Exams Guide
NDA
Last reviewed:
What this exam is for
National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA) is a Class 12 officer entry examination, admission or professional-selection route associated with Defence & Public Services. NDA/NA is conducted by UPSC for Class 12-level entry into National Defence Academy and Naval Academy officer-training routes. The recorded outcomes include National Defence Academy officer training for Army, Navy and Air Force wings and Naval Academy route where notified. Students should use the official authority for current-cycle rules because dates, fees, attempts and participating institutions can change.
Eligibility: who can apply
Academic Qualification: Candidates must meet age, nationality, gender, marital status, education and physical/medical standards. Mathematics and Physics/Chemistry requirements apply for some wings as notified.
Minimum Marks: Check the current official notification; minimum marks can vary by course, category or year.
Age Rules: Check the current NDA notification for age or date-of-birth rules; no unsourced age figure is published here.
Attempt Rules: Attempt limits for NDA, if any, must be confirmed from the current official notification.
Nationality Or Domicile: Nationality/domicile conditions for NDA are governed by the current official rules and the target institution/service.
Work Experience: Not universally required unless the selected programme, post or professional level states otherwise.
Physical Or Medical Standards: Physical or medical standards apply only where the NDA route or resulting service/programme specifies them.
Reservation Or Category Rules: Reservation/category rules, where applicable, follow the current official NDA notification and counselling/recruitment policy.
Exam pattern and stages
Mode: Written examination followed by SSB interview and medical examination
Stages: NDA examination or assessment according to the current official pattern.
Papers Or Sections: Mathematics - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., English - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., General Knowledge - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., Science - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., History - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., Geography - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., Current events - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules., Officer aptitude - See the current official NDA pattern for question count, marks and section rules.
Marking Notes: The written exam includes Mathematics and General Ability Test papers. Shortlisted candidates attend SSB interview and medical examination before final merit.
Calculator Policy: Follow the current official exam-day instructions for NDA to confirm calculator or electronic-device rules.
Syllabus and subjects
- Mathematics - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under Mathematics. - official-nda
- English - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under English. - official-nda
- General Knowledge - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under General Knowledge. - official-nda
- Science - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under Science. - official-nda
- History - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under History. - official-nda
- Geography - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under Geography. - official-nda
- Current events - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under Current events. - official-nda
- Officer aptitude - Use the current official NDA syllabus for the exact topics under Officer aptitude. - official-nda
Selection process
- NDA application and eligibility verification through the official process.
- NDA assessment according to the official pattern.
- Download admit card and follow exam-day instructions.
- After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome.
What happens after the result
Courses Or Posts: National Defence Academy officer training for Army, Navy and Air Force wings, Naval Academy route where notified, Armed forces officer career after training and commissioning
Institutions Or Services: National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy, UPSC defence entry process, Indian Armed Forces
Next Step After Result: After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome.
How to prepare
Difficulty Context: Difficulty in NDA depends on competition, breadth of syllabus, time pressure and the score/rank needed for the target programme or post. Scholyn does not publish a universal difficulty rating without a defined comparison basis.
Core Strategy: Understand the latest syllabus and pattern before starting., Make a weekly study plan with revision slots., Solve previous papers and mock tests., Track mistakes and revise weak topics regularly., Check official updates before relying on dates or rules.
Mock Test Strategy: Use timed NDA mocks or official sample papers after covering the relevant syllabus, then analyse every error and time-management problem.
Common Mistakes: Preparing from an outdated NDA pattern or syllabus., Ignoring eligibility, application or counselling/recruitment rules while focusing only on the test.
Official Practice Resources: Check the official NDA website for information bulletins, sample papers, answer keys or previous papers where provided.
Current cycle and changing information
Schema Version: 1
Exam Id: nda
Cycle: NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026
Current Phase: Registration is closed. UPSC lists NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 for 13 September 2026; the current UPSC examination page reflects an application deadline of 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Dates: [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object]
Application: https://upsconline.nic.in/ - [object Object],[object Object],[object Object] - URN/Common Application Form information,Photograph and live photograph,Signature,Photo ID details,Educational and other supporting documents requested in the application - UPSC requires live-photo capture and a clear uploaded photograph; signature instructions are provided in the UPSC online portal. - The NDA II 2026 notice states that applications cannot be withdrawn and no correction, alteration or modification in application fields is allowed after submission. - 011-24041001,011-40303444,upscsoap@nic.in
Current Pattern Overrides: Offline OMR-based written examination followed by SSB for candidates who qualify - Negative marking applies to wrong answers in the objective papers.
Current Eligibility Overrides: Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 1 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011 are eligible for NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026. - Army Wing requires 12th Class pass or equivalent; Air Force/Naval Wings and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme require 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, subject to the detailed UPSC rules. Candidates appearing in Class 12 may apply subject to proof by the prescribed date.
Exam Day: Entry closes 30 minutes before the commencement of each session; candidates should arrive earlier for identity verification and face authentication. - e-Admit Card,The Photo ID recorded in the UPSC application - Mobile phones,Pagers,Programmable/electronic devices,Storage media,Smart watches,Cameras,Bluetooth devices,Bags and valuables where prohibited - Follow the NDA II 2026 e-Admit Card and UPSC examination instructions. - No entry is allowed after the venue closes 30 minutes before the commencement of a session. - Follow the disability and examination-assistance rules stated in the NDA II 2026 notice where applicable.
Result And Counselling: UPSC's written examination is followed by the Services Selection Board intelligence/personality testing for candidates who qualify; final selection is subject to merit, preferences, vacancies, eligibility and medical standards. - Follow the NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 rules and service-allocation provisions. - Applies to NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 for the courses identified in the notification. - UPSC provides a five-day representation window on questions and provisional answer keys beginning from the third day after the examination, as described in the 2026 notice. - Candidates qualifying the written examination register for the SSB process using the recruiting-service instructions stated by UPSC; SSB, medical fitness and final merit determine selection. - Written examination,SSB intelligence/personality testing,Medical examination and final merit/service allocation
Sources: upsc-nda2-2026-page - UPSC NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 page - https://www.upsc.gov.in/examinations/National%20Defence%20Academy%20and%20Naval%20Academy%20Examination%20%28II%29%2C%202026 - official-exam-authority - Notification date,current application deadline,exam date, upsc-nda2-2026-notice - UPSC NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 Notice - https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-NDA-II-2026-Engl-200526.pdf - official-exam-authority - Fee exemptions,application documents,eligibility,correction policy,exam-day rules,SSB process
Last Verified At: 2026-08-23
Model: single-cycle
Summary: This named examination follows the live schedule, application and result notices published by its responsible official authority.
Related exams to compare
Student questions about this exam
What is NDA used for?
National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA) is a Class 12 officer entry examination, admission or professional-selection route associated with Defence & Public Services. NDA/NA is conducted by UPSC for Class 12-level entry into National Defence Academy and Naval Academy officer-training routes. The recorded outcomes include National Defence Academy officer training for Army, Navy and Air Force wings and Naval Academy route where notified. Students should use the official authority for current-cycle rules because dates, fees, attempts and participating institutions can change.
Who conducts or governs NDA?
Union Public Service Commission is the official authority recorded for NDA. Use https://upsc.gov.in/ for the current notification, application and cycle-specific rules.
Who is eligible for NDA?
Candidates must meet age, nationality, gender, marital status, education and physical/medical standards. Mathematics and Physics/Chemistry requirements apply for some wings as notified. Minimum marks, category and special conditions must be checked in the current official notice.
Which subjects are required for NDA?
No universal subject list is published in this stable profile because NDA subject eligibility can depend on the programme or current notification. Always confirm before applying.
Is there an age limit or attempt limit for NDA?
Check the current NDA notification for age or date-of-birth rules; no unsourced age figure is published here. Attempt limits for NDA, if any, must be confirmed from the current official notification.
What is the mode of NDA?
Written examination followed by SSB interview and medical examination The authority can change delivery details, sessions or exam-day instructions between cycles.
What is the exam pattern of NDA?
The written exam includes Mathematics and General Ability Test papers. Shortlisted candidates attend SSB interview and medical examination before final merit. The assessment or selection stages recorded here are NDA examination or assessment according to the current official pattern.
What is the syllabus for NDA?
The stable syllabus framework currently records Mathematics, English, General Knowledge, Science, History. Topic-level preparation should follow the latest official bulletin rather than an older coaching list.
Does NDA have negative marking?
The written exam includes Mathematics and General Ability Test papers. Shortlisted candidates attend SSB interview and medical examination before final merit. Because marking schemes can change, use the current official pattern to confirm negative marking rather than assuming a previous-year rule.
What happens after the NDA exam or assessment?
NDA application and eligibility verification through the official process. NDA assessment according to the official pattern. Download admit card and follow exam-day instructions. After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome. After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome.
Which courses, posts or outcomes are available through NDA?
National Defence Academy officer training for Army, Navy and Air Force wings; Naval Academy route where notified; Armed forces officer career after training and commissioning Confirm the exact participating programme, post, service or qualification in the current official notice before relying on this route.
Which institutions or services accept NDA?
National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy, UPSC defence entry process, Indian Armed Forces are recorded in the current source data. Verify the target institution before applying.
How should I prepare for NDA?
Understand the latest syllabus and pattern before starting. Make a weekly study plan with revision slots. Solve previous papers and mock tests. Track mistakes and revise weak topics regularly. Use mocks only after aligning preparation to the current official syllabus and pattern.
What should I do after the NDA result?
After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome. Keep scorecards, identity/academic documents and category certificates required by the official process.
What are alternatives or related exams to NDA?
Related exams in the same broad category include AFCAT, Agniveervayu, Army Agniveer CEE, CDS, Coast Guard CGEPT.
How do I apply for NDA?
The recorded application route for NDA is: Check the latest official notification; Confirm eligibility for the selected course or institution; Register online and fill the application form; Upload required documents and pay the application fee; Download admit card and follow exam-day instructions.
Which documents are required for the NDA application?
The exact document and upload-specification list for NDA belongs to the current exam cycle and can change. Use the current information bulletin or application portal at https://upsc.gov.in/; do not rely on a previous year's photograph, signature or certificate specifications.
Can I correct my NDA application after submitting it?
A correction facility for NDA, the fields that may be edited and any correction dates are cycle-specific. Scholyn treats this as current-cycle information, so the official notice at https://upsc.gov.in/ should be checked before assuming that a submitted field can be changed.
How are the NDA result, score or rank used?
After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome. The exact score, percentile, normalisation, rank and tie-breaking method must be taken from the current official rules when those methods apply.
Is counselling or another selection stage required after NDA?
After the NDA result, candidates must follow the official counselling, interview, seat-allocation, document-verification, service-selection or professional-progression process that applies to their target outcome. The responsible counselling, interview, seat-allocation or recruitment authority should be confirmed from the current result notice.
What should I carry on the NDA exam day?
Exam-day documents, permitted stationery, reporting time, dress instructions, biometric requirements and prohibited items for NDA are current-cycle rules. Follow the current admit card and official exam-day instructions at https://upsc.gov.in/; Scholyn does not publish a fixed list when the authority can change it.
Where should I check the latest NDA dates and fees?
Use https://upsc.gov.in/ for the latest NDA notification, registration window, correction window, admit card, exam date, result, counselling dates and application fees. These are intentionally kept outside the stable Exam Profile so an old cycle cannot appear as current information.
How can I confirm that I am eligible for NDA?
Candidates must meet age, nationality, gender, marital status, education and physical/medical standards. Mathematics and Physics/Chemistry requirements apply for some wings as notified. Check the current NDA notification for age or date-of-birth rules; no unsourced age figure is published here. Attempt limits for NDA, if any, must be confirmed from the current official notification. Final eligibility should be checked against the current official notice because year-of-passing, category, programme, domicile or other conditions can change.
Which languages and calculator rules apply to NDA?
Language availability is not treated as universal in the stable NDA profile. Follow the current official exam-day instructions for NDA to confirm calculator or electronic-device rules.
Which official preparation resources should I use for NDA?
For NDA, the stable profile recommends: Check the official NDA website for information bulletins, sample papers, answer keys or previous papers where provided.
Sources
- Official website (official-page)