2026 Examination Schedule (NDA I)
The registration for the NDA & NA (I) 2026 is currently underway:
- Notification Date: Released on December 10, 2025.
- Application Deadline: Candidates must apply online by December 30, 2025 (Note: Some portals may reflect a slight extension depending on final processing).
- Application Link: Registration is done through the official UPSC Online Portal.
1. EXAMINATION OVERVIEW
──────────────────────────────────────
- Exam Name: UPSC National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
- Conducting Authority: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Exam Level: National
- Recruitment Year: 2025
- Mode of Examination: Offline (Pen & Paper)
- Total Stages: 2
- Source Documents Used:
- Official UPSC NDA & NA Examination Notification 2025
- Corroborative structure from reputed national defence coaching institute documents
══════════════════════════════════════
2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
─────────────────────────────────────
2.1 Nationality Requirements
A candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia) or Vietnam, with the intention of permanently settling in India.
2.2 Age Limits (Minimum & Maximum)
- Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 2006 and not later than 1st July, 2009 are eligible.
2.3 Gender Eligibility (as officially notified)
- Army Wing (NDA): Unmarried Male and Female candidates
- Air Force Wing (NDA): Unmarried Male candidates
- Naval Wing (NDA): Unmarried Male candidates
- Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC): Unmarried Male candidates
2.4 Marital Status Requirements
- Only unmarried candidates are eligible.
2.5 Educational Qualification (Service-wise)
- Army Wing of NDA:
- 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
- Air Force & Naval Wings of NDA and Indian Naval Academy Course:
- 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
2.6 Physical / Medical Standards
- Candidates must be physically fit according to the physical standards prescribed for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), as notified by UPSC.
2.7 Other Official Eligibility Conditions
- Candidates appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination are also eligible to apply.
════════════════════════════════════
3. EXAMINATION PLAN (STAGE-WISE STRUCTURE — SUMMARY)
─────────────────────────────────────
Stage I: Written Examination
- Papers:
- Paper I – Mathematics
- Paper II – General Ability Test (GAT)
- Nature of Papers: Objective Type
- Marks Distribution:
- Mathematics: 300 Marks
- General Ability Test: 600 Marks
- Duration:
- 2½ hours for each paper
- Qualifying / Merit Conditions:
- All question papers are of objective type.
- Question papers of Mathematics and Part ‘B’ of GAT are set bilingually (Hindi & English).
- The Commission reserves the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all subjects of the examination.
Stage II: Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview
- Nature of Assessment: Intelligence and Personality Test
- Assessment Areas: Officer Potentiality, Intelligence, and Personality Traits
- Marks: 900 Marks
═════════════════════════════════════
4. SERVICE ALLOCATION / TRAINING ACADEMIES
─────────────────────────────────────
- Army Wing (National Defence Academy):
- Successful candidates join the Army Wing of the National Defence Academy.
- Naval Wing (National Defence Academy):
- Successful candidates join the Naval Wing of the National Defence Academy.
- Air Force Wing (National Defence Academy):
- Successful candidates join the Air Force Wing of the National Defence Academy.
- Candidates must have passed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) and Pilot Aptitude Battery Test.
- Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme):
- Successful candidates join the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala for the Naval Academy Course.
Official Conditions on Service Allocation
- Allocation of candidates to the Army, Navy and Air Force is final.
- No request for change of service will be entertained under any circumstances.
═════════════════════════════════════
5. EXAMINATION MARKS SUMMARY
──────────────────────────────────────
- Total Stages: 2
- Total Written Papers: 2
- Objective Papers: 2
- SSB / Interview Marks: 900
- Grand Total Marks: 1800
══════════════════════════════════════
For inquiries and support
A. A. Khatana
Founder—GenAI Prompt Engineering Academy
📱 WhatsApp: 9810563299
🌐 Website: nextgenaicoach.com
✉️ Email: [email protected]
Test & Score
Your Blueprint for Success
Previous Year Question Papers
| General Ability Test (31.49 MB) Mathematics (19.87 MB) |