The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the comprehensive exam schedules, application timelines, and notification dates for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA) 2026 cycles. Aspiring candidates looking to build a career in the prestigious Army, Navy, and Air Force must keep track of these crucial dates and preparation parameters.
UPSC NDA 2026 Important Dates
To ensure you do not miss any deadlines for the upcoming cycles, review the structured timelines below for both NDA 1 and NDA 2 in 2026.
NDA 1 Exam 2026 Schedule
The NDA 1 Exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on 12th April 2026. Candidates preparing for this session should note that the NDA 1 Admit Card 2026 will be released 10 days before the exam date.
| Events | NDA 1 Dates |
|---|---|
| NDA Notification 2026 | 10th December 2025 |
| Online Application Starts | 10th December 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30th December 2025 |
| NDA 1 Admit Card 2026 | 10 days before exam date |
| UPSC NDA Exam Date 2026 | 12th April 2026 |
NDA 2 Exam 2026 Schedule
The second cycle of the year, NDA 2 Exam 2026, is scheduled to be held on 13th September 2026. Similar to the first cycle, the NDA Admit Card 2026 for this session will be released 10 days before the exam date.
| Events | NDA 2 Dates |
|---|---|
| NDA Notification 2026 | 20th May 2026 |
| Apply Online Starts | 20th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 9th June 2026 |
| NDA Admit Card 2026 | 10 days before exam date |
| UPSC NDA Exam Date 2026 | 13th September 2026 |
Ready for the upcoming test? Access your hall ticket directly through the official link below:
Download NDA 1 Admit Card 2026 – Official LinkUPSC NDA Exam Pattern & Structure
The written exam for NDA consists of two papers: Mathematics and General Aptitude Test (GAT). Both papers are conducted in offline mode with negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Papers | Subjects | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 Hours |
| 2 | General Aptitude Test (GAT) | 150 | 600 | 2.5 Hours |
| Total | Total | 270 | 900 |
Written Exam Details
- Mode of Exam: Offline
- Mathematics: 120 questions, 300 marks.
- General Aptitude Test (GAT): 150 questions, 600 marks.
- Total Marks: 900.
- Negative Marking: There is negative marking for incorrect answers in both papers.
- Exam Duration: Each paper is 2.5 hours long.
Selection Process & SSB Interview
Candidates who qualify the written examination proceed to the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview stage. The SSB Interview accounts for 900 marks, bringing the total evaluation to 1800 marks.
SSB Interview Details
- Two Stages: Stage 1 involves Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Stage 2 involves Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference.
- Total Marks: 900
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Recommended Reads
- UPSC NDA & NA II Exam 2026: Dates, Vacancies, Syllabus & Guidelines
- RBI Office Attendant Score Card 2026: Download Marks & Results
- Government Jobs 2026 Portal: Latest Recruitment, Admit Cards & Results
- Gujarat TAT-S 2026 Preliminary Results Released: Check Your Score & Next Steps
- RBI Office Attendant Result 2026 Released: Check Your Roll Number & Next Steps
- UKPSC Exam Calendar 2026 Released: Check Schedule & Dates
Negative Marking & Net Score Calculator
Calculate your exact post-answer-key net marks after deducting 1/3rd or 1/4th negative penalty across SSC, UPSC, and State exams.
Never miss another exam update!
Get the fastest exam results, recruitment news, and educational guides delivered directly to your phone.