NDA 1 Notification 2026 Out: Apply Online for 394 Vacancies
UPSC has released NDA 1 2026 Notification on the official website on December 10, 2025. Candidates can apply online through the UPSC portal for 394 vacancies. NDA 1 exam 2026 will be conducted in offline mode on April 12, 2026. Aspirants who wish to join the Army, Navy and Air Force can write NDA 2026 exam after meeting the eligibility criteria. Those who meet the criteria of Nationality, Age, Marital status and educational qualification can submit the application before December 30, 2025.
What is UPSC NDA Exam?
NDA 1 2026 (National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination) is the national-level qualifying examination conducted by UPSC to select candidates to serve the Indian Armed Forces in the Army, Navy and Air Force. The exam happens twice a year, in April and September, as NDA 1 and NDA 2 exams, respectively. The selection process for NDA 2026 happens in stages of written exam, SSB Interview and medical fitness. Selected candidates will be sent for training at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune or at INA, Ezhimala.
NDA 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination |
| Conducting body | UPSC |
| Examination Level | National |
| Mode of Exam | Offline, Pen and paper-based |
| Medium of Exam | English and Hindi |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
NDA 2026 Notification
NDA 1 Notification 2026 has been released on December 10, 2025. Candidates can find information regarding the selection process, eligibility, exam dates and vacancies in the notification PDF. The notification for NDA 2 2026 exam, going to be held on September 13 2026, will be released on May 20, 2025.
NDA 1 2026 Exam Dates
Check the table below for NDA 1 Exam Dates and other important dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NDA 1 2026 Notification Release | December 10, 2025 |
| NDA 1 2026 Opening of Application | December 10, 2025 |
| NDA 1 2026 Closing of Application | December 30, 2025 |
| NDA 1 2026 Opening of Correction Window | To be announced soon |
| NDA 1 2026 Admit Card Release | To be announced soon |
| NDA 1 2026 Date of Exam | April 12, 2026 |
| NDA 1 2026 Answer Key Release | To be announced soon |
| NDA 1 2026 Declaration of Result (Written Exam) | To be announced soon |
| NDA 1 2026 SSB Interview Schedule | To be announced soon |
| NDA 1 2026 Declaration of Final Result | To be announced soon |
NDA Exam Date
| NDA Exam Events | NDA Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| NDA 2026 Exam Date | Apr 12, 2026 |
NDA 1 2026 Vacancy
NDA 1 2026 has a total of 394 vacancies across different services. Candidates can check the table below for NDA 1 2026 vacancy details:
| Academy | Service | Vacancies (Male) | Vacancies (Female) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Defence Academy | Army | 198 | 10 | 208 |
| Navy | 37 | 05 | 42 (All Executive branch) | |
| Flying | 90 | 02 | 92 | |
| Ground Duties (Tech) | 16 | 02 | 18 | |
| Ground Duties (Non-Tech) | 08 | 02 | 10 | |
| Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) | 21 | 03 | 24 (All Executive Branch) | |
| Total | 370 | 24 | 394 | |
NDA 1 Eligibility Criteria 2026
NDA 2026 eligibility criteria is based on Nationality, education, marital status, age and physical standards. Applications of candidates found ineligible will be disqualified.
NDA 2026 Nationality Criteria
Candidates of the following nationality can apply for NDA 2026:
- Citizen of India
- Subject of Nepal whose certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India
- A person of Indian origin with the certificate of eligibility who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
NDA 1 2026 Age Criteria
Candidates applying for NDA 1 2026 must be between the ages of 16.5 years and 19.5 years. Candidates must be born between 2nd July 2007 and 1st July 2010, irrespective of category and gender to be eligible for NDA 1 2026.
NDA 2026 Marital Status Criteria
Any male or female candidate applying for NDA 2026 must be unmarried. Candidates with a ‘married’ status are not eligible to submit the application.
NDA 2026 Educational qualification
NDA 1 2026 Educational qualifications for different wings are listed below:
- Armed forces: Candidates should have qualified class 12 examination of any stream from a recognised board. Candidates appearing for Class 12 examination can also apply under the condition of providing the passing certificate before the date of joining.
- Naval and Air Forces: Candidates should have qualified class 12 examination with Physics and Maths as compulsory subjects from a recognised board. Candidates appearing for Class 12 examination can also apply under the condition of providing the passing certificate before the date of joining.
NDA 2026 Medical Fitness
Candidates must be medically fit according to NDA’s terms and conditions to be eligible for NDA 1 2026 exam. Criteria based on age-wise height and weight for male and female, vision, hearing, dental conditions, spinal conditions, existence of certain illnesses, etc, will be considered. Candidates can refer the official website after the release of Notification, to check the detailed medical fitness requirements.
NDA 1 2026 Application Process
NDA 1 2026 Application process begins on 10th December 2025. Candidates can submit their application till 30th December 2025. Follow the steps below to fill NDA 1 2026 application:
Step 1: Go to UPSC’s official website upsc.gov.in to register yourselves in the OTR (One Time Register) Portal.
Step 2: Provide your mobile number and email ID. After submitting the OTP, proceed to fill the Personal Details, Matriculation details and Aadhaar details.
Step 3: After cross-checking the details, click Lock and submit to generate your profile. A Unique Registration Number (URN) will be received.
Step 4: Proceed to fill the CAF (Common Application Form) to fill the following details:
- Personal Profile
- Parent’s Profile
- Social Category Profile
- Disability Profile
- Address
- Educational Profile
- Employment Experience Profile (if any)
- Achievements
- Previous UPSC Examination Profile
- Upload of a passport-size photograph and signature.
Step 5: Under the examinations section, click on NDA and NA 1 2026. You will be asked to confirm the CAF details. After submitting, a redirection will be made to NDA 1 2026 exam portal. Fill the mandatory fields and proceed to the payment.
Step 6: Candidates can pay the fee in online mode through UPI, Debit card or Credit card. The application fee for various categories are listed below:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General | Rs 100 |
| SC/ ST/ Female/ Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ ORs | NIL |
Step 7:Download the Payment receipt. Choose the examination centre from the list.
Step 8: Preview the application form and submit. Download the confirmation page for future reference.
NDA 1 Admit Card 2026
NDA 1 2026 Admit Card will be available on the website shortly after the closing of applications. Candidates can follow the steps below to download the admit card:
Step 1: Go to the official website and click the link ‘E Admit Card National Defence Academy Examination’
Step 2: Agree to the terms and conditions displayed.
Step 3: Enter either the registration number or the roll number and the subsequent option for Date of birth.
Step 4: Click submit to view NDA Admit card. Candidates can download the Admit card to their device and carry a harcopy on the day of examination.
NDA 1 Syllabus 2026
NDA 1 2026 Syllabus is divided into 2 papers: Paper 1 testing Mathematics and Paper 2 with General Ability Test.
The portions covered under Paper 1 are given in the table below:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Concept of set, complex numbers, AP, GP, HP, quadratic equations, Venn diagrams, logarithms, etc. |
| Metrics and Determinants | Types of matrices, basic properties of determinants, solving linear equations via Cramer’s rule and matrix methods, etc. |
| Trigonometry | Angles and their measures in degrees and radians, trigonometrical ratios, distance formula, etc. |
| Analytical Geometry of two and three dimensions | Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system, distance formula, Equation of a line in various forms, |
| Differential Calculus | Concept of a real-valued function–domain, range, and graph of a function, Composite functions, trigonometric ratios, etc. |
| Integral Calculus & Differential Equations | Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts, standard integrals, etc. |
| Vector Algebra | Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude, and direction of a vector, Vector product or cross product of two vectors, etc. |
| Statistics & Probability | Classification of data, Frequency distribution, Random experiment, outcomes, and associated sample space, Conditional probability, etc. |
The General Ability Test of Paper 2 covers topics of English and General Knowledge, under which Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and Current Affairs are included. Candidates can practice NDA Mock Test to get familiar with the syllabus. Check the table below for a brief detail of the topics covered:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| English | Grammar, Comprehension, Spotting errors, Vocabulary, Synonyms and Antonyms, etc. |
| Physics | Principle of Archimedes, velocity and acceleration, matter, Force and momentum, etc. |
| Chemistry | Physical and Chemical Changes, Properties of Elements, Acids, bases and salts, Chemical Equations, etc. |
| General Science | Sources of energy, living and non-living, epidemics, Human body, solar system, etc. |
| History | Renaissance Exploration and Discovery, Industrial Revolution, Russian Revolution, United Nations, India’s five-year plans, etc. |
| Geograpy | Climate, Calamities, Earth, Minerals and Resources, Regional Geography of India, etc. |
| Current Affairs | Political, Cultural, Social, Sports activities across India and the World, People in news, etc. |
NDA 1 2026 Exam Pattern
The NDA 2026 Exam Pattern consists of 2 papers with a mark of 900. Paper 1 for Mathematics and Paper 2 for General Ability Test. Check the table below for the detailed written exam pattern of NDA 1 2026:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Duration | 2.5 hours |
| Exam Mode | Offline: Pen and Paper mode |
| Number of Questions | 270 |
| Total Marks | 900 |
Check the table below for the paper-wise breakdown of the marking scheme of NDA 2026:
| Particulars | Mathematics | English (GAT) | General Knowledge (GAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 120 | 50 | 100 |
| Total marks | 300 | 200 | 400 |
| Marks awarded for right answer | 2.5 | 4 | 4 |
| Negative Marking | yes | yes | yes |
Note: ⅓ marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
NDA 1 2026 Selection Process
NDA 1 2026 Selection Process happens in 3 stages. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for the Service Selection Board interview, which will be evaluated on a total of 900 marks. The 3 stages of NDA selection process are listed below:
- NDA Written Exam (900 marks)
- Service Selection Board Interview (900 marks)
- Medical Examination
The SSB Interview happens in the course of 5 days where candidates are evaluated on the basis of qualities such as confidence, team spirit, leadership quality, decision making, etc. Check the table below for the day-by-day selection process in SSB interview:
| Day | Assesment |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Screening:
|
| Day 2 |
|
| Day 3 | Group Test 1
|
| Day 4 | Group Test 2
|
| Day 5 | Conference |
After the SSB interview, candidates are recommended for Medical examination to check the fitness parameters. They are conducted at Military Hospitals. After the completion of all 3 stages, the final merit list of NDA 1 2026 will be published.
NDA 1 Answer Key 2026
NDA 1 2026 Answer Key will be released on the official website shortly after the completion of exam. Candidates can follow the steps below to download the answer key:
Step 1: Go to the official website and select the ‘Answer Keys’ option under the Examination tab.
Step 2: Click on the ‘National Defence Academy and Naval Academy’ link to view the answer keys.
Step 3: Download the answer key of your set to calculate the marks.
NDA 1 2026 Result
NDA 1 Result 2026 will be released shortly after the release of the Answer Key. Candidates can follow the given steps to check NDA 2026 result:
Step 1: Go to the UPSC official website and click the ‘National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I) 2026’ Written Result Option.
Step 2: The PDF list of the selected candidate’s roll numbers will be displayed.
If you are shortlisted, register yourself on the Indian Army Recruiting website joinindianarmy.nic.in within 2 weeks, to proceed with the SSB Interview.
NDA 2026 Salary
NDA 2026 Salary of a candidate who joins as a trainee is a stipend of Rs 56,000 per month. The salaries of different positions at all 3 wings of NDA are given in below:
Regular Practice, Strengthening of subject knowledge and constant updation of current affairs are important for candidates preparing for NDA 1 2026. Candidates can refer NDA Previous Year Question Papers to get familiar with the exam pattern and question type. Aspirants must also maintain their physical fitness for the qualification of NDA 2026 exam.
NDA 2026 FAQs
Ques: Does NDA 2026 have a limited number of attempts?
Ans: No, NDA does not have a limited number of attempts. Candidates can try as many attempts within the age limit (16.5 to 19.5 years) until they qualify.
Ques: Are the exams for Army, Navy and Air Force conducted separately?
Ans: No, the exams for all 3 wings are conducted together in the UPSC NDA examination. Candidates can select their preference during the application process. SSB interview, certain parameters and vacancy determine the selection into each wing.
Ques: How long does NDA training period last?
Ans: NDA training period lasts for a period of 3 years, which is divided into 6-month terms. Training happens at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune or at INA, Ezhimala.
Ques: Do candidates get paid during the training period?
Ans: Yes, candidates qualified as NDA trainees/ cadets get a stipend of Rs 56,000 per month. This applies to all the three wings.
Ques: Can women candidates apply for NDA?
Ans: Yes, the Supreme Court has passed a ruling in 2021 permitting women candidates to take NDA exam and join the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Ques: Can a person appearing in Class 11 apply for NDA exam?
Ans: No, candidates should have passed class 12 examinations or should have enrolled to write the class 12 examinations to be eligible to apply for NDA.
Ques: What is the minimum height requirement for NDA Army and Navy eligibility?
Ans: Army and Navy have a minimum height requirement of 157 cm for men and 152 cm for women. A 5 cm relaxation is applicable for Gokhra and other hilly region candidates and a 2 cm relaxation for candidates from the Lakshwadeep islands.
Ques: Does NDA exam happen online?
Ans: No, NDA exam happens offline in Pen and Paper mode. Candidates must be physically present at the examination centres.
Ques: Does NDA have exam centre in all cities?
Ans: No, NDA does not have an exam centre in all the cities. Candidates can check the examination centres from the official UPSC website.
Ques: Is graduation required to be eligible for NDA?
Ans: No, graduation is not a necessary requirement for NDA. Candidates who have passed class 12 examinations can apply.
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