The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy (I) Examination 2026, announcing 394 vacancies. The application period runs from December 10, 2025, to December 30, 2025. The written exam is scheduled for April 12, 2026. Interested candidates can apply before the last date.
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Overview :
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 394 |
| Application Start Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Application End Date | December 30, 2025 (by 6:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | April 12, 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Online (via UPSC OTR portal) |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates :
- Application Start: December 10, 2025
- Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee: December 30, 2025 (6:00 PM)
- Written Exam Date: April 12, 2026
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Vacancies :
| Force/Academy | Wing/Duty | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | 370 | |
| Army | 208 | |
| Navy | 42 | |
| Air Force (Flying) | 92 | |
| Air Force (Ground Duties Tech) | 18 | |
| Air Force (Ground Duties Non-Tech) | 10 | |
| Naval Academy (NA) | 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme | 24 |
| Total | 394 |
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Eligibility :
2. Educational Qualification
The required qualification is a Class 12 pass (or equivalent examination) from a recognized board or university. Specific subject requirements vary by force:
-
- For Army Wing of NDA: Class 12 pass in any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science).
- For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA, and Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme): Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as compulsory subjects.
Candidates who are appearing for their Class 12 exams are also eligible to apply provisionally.
3. Nationality
- Candidates must be citizens of India or fall under specific categories defined by the UPSC, such as subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, or certain refugees who migrated to India before January 1, 1964.
4. Physical and Medical Standards
- All applicants must meet the rigorous physical and medical standards set by the Ministry of Defence. This includes criteria for height, weight, vision, and overall health. A detailed breakdown of these standards can be found in the official notification on the UPSC website.
Age Limit
-
- Marital Status: Only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible.
- Date of Birth: Candidates must have been born not earlier than July 2, 2007, and not later than July 1, 2010.
Salary : Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500/- per month
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Exam pattern :
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Max Marks | Questions | Negative Marking per Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 2.5 hours | 300 | 120 | 0.83 marks |
| Paper II | General Ability Test (GAT) | 2.5 hours | 600 | 150 | 1.33 marks |
| Total (Written) | 5 hours | 900 | 270 | ||
| SSB Interview | 900 | ||||
| Overall Total | 1800 |
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Syllabus :
The syllabus covers topics from Class 10, 11, and 12 levels.
1. Mathematics (Paper I)
The mathematics syllabus covers:
- Algebra: Sets, operations on sets, Venn diagrams, complex numbers, binary systems, quadratic equations, permutations, combinations, binomial theorem, logarithms.
- Matrices and Determinants: Types of matrices, operations, determinants, adjoint and inverse, solutions of linear equations.
- Trigonometry: Angles and ratios, identities, sum and difference formulas, multiple and sub-multiple angles, inverse trigonometric functions, applications (height and distance).
- Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions: Cartesian coordinates, distance formula, equations of lines, circles, conics (parabola, ellipse, hyperbola), spheres, direction cosines/ratios.
- Differential Calculus: Functions, limits, continuity, derivatives and applications (maxima/minima, increasing/decreasing functions).
- Integral Calculus and Differential Equations: Integration methods, definite integrals, areas bounded by curves, order and degree of differential equations, solutions of first-order differential equations.
- Vector Algebra: Vectors in 2D and 3D, magnitude/direction, dot and cross products, applications (work done by a force).
- Statistics and Probability: Data classification, frequency distribution, measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode), variance, standard deviation, correlation, regression, random experiments, Bayes’ theorem, binomial distribution.
2. General Ability Test (Paper II)
The GAT is divided into two parts: English and General Knowledge (GK).
- Part A: English (200 Marks)
- Focuses on grammar, vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms, idioms/phrases), comprehension, and cohesion.
- Part B: General Knowledge (400 Marks)
- Physics: Physical properties, motion, laws, gravity, heat, light, electricity, magnetism.
- Chemistry: Physical and chemical changes, elements, mixtures, compounds, acids, bases, salts, structure of atom.
- General Science: Difference between living/non-living, basis of life (cells, tissues), growth/reproduction, human body, food, solar system, diseases, eminent scientists’ achievements.
- History & Freedom Movement: Indian history, culture, civilization, freedom movement, Indian Constitution, Five-Year Plans, basic teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, world events (Renaissance, French/Industrial/Russian Revolutions).
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Application Fee :
- General/OBC Male Candidates: ₹100
- SC/ST Candidates: Exempted (₹0 fee)
- All Female Candidates: Exempted (₹0 fee)
- Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs: Exempted (₹0 fee)
UPSC NDA NA I Exam Application Process :
- Register on OTR Portal: Visit the official UPSC online application portal and complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process to generate a unique Universal Registration Number (URN).
- Fill the Application Form: Log in to the portal using your OTR credentials and access the application link for the “National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026”.
- Provide Details: Fill in all required personal, contact, and educational details. You must mention details of a photo ID (Aadhaar Card is highly recommended).
- Upload Documents: Upload a recent photograph, signature, and the selected photo ID document as per the specified guidelines.
- Pay Application Fee: Pay the examination fee of ₹100 if applicable. SC/ST candidates and all female candidates are exempted from paying the fee. Payment can be made online.
- Select Exam Centre and Submit: Choose your preferred exam center (allotment is on a first-apply-first-allot basis) and submit the final application form.
- Print Confirmation: Take a printout of the final application confirmation page for your records.
Selection Process :
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview : Candidates who clear the written exam cut-off are invited for a five-day Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. This involves:
- Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR), Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PP&DT).
- Stage II: Group Testing Officers (GTO) tasks, Psychology Tests, Command Tasks, and a Personal Interview.
- Medical Examination:
- Final Merit List: