UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 - Notification (December 10, 2025), Application form, Syllabus, Exam Dates, Admit Card

UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 - Notification (December 10, 2025), Application form, Syllabus, Exam Dates, Admit Card

Edited By Meghana Mohana Krishnan | Updated on Jun 18, 2025 04:36 PM IST | #NDA
Ongoing Event
NDA  Application Date : 28 May' 2025 - 20 Jun' 2025

Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC NDA 1 notification 2026 on December 10, 2025 on the official website, upsc.gov.in. The UPSC NDA 2026 application link will also be activated at the same time. The UPSC NDA application form last date 2026 is December 30, 2025.

The NDA 1 exam 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on April 12, 2026. The UPSC NDA exam will be conducted twice every year in offline mode. Candidates who clear the UPSC NDA exam will be selected for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy. Check the article below to know more about the UPSC NDA 2026 exam.

This Story also Contains
  1. UPSC NDA 2026 - Overview
  2. UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Dates
  3. UPSC NDA 2026 Application Process
  4. UPSC NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria
  5. UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Pattern
  6. UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Centres
  7. UPSC NDA 2026 Syllabus
  8. UPSC NDA 2026 Admit Card
  9. UPSC NDA 2026 Question Paper
  10. UPSC NDA 2026 Answer Key
  11. UPSC NDA 2026 Result
  12. UPSC NDA 2026 Cut Off
  13. UPSC NDA 2026 Selection Process
  14. UPSC NDA 2026 Salary
UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 - Notification (December 10, 2025), Application form, Syllabus, Exam Dates, Admit Card
UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 - Notification (December 10, 2025), Application form, Syllabus, Exam Dates, Admit Card

UPSC NDA 2026 - Overview

Full name of the exam

UPSC National Defence Academy exam

Short Name

UPSC NDA

Conducting Authority

Union Publish Service Commission

Website

upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in.

Exam mode

Offline

Application mode

Online

Application fee

Rs 100

Number of vacancies

TBA

Exam level

National

Stages of the exam

  • Written exam.

  • SSB Interview.

UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Dates

The UPSC NDA exam dates 2026 have been announced by the commission well in advance. The UPSC NDA exam date was announced through the Annual Calendar. By knowing the NDA 1 2026 exam dates, candidates will be able to plan their preparation accordingly. Check the table below to know all the UPSC NDA exam dates 2026.

NDA 1 Exam Date 2026

Event

NDA 1 Dates

UPSC NDA notification date

December 10, 2025

NDA 1 application form date 2026

December 10, 2025

NDA application form last date

December 30, 2025

NDA 1 application correction facility

To be announced

NDA 2026 admit card date

To be announced

NDA 1 exam date 2026

April 12, 2026

NDA result date

To be announced

SSC Interview date

To be announced

Final result date

To be announced

NDA 2 Exam Date 2026

Event

NDA 2 Dates

UPSC NDA notification date

May 20, 2026

NDA 1 application form date 2026

May 20, 2026

NDA application form last date

June 9, 2026

NDA 1 application correction facility

To be announced

NDA 2026 admit card date

To be announced

NDA 1 exam date 2026

September 13, 2026

NDA result date

To be announced

SSC Interview date

To be announced

Final Result date

To be announced

UPSC NDA 2026 Application Process

Candidates have to fill the NDA 2026 application form online in order to appear in the exam. The UPSC NDA application form will be released on December 10, 2025. Candidates will be able to fill the UPSC NDA 2026 application form until December 30, 2025. Candidates have to provide valid documents and information while filling the UPSC NDA application form 2026. Check the steps below to fill the NDA application form -

How to apply for NDA 2026?

Candidates can follow the steps below to fill the NDA form 2026.

  • Visit the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in/upsconline.nic.in

  • Complete the account creation process.

  • Login using your credentials.

  • Fill out the UPSC NDA application form as prompted.

  • Upload all the necessary documents.

  • Pay the NDA application fee.

  • Submit the NDA form.

UPSC NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates have to check the UPSC NDA eligibility 2026 before filling the application form. Candidates have to meet the NDA 2026 eligibility at every stage of the selection process. The UPSC NDA eligibility criteria are the minimum requirements which a candidate must meet to appear in the exam. Check the below table to know the NDA eligibility 2026 -

NDA 1 Eligibility Criteria 2026

Particulars

Details

Nationality

  • a citizen of India, or

  • a subject of Nepal, or

  • a person of Indian origin 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 age limit

Candidates must be between the ages of 16.5 and 19.5

NDA Educational Qualification

  • Army wing - Class 12/HSC in any stream

  • Air Force/ Indian Naval Academy- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Physical Measurement

  • For Army, Navy and Naval Academy - 157 cm (minimum)

  • For Air Force - 162.5 cm (minimum)

UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Pattern

The UPSC NDA exam pattern 2026 will be given in the official notification. The exam pattern of UPSC NDA 2026 consists of 2 stages. The first stage is the written test and the second stage is the SSB interview (Intelligence and personality test).

NDA Exam Pattern 2026

Subject

Duration

Maximum marks

Mathematics

2 ½ hours

300

General Ability Test

2 ½ hours

600

Total

900

SSB Interview

900

UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Centres

Candidates appearing for the exam will be given an UPSC NDA 2026 exam centre to which they need to appear and give the exam. The allotment of UPSC NDA 2026 exam centres is based on ‘first apply- first allot’. Candidates are advised to apply early for the exam so that they would get the NDA exam centre of their choice. The NDA exam centres 2026 are situated in almost 75 cities in India. Candidates must note that the UPSC ND exam centres, once allotted, cannot be changed.

UPSC NDA 2026 Syllabus

The UPSC NDA syllabus 2026 will be available in the official notification. The NDA 2026 syllabus and topics and sub-topics will be available for the candidates to start their preparation.

NDA Mathematics Syllabus 2026 -

  • Algebra.

  • Matrices and determinants.

  • Trigonometry.

  • Analytical geometry of two and three dimensions.

  • Differential Calculus.

  • Integral Calculus and Differential Equations.

  • Vector Algebra.

  • Statistics and Probability.

NDA General Ability Test Syllabus 2026 -

Part A - English.

Part B - General knowledge.

  • Physics.

  • Chemistry.

  • General Science.

  • History, freedom, movement, etc.

  • Geography.

  • Current events

How to prepare for UPSC NDA 2026?

Cracking the UPSC NDA exam requires dedication and a proper strategy. Some of the UPSC NDA 2026 preparation tips which are beneficial to the candidates are -.

  • Understand the syllabus and exam pattern.

  • Build a strong foundation of the basics by gathering the NDA best books (NCERT books provide a good foundation).

  • Revise concepts regularly.

  • Enhance vocabulary skills and stay updated with current affairs.

  • Develop time management, reasoning and problem-solving skills( helps in sharpening the mind)

  • Practice NDA sample papers and previous year question papers.

  • Stay focused.

  • Maintain physical fitness and eat healthy.

UPSC NDA 2026 Admit Card

The NDA admit card 2026 will be released 7 days before the examination. Candidates can download the UPSC NDA 2026 admit card from the official website, upsc.gov.in. The UPSC NDA admit card is like an entry pass into the exam centre. Candidates must note that the NDA admit card 2026 will not be sent by post and can only be downloaded.

UPSC NDA 2026 Question Paper

The UPSC NDA question paper 2026 will be released on the official website a few days after the examination. Candidates will also be able to view the UPSC NDA previous year question papers on the official website. Practicing UPSC NDA question papers makes a huge impact in the candidate’s preparation.

UPSC NDA 2026 Answer Key

The NDA answer key 2026 is crucial for candidates who have appeared in the examination. The NDA 2026 answer key will be released by UPSC after the examination in a few weeks. The NDA answer key will help candidates in resolving any doubts regarding the answers and helps in evaluating their score.

UPSC NDA 2026 Result

The UPSC NDA result 2026 will be released on the official website. Candidates may expect the NDA 2026 result within a month after the exam is conducted. The UPSC NDA result will be released in PDF format. Those who clear the NDA written exam will have to appear in the SSB interview.

UPSC NDA 2026 Cut Off

The UPSC NDA cut off 2026 will be released after the final results are released. All the NDA cut off marks will be released together at once. The UPSC NDA 2026 cut off is the same for all categories. Candidates can check the previous years' NDA 1 cut off marks to get an idea of how many marks are required to qualify the exam.

NDA 1 2024 cut off

Events

NDA written exam cut off

Final NDA cut off

NDA 1 2024 Cut off

291 (With at least 20% marks in each subject)

654 out of 1800

NDA 2 Cut Off 2024

305 (With at least 25% marks in each subject)

673 out of 1800

UPSC NDA 2026 Selection Process

The detailed UPSC NDA selection process will be available in the official notification. The UPSC NDA selection process 2026 consists of a written test and SSB interview (Service Selection Board). Candidates who clear the NDA written exam 2026 will be called for the SSB interview.

Candidates must log in to joinindianarmy.nic.in to know their SSB interview date and time. The SSB interview will be challenging. Those who clear the NDA SSB interview will get selected into the National Defence Academy.

UPSC NDA 2026 Salary

Candidates can find the UPSC NDA salary details 2026 in the official notification. The NDA 2026 stipend which will be offered to the candidates during the cadet training is Rs 56,100. After the completion of the training, candidates will be offered the NDA salary in the pay level 10 which is between Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500. Along with the NDA 1 salary 2026, candidates will also be offered various allowances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can give NDA 1 2026?

Indian citizens between the ages of  16.5 and 19.5 who have passed the 12th class can appear in the UPSC NDA exam.

2. When will the UPSC NDA 2026 application form be released?

The UPSC NDA 1 application form will be released on December 10, 2025.

3. Do 12th marks matter in the NDA exam 2026?

A candidate must have passed the 12th class to be eligible for the UPSC NDA exam. 

4. How much is the NDA 2026 salary?

Candidates will be given an NDA salary of Rs 56,100 during the training period. 

5. What is the UPSC NDA exam date?

The UPSC NDA 1 2026 exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026

6. How many NDA vacancies have been announced?

The NDA 2026 vacancy will be given in the official notification. 

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Questions related to NDA

Have a question related to NDA ?

Being 6/18 in both eyes, you may be able to take the job based on the recruitment medical standards of the recruiting authority particularly, the jobs in the defence services or the government sector.


Most medical standards have certain amounts of uncorrected deficiencies in vision when vision corrected (glasses, contacts) is of the expected standard. The specific allowance depends upon a service and a post.


When the notification explains uncorrected vision allowance, then it probably means that everyone whose vision is worse than normal, but can be corrected to meet the specified requirement, can be afforded.


In order to be sure:


Ensure to read the accuracy of vision standards and allowance as stated in the official notification.


Upon permission, make sure that you attain a legal eye prescription displaying corrected eyesight within a limit.


In case of doubts, a certified medical officer or ophthalmologist is to be consulted to provide a report on eye examination.

Hey! Because your birthday is on May 22, 2010, in 2025 you will be 15. And it is quite normal that at your age you are in Class 11. In 2026, youwill be going up to Class 12. Then simply concentrate on completing Class 11 well, since Class 12 is crucial in terms of board exams and choices of careers. Stay regular with your studies, follow your hobbies and begin to consider which stream or career you require after Class 12. You’ve got plenty of time and opportunities ahead—just stay confident and work smart!

HEY THERE!!!

  • Unfortunately, you do not qualify for NDA 2 2025 if your birthdate is in November 2006.
  • The specified eligibility window requires candidates to have been born between January 2, 2007, and January 1, 2010.
  • Since your birth falls before this range, you do not meet the age criteria set for this examination.
  • It would be advisable to explore alternative opportunities or eligibility options.

Hello,

The NDA exam conducted by UPSC has strict age eligibility criteria. For the NDA II 2025 exam, which is scheduled to be held in September 2025, only candidates born between January 2, 2007, and January 1, 2010 (both dates inclusive) are considered eligible. Since your son was born on November 1, 2006, he unfortunately does not fall within this age range, making him ineligible for the NDA II 2025 exam as per the current guidelines.

Hope this helps. All the best!

Hey Vinita ,

I hope your preparation is going well for your exam. As per your mentioned query , you should keep all the important documents during the registration process. The important documents you should have :

  • Your active Email ID and phone number
  • Your scanned photograph and signature
  • Valid photo ID card details like Aadhar card
  • Your academic details

To know more kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/articles/nda-application-form

Revert for further query!

All the best !

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