NDA 2026 Notification | National Defence Academy Exam Complete Guide
NDA 2026 exam for Army, Navy and Air Force commissions. Check eligibility, dates, exam pattern, GAT & Math syllabus, SSB interview, and salary after commissioning.
By PadhleBhai Desk · Published 5 Jun 2026 · Updated 8 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
NDA 2026 Overview
The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC to select candidates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force Wings of the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC).
Parameter
Details
Exam Name
NDA & NA Examination 2026 (I & II)
Conducting Body
UPSC
Wings
Army, Navy, Air Force
Stages
Written Exam (UPSC) → SSB Interview
Official Website
upsc.gov.in
Starting Salary after Commissioning
₹56,100 (Lieutenant Level 10)
NDA 2026 Important Dates
Event
NDA I 2026
NDA II 2026
Notification
December 2025
May 2026
Application Last Date
January 2026
June 2026
Written Exam
April 2026
September 2026
SSB Interview
July–September 2026
November 2026–Jan 2027
NDA 2026 Eligibility
Nationality: Indian Citizen / Nepal / Bhutan national
Gender: Male (Unmarried); Female candidates — check latest UPSC notification
Age: 16.5 to 19.5 years (born between specific dates per notification)
Education: 10+2 / Class 12 pass (Physics & Maths compulsory for Air Force / Naval wings; any stream for Army)
Physical Standards: Height (minimum 157 cm), weight, eyesight as per service requirements
NDA 2026 Exam Pattern
Paper
Subject
Questions
Marks
Time
Paper I
Mathematics
120
300
2.5 hrs
Paper II
General Ability Test (GAT)
150
600
2.5 hrs
Total Written
900
SSB Interview
—
900
5 days
Grand Total
1800
Negative marking: 1/3rd of marks deducted for wrong answers.