NDA Exam 2026: Gateway to Indian Armed Forces as an officer — join Army, Navy, or Air Force through India's premier defence training academy after 12th.NDA I 2026: Apr 13, 2026. Vacancies: ~400. Education: 12th Pass. Age: 16.5–19.5 yrs.The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year (NDA I and NDA II) to recruit candidates for the NDA and Naval Academy courses. NDA is the premier tri-service training academy located in Khadakwasla, Pune, where cadets are trained for 3 years before being commissioned as officers in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force.
Registration OpenUpdated: March 2026
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NDA Exam 2026
Gateway to Indian Armed Forces as an officer — join Army, Navy, or Air Force through India's premier defence training academy after 12th
NDA I 2026
Apr 13, 2026
Vacancies
~400
Education
12th Pass
Age
16.5–19.5 yrs
📋Key Details
Conducting BodyUPSC (Union Public Service Commission)
Education12th pass or appearing. Army: any stream. Navy/Air Force: 12th with Physics + Maths.
Age16.5 to 19.5 years (born between specific dates mentioned in notification)
GenderMale AND Female candidates eligible (women admitted from 2023 batch onwards)
Application Fee₹100 (exempted for SC/ST)
SelectionWritten Exam (UPSC) → SSB Interview (5 days) → Medical Examination → Merit List
Training3 years at NDA Khadakwasla + 1 year at respective service academy (IMA/INA/AFA)
📝Written Exam — UPSC (5 hours total)
Two papers conducted on the same day. Paper 1 is Mathematics (300 marks) and Paper 2 is General Ability Test (600 marks). Total 900 marks. Only candidates clearing the written cutoff are called for SSB Interview.
Paper 1: Mathematics (2.5 hours)120 Qs · 300 marks
Paper 2: General Ability Test (2.5 hours)150 Qs · 600 marks
Total270 Qs · 900 marks · 5 hours (2.5 + 2.5)
⚠️ Negative marking: 1/3rd of marks per wrong answer
💰Posts & Salary
Lieutenant (Army) / Sub-Lieutenant (Navy) / Flying Officer (Air Force)(Indian Armed Forces)
₹70,000–90,000/month + free accommodation, medical, canteen🎖️SSB Interview — The Real Challenge
The SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview is a 5-day assessment that tests whether you have 'Officer Like Qualities (OLQs)'. It's not a traditional interview — it's a comprehensive personality assessment conducted by psychologists and military officers.
Day 1 — Screening: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test + Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT) + group discussion on the story you wrote. About 50-60% are screened out on Day 1.
Day 2 — Psychology Tests: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT — write stories on pictures), Word Association Test (WAT — write sentences for 60 words in 15 seconds each), Situation Reaction Test (SRT — respond to 60 situations), and Self Description Test (SD).
Day 3 & 4 — Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks: Group Discussion, Group Planning Exercise, Progressive Group Task, Half Group Task, Individual Obstacles, Command Task, and Final Group Task. These are outdoor activities testing leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Day 5 — Personal Interview with the Interviewing Officer (IO). Questions about your background, interests, family, current affairs, and motivation for joining defence forces. Conference with all three assessors — final recommendation.
About 1 in 6-8 candidates who appear for SSB get recommended. SSB preparation is as important as written exam preparation. Read 'Let's Crack SSB Interview' by Dr. Arth Chopra for comprehensive guidance.
🔄NDA vs CDS vs Agnipath — Which Path to Choose?
| Feature | NDA (after 12th) | CDS (after graduation) | Agnipath (after 10th/12th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry age | 16.5-19.5 | 20-25 | 17.5-23 |
| Training | 3 yrs NDA + 1 yr academy | 1.5 years at academy | 4 years service |
| Degree | Get degree during training (free) | Must have degree before | No degree |
| Commission | Permanent Commission | Permanent/Short Service | 25% permanent, 75% released |
| Starting rank | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Agniveer (not officer) |
| Career length | Till retirement (54-60 yrs) | Permanent: till retirement | 4 years (unless retained) |
| Best for | 12th students wanting officer career | Graduates wanting officer career | Youth wanting military experience |
📅Important Dates
NDA I 2026 Exam13 April 2026
NDA II 2026 ExamSeptember 2026 (expected)
SSB Interview3-5 months after written results
NDA course startsJanuary (NDA I) / July (NDA II)
📚Preparation Strategy
1.Mathematics paper (300 marks) is the game-changer. If you're weak in Math, NDA will be very tough. Cover: Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Calculus (basics), Analytical Geometry, Vector Algebra, Statistics, and Probability. Use NCERT 11th-12th Math textbooks as primary resource.
2.General Ability Test Paper 2 has two sections: English (200 marks) and General Knowledge (400 marks). GK covers Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Current Affairs, and Defence-related topics. Focus on NCERT 6-12 for science and social studies.
3.Start SSB preparation from Day 1 — don't wait till after the written exam. Read newspapers daily, develop opinions on national/international issues, practice group discussions with friends, and work on your physical fitness. SSB evaluates your personality over 5 days — it can't be faked.
4.Physical fitness is essential — not for the written exam but for SSB (obstacle course, outdoor tasks) and the 3-year NDA training which is very physically demanding. Start running, swimming, and body-weight exercises now.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
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upsc.gov.in