NDA NA I 2026 — Key Details at a Glance

Complete Timeline — Important Dates

Vacancies — 394 Posts Across Wings

Note: Exact vacancy split may vary slightly from the official notification. Confirm at upsc.gov.in.

Eligibility Criteria — Who Can Apply?

Nationality:

• Indian citizens
• Subjects of Nepal and Bhutan
• Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962
• People of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, etc.) with intention to settle permanently in India

Age Limit (NDA I 2026):

• Born between: July 2, 2007 and July 1, 2010
• Age range at time of exam: 16.5 to 19.5 years
• Both male and female candidates are eligible

Unmarried candidates only. Candidates who marry during training will be dismissed.

Educational Qualification:

Students currently in Class 12 (appearing for board exams) can also apply — they are provisionally eligible.

Exam Pattern — Complete Breakdown

The NDA written exam is a pen-and-paper (offline) test conducted in two sessions on a single day:

Paper I — Mathematics (Morning Session):

Paper II — General Ability Test / GAT (Afternoon Session):

Total Written Exam Marks: 900

SSB Interview: 900 marks

Grand Total: 1800 marks

NDA 2026 Syllabus — What You Need to Study

Mathematics (Paper I — 300 Marks):

• Algebra — Sets, binary operations, complex numbers, quadratic equations, permutations & combinations
• Matrices & Determinants
• Trigonometry — Angles, identities, inverse trig functions
• Analytical Geometry (2D and 3D)
• Differential Calculus — Limits, continuity, derivatives
• Integral Calculus & Differential Equations
• Vector Algebra
• Statistics & Probability

General Ability Test (Paper II — 600 Marks):

Part A — English (200 marks):

• Grammar and usage
• Vocabulary
• Reading comprehension
• Writing ability

Part B — General Knowledge (400 marks):

SSB Interview — The Crucial Second Stage

Candidates who clear the NDA written exam are called for the Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview — a 5-day assessment process. This is where personality, leadership potential and aptitude are evaluated.

SSB Stage I (Day 1 — Screening):

• Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) — verbal and non-verbal intelligence tests
• Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT) — group story narration

Candidates who pass Stage I proceed to Stage II.

SSB Stage II (Days 2–5):

• Psychology Tests — Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), Self Description Test (SD)
• Group Testing Officer Tasks — Group Discussion, Group Planning Exercise, Military Planning Exercise, outdoor group tasks
• Conference — Final board interview to confirm fitness for commission

Medical Examination:

After SSB, selected candidates undergo a comprehensive medical examination to ensure physical fitness for the Armed Forces.

NDA Stipend & Salary — What You Will Earn

After the training period and commissioning as an officer, the salary increases significantly. Military officers in India also receive free medical, housing, rations, and a pension — making the total compensation package among the best in public service.

Life After NDA — What the 3-Year Course Looks Like

The National Defence Academy is located in Khadakwasla, Pune. It is a tri-services institution that trains cadets from all three wings together for the first three years.

After completing the NDA course, cadets proceed to their respective service academies for pre-commissioning training:

• Army wing → Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
• Navy wing → Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala
• Air Force wing → Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad

After pre-commissioning training, cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants (Army), Sub-Lieutenants (Navy) or Flying Officers (Air Force).

How to Prepare for NDA 2026 (II) — For Aspirants Who Missed NDA I

NDA II 2026 is scheduled for September 13, 2026. If you missed NDA I, here is your preparation roadmap:

Phase 1 (Months 1–3): Foundation

• Complete NCERT Mathematics (Class 11–12) for the Maths paper
• Build English grammar and vocabulary fundamentals
• Start daily newspaper reading for Current Affairs

Phase 2 (Months 4–5): Subject Mastery

• Solve topic-wise practice questions for all GAT sections
• Cover Physics, Chemistry and General Science thoroughly
• Start History, Geography and Polity alongside

Phase 3 (Month 6 onward): Mock Tests

• Attempt 2–3 full-length NDA mock tests per week
• Analyse errors and strengthen weak areas
• Time management practice — each paper must be completed in 150 minutes

Physical Fitness (Ongoing): NDA requires top physical fitness. Running, push-ups, pull-ups, swimming and yoga should be part of your daily routine throughout preparation.

UPSC NDA NA I 2026 — FAQs

Q. When was the UPSC NDA NA I 2026 exam held?

On April 12, 2026 — Paper I (Mathematics) from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM and Paper II (GAT) from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM.

Q. How many vacancies are there in NDA I 2026?

394 vacancies across Army, Navy, Air Force (Flying + Ground Duties Technical/Non-Technical) and Naval Academy (INAC).

Q. What is the age limit for NDA 2026?

16.5 to 19.5 years — candidates must be born between July 2, 2007 and July 1, 2010 for NDA I 2026.

Q. Can girls apply for NDA?

Yes — both male and female unmarried candidates are eligible for NDA & NA since the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling.

Q. What is the educational qualification for NDA?

For Army: Any stream 12th pass. For Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy: 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM).

Q. Can Class 12 appearing students apply for NDA?

Yes — students currently appearing for their 12th board exams are provisionally eligible.

Q. What is the stipend during NDA training?

₹56,100 per month during the 3-year training period at the National Defence Academy.

Q. What is the application fee for NDA?

₹100 for general category. SC/ST candidates, female candidates and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempted from the fee.

Q. When is NDA II 2026?

September 13, 2026 — the next opportunity for aspirants who missed NDA I.

Q. How many papers are there in the NDA written exam?

Two papers — Paper I (Mathematics, 300 marks) and Paper II (General Ability Test, 600 marks). Total: 900 marks.