extension Notice | Click Here |
| Official Notification | Click Here |
| WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |
| Install Android App | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the last date to apply for UPSC NDA II 2026?
The last date to submit the online application for UPSC NDA II 2026 is 11 June 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The link will be disabled after this time.
Can female candidates apply for UPSC NDA II 2026?
Yes. Unmarried female candidates can apply for UPSC NDA II 2026. A total of 24 vacancies are reserved for female candidates across NDA wings and the Naval Academy.
What is the age limit for UPSC NDA II 2026?
Candidates must be born not earlier than 2 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011 to be eligible for the examination.
What is the application fee for UPSC NDA II 2026?
The application fee is ₹100. SC/ST candidates, female candidates and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military or Sainik Schools are exempt from paying the fee.
When will the UPSC NDA II 2026 exam be conducted?
The UPSC NDA II 2026 written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. The result is expected in October 2026, followed by SSB Interviews from December 2026 to January 2027.
