The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the competitive recruitment notification for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination 2026. With 404 commissioned cadet vacancies across the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force (including 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala), the NDA entrance represents the premier route for 10+2 passed and appearing students (both male and female) to join India’s armed forces as commissioned officers with fully funded undergraduate education (B.A. / B.Sc / B.Tech) from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
This comprehensive guide details the academy-wise vacancy allocation, rigorous age and marital status conditions, the 900-mark written examination pattern, the 5-day Services Selection Board (SSB) assessment roadmap, and the online registration process.
UPSC NDA 2026: Executive Examination Blueprint
| Recruitment Aspect | Official Details & Criteria |
|---|---|
| Exam Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC, New Delhi) |
| Examination Title | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2026 |
| Total Cadet Vacancies | 404 Posts (NDA: 370 | Naval Academy: 34) — Open for Male & Female Candidates |
| Training Establishments | National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune & Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala |
| Rank & Pay upon Commissioning | Lieutenant / Sub Lieutenant / Flying Officer (Pay Level-10: ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 + MSP ₹15,500/month) |
| Educational Qualification | Army: 12th Pass in any stream | Navy & Air Force: 12th Pass with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics |
| Selection Methodology | UPSC Written Examination (900 Marks) ➔ 5-Day SSB Interview (900 Marks) ➔ Medical Board |
| Official Portal | upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in |
Wing-Wise Vacancy Allocations
| Academy / Wing | Branch Details | Vacancies (Including Female Quota) |
|---|---|---|
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | Indian Army Wing | 208 (including 10 for female cadets) |
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | Indian Navy Wing | 42 (including 12 for female cadets) |
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | Indian Air Force (Flying / Ground Duty Tech & Non-Tech) | 120 (Flying: 92, GD Tech: 18, GD Non-Tech: 10) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme (Executive Branch) | 34 (including 09 for female cadets) |
| Total Combined Vacancies | All Armed Wings | 404 Posts |
Eligibility Conditions: Academic & Age Criteria
- Educational Qualification:
- For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a recognized University.
- For Air Force and Navy Wings of NDA and for 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at INA: 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent.
- Appearing Candidates: Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply.
- Age Limit & Marital Status:
- Age between 16½ years and 19½ years during the commencement of the course.
- Only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible. Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training.
UPSC Written Examination Pattern (900 Marks Total / 5 Hours)
The written examination is conducted in offline OMR mode across two compulsory objective papers on the same day:
| Paper / Subject | Code | Questions | Duration | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Mathematics (Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics) | 01 | 120 | 2½ Hours | 300 Marks |
| Paper-II: General Ability Test (Part A: English 200M | Part B: General Knowledge 400M) | 02 | 150 | 2½ Hours | 600 Marks |
| Total Written Examination | – | 270 Qs | 5 Hours | 900 Marks |
Marking Rule: Each correct answer in Mathematics yields 2.5 marks (-0.83 penalty for incorrect). In GAT, each correct answer yields 4 marks (-1.33 penalty for incorrect). Minimum qualifying standard of 25% in each individual paper applies.
Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview Process (900 Marks)
Candidates qualifying the written test cutoff are invited for the 5-day assessment at Army, Navy, or Air Force Selection Boards:
- Stage-I (Day 1): Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Screened-in candidates advance to Stage-II.
- Stage-II (Days 2 to 5):
- Psychological Tests: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self Description Test (SDT).
- Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks: Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Military Obstacle Course, Command Task, and Final Group Task.
- Personal Interview with the Board President or Deputy President.
- Final Board Conference and recommendation announcement.
Final merit is compiled strictly out of 1,800 Marks (Written 900 + SSB Interview 900).
How to Apply Online for UPSC NDA
- Visit the official UPSC One Time Registration (OTR) portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete your primary OTR profile with authentic identification and academic credentials.
- Under Latest Notifications, click on National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination 2026.
- Fill in preferences for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy according to your eligibility and career aspiration.
- Upload recent passport photograph, signature, and valid government photo ID card as per UPSC specs.
- Pay the fee of ₹100 (Exempted for Female candidates and SC/ST applicants).
- Download and print the completed confirmation slip for future SSB documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Are female candidates eligible for all three wings of the National Defence Academy?
Yes, female candidates are fully eligible to apply for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings, with designated reserved seats and equal training curriculum at NDA Khadakwasla.
Q2: Can candidates without Mathematics in 12th class apply for NDA?
Candidates from Arts or Commerce streams (without Mathematics/Physics) can apply exclusively for the Indian Army wing. Mathematics and Physics are compulsory for the Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy.
Q3: Is the undergraduate degree course at NDA free of cost?
Yes, the entire 3-year academic education (B.A., B.Sc., or B.Tech), accommodation, uniforms, messing, and medical care are 100% funded by the Government of India.
Q4: What is the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test?
Candidates who opt for the Flying Branch of the Air Force must undergo the CPSS test during their SSB. It is a once-in-a-lifetime test; candidates failing CPSS cannot be considered for flying duties in the armed forces.
Ram Avtar is the Founder and Lead Career Analyst at Govt Results Alert. With over 6 years of experience analyzing Government Recruitment Notifications, SSC, Banking, and Railway examination patterns, he leads our fact-checking team to deliver authentic, timely, and verified job alerts directly from official government gazettes.
