UPSC NDA 1 Notification 2026 (Out): Check Application Dates, Vacancies & Exam Details

The Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC NDA 1 Notification 2026 on 10 December 2025 for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Examination. The UPSC NDA 1 Application Form 2026 were filled from 10 to 30 December 2025 through the official website. The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the NDA Exam for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the 157th Course at the National Defence Academy, as well as the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC), both starting from 1st January 2027. 

The UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 has been scheduled with Session I on 12th April 2026 and Session II on 13th September 2026. A total of 394 vacancies have been announced for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA and the Naval Academy batch starting from January 2027. Scroll down this page to get complete information regarding the UPSC NDA 1 Notification 2026, available vacancies, and application dates.

UPSC NDA 1 Recruitment 2026

The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC NDA 1 Recruitment 2026 notification with all the important details that candidates should check before filling out the application form. The notification includes all important information such as application dates, exam schedule for stage 1 and stage 2, and other instructions.

The UPSC NDA 1 Notification 2026 provides complete details about the application process, exam pattern, syllabus, eligibility criteria, and vacancies. Candidates are advised to go through the official notification carefully to avoid any mistakes during the application process.

What is UPSC NDA?

The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA Exam) is a prestigious national-level examination organised by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. Its purpose is to select eligible candidates for the Army, Air Force, and Navy branches. This year, the exam will take place on 12 April 2026, for admission to the 157th Course of the NDA and the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC), which will begin on 1 January 2027.

UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026: Overview

The NDA Exam 2026 schedule has been officially announced for both sessions. The NDA & NA Examination (I) will take place on 12th April 2026, while the NDA & NA Examination (II) is set for 13th September 2026. Candidates aiming to join the Indian Armed Forces through the NDA should take note of these dates and plan their preparation accordingly. The table below provides a quick overview of UPSC NDA 1 Recruitment 2026:

UPSC NDA 1 Important Dates 2026

UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on 12 April 2026, and candidates can download their UPSC NDA 1 Admit Card 2026 3-4 days before the exam date. In the table below, we have provided all the important dates related to the UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026:

UPSC NDA 1 Recruitment 2026: Important Links

UPSC NDA 1 Notification 2026 can be checked by candidates through the Union Public Service Commission website. Candidates who have applied for the NDA (I) Exam 2026 will be able to download their admit card soon from the official website. 

The table below provides direct access to all important links related to the recruitment process, including the official notification PDF, city intimation slip, admit card link and other links updates.

UPSC NDA 1 Vacancy 2026

UPSC NDA 1 Vacancy 2026 has been announced through the Union Public Service Commission NDA 1 Notification 2026. The total 394 vacancies for NDA 1 2026 are distributed for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 157th Course and for the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) starting from 1st January, 2027. 

The detailed service-wise vacancy distribution for male and female candidates is given in the table below:

UPSC NDA 1 Eligibility Criteria 2026

UPSC NDA 1 Eligibility Criteria 2026 has been officially defined by the Union Public Service Commission in its notification. It covers key parameters such as nationality, age limit, educational qualifications, and other conditions that determine a candidate’s eligibility for the exam.

Before applying, candidates must carefully check all eligibility requirements to ensure they meet the prescribed standards. It is important to note that candidature will remain provisional at every stage of the selection process and will be confirmed only after document verification.

To understand the detailed requirements, check the key components of UPSC NDA 1 Eligibility Criteria 2026 mentioned below:

Nationality

A candidate must be unmarried (male/female) and must either be: 

(i) a Citizen of India, or 

(ii) a subject of Nepal, or 

(iii) 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, intending to permanently settle in India. 

Age Limit and Marital Status

Only unmarried male and female candidates born between 1st July 2007 and 1st July 2010 (both dates inclusive) are eligible to apply.

The candidates are required to submit Proof/Documents in Support of the age limit and marital Status.

Important:

• The Commission will only accept the date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/ Secondary School Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of application submission and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.
• Candidates must also be unmarried and can only marry once their training term is completed.

Note: A candidate who marries after the date of his application, even if he is successful in this or any later examination, will not be chosen for training. A candidate who marries while in training will be discharged and must reimburse the government for all expenses incurred on his behalf.

Educational Qualification 

Note:- 

Candidates who qualified for the SSB interview but were unable to produce their Matriculation/10+2 or equivalent certificate in original at the time of the SSB interview should send duly self-attested photocopies to 'Directorate General of Recruiting, Army HQ, West Block III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066' and for Naval Academy candidates to Naval Headquarters, DMPR, OI&R Section, Room No. 204, 'C' Wing. The submission deadline for this request is 24 June 2025. Failure to meet this deadline will result in the cancellation of their candidature.

D. Physical Standards

To be eligible for admission to the National Defence Services Examination (I) 2026, a candidate must meet the physical fitness requirements as per the standards and guidelines established by the respective wings

UPSC NDA 1 Online Application Process 2026

Candidates who wish to appear for the UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 must complete the online application process through the Union Public Service Commission's official website. The application form is divided into two parts, Part I and Part II, and both stages must be completed successfully to submit the form.

Follow the step-by-step process below to apply for UPSC NDA 1 2026:

Step 1: Visit the official UPSC online application portal (link provided in the Important Links section above).

Step 2: Complete the “Part I” registration by entering your basic details.

Step 3: After successful Part I registration, a registration ID will be generated to proceed further.

Step 4:  Move to “Part II” and fill in the remaining details in the application form.

Step 5: Upload scanned documents, photograph, and signature in the prescribed format.

Step 6: Pay the required application fee and select your preferred examination centre.

Step 7: Carefully review all the details before final submission.

Step 8: Submit the application form and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

UPSC NDA Application Fee

Mode of Fee Payment:

The application fee can be paid online by Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment, or by using any bank's internet banking facility or in cash at any SBI branch.

Important Documents Required for UPSC NDA 1 2026

Candidates applying for UPSC NDA 1 Exam 2026 must ensure they have all necessary documents ready before filling out the online application and for subsequent stages like the SSB interview and document verification. The documents must be in the prescribed format and clearly legible to avoid any rejection or disqualification. The key documents include:

• Class 10th and 12th Mark Sheets: Candidates must provide official mark sheets as proof of their educational qualifications.
• Birth Certificate or Class 10th Certificate: This is required to verify the candidate’s date of birth and age eligibility for the exam.
• Caste or Category Certificate: Reserved category candidates must submit valid certificates to claim applicable benefits.
• Domicile Certificate: If required, this document proves the candidate’s eligibility for state-specific quotas or reservations.
• Scanned Passport-Sized Photograph: Candidates must upload a recent photograph in the format specified by UPSC.
• Scanned Signature: A clear signature in the prescribed format is required for the online application form.
• Photo Identity Proof: Government-issued IDs such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, or Passport must be submitted for identity verification.
• SSB Call Letter: Shortlisted candidates must carry the SSB interview call letter when attending the interview.

Ensuring that all documents are complete, accurate, and in the correct format is crucial for a smooth application process and to avoid any delays in candidature verification.

Selection Process of UPSC NDA (I) 2026

The candidates who wish to join the prestigious National Defence Academy will have to undergo the two-stage selection process, which is further divided into two substages:

Stage I -  Written Examination

• The written exam is divided into two parts: Elementary Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT).
• In the written exam for Maths and General Ability, only objective questions (MCQs) will be asked.
• Candidates must pass both papers separately.

To advance to the next phase, the candidate must pass a written examination.

Stage II -  Intelligence & Personality Test

Following the written examination, the next level is the SSB interview, which involves the Personality test/Interview. The SSB interview has two parts. An IQ and personality test is administered initially, followed by a psychology test that comprises an interview, group discussion, and conference round.

Note: Candidates who clear Stage - I of the Personality Test are permitted to appear for Stage - II.

Candidates who pass both the interview and the document verification rounds are eligible for the medical exam.

UPSC NDA (I) 2026 Exam Pattern

The NDA exam pattern serves as a guide for students, providing important details on the exam's structure and organization. Knowing the highlights of the NDA test pattern will allow you to optimize your study strategy and increase your chances of passing this difficult exam.

The written exam has two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The written exam contains objective-style questions in both sections. The structure of the written exam and SSB interview is shown in the table below.

A. WRITTEN EXAMINATION

• The papers will exclusively include objective-type questions.
• The General Ability Test will be divided into two sections: English and General Knowledge. The broad Knowledge section will cover themes such as current events, history, broad science, and so on.
• The duration of each paper will be 2½ hours.
• The maximum and minimum marks will be 300 for the Mathematics Paper and 600 for the General Ability (GAT) Paper.
• For each wrong answer, there will be a negative marking of ⅓ marks.

B. SSB INTERVIEW (INTELLIGENCE & PERSONALITY TEST)

The SSB interview is worth 900 marks, and the total marks for the written exam and the SSB interview are 1800.

The NDA SSB Interview, as previously stated, is divided into two stages, each of which includes an intelligence and personality test:

(a) Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests include Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on a combination of performance in the OIR Test and PP&DT. 

(b) Stage II: Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conducted over a period of 4 days.

Syllabus for NDA (I) Exam 2026

Now that you understand the exam pattern, have a look at the UPSC NDA Syllabus to assist you in comprehending the topics and arrange your study and time for each paper accordingly. Every year, the syllabus for the NDA Exams (I and II) remains the same.  

UPSC NDA (I) Exam Centre 2026

The NDA 1 exam will be conducted at various locations throughout India. UPSC announces the NDA 2026 Exam Centres through an official notification. Below is a table listing all the exam centres for the 2026 examination:

UPSC NDA Result 2026

The results of the NDA & NA 2 Examination 2026 will be announced approximately one month after the written examination, slated for 12 April 2026. The commission publishes the results of each stage, namely the written exam and the SSB interview, on its official website. Following the steps below, candidates can access their UPSC CDS Results.

Step 1: Navigate to the UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click the Written Result NDA & NA I Examination 2026 link.

Step 3: The Result PDF will be shown on the screen.

Step 4: Examine the details in the result PDF and use the Ctrl+F key to find your roll number.

Step 5: Save a copy of the UPSC NDA result PDF for future reference.

UPSC NDA 2026 Cut‑off Marks

The Union Public Service Commission will release UPSC NDA 2026 Cut‑off Marks after the successful conclusion of the selection process. Candidates must score marks equal to or above the cut‑off marks to be considered eligible for final selection and training at the Academy. The cut‑off marks are determined based on factors such as the total number of candidates, the difficulty level of the examination, and the total vacancies available.

Below is the previous cut‑off marks distribution for NDA for different years. Candidates can use this as a reference while awaiting the 2026 cut‑off:

Once the official UPSC NDA 1 2026 cut‑off marks are declared, this section will be updated with the exact marks for all categories and wings of the exam.

UPSC NDA (I) 2026 Salary

Fixed Stipend for Cadet Training:

• Gentlemen or Lady Cadets would be paid a stipend of Rs 56,100/- per month for the duration of their training academies, i.e. at IMA.
• After successful commissioning, the officer's pay in the Pay Matrix shall be fixed under 10, and the time of training shall not be recognised as commissioned service. Check the rank-wise pay scale in the table below:

Military Service Pay (MSP) to the officer is as follows:-