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UPSC NDA I 2026 – National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination

Union Public Service Commission — Ministry of Defence
📋 394 Vacancies 💰 Training Stipend: Rs. 56,100/month. After commissioning as Lieutenant: Basic Pay Rs. 56,100 + MSP Rs. 15,500 + DA/HRA (Gross approx. Rs. 75,000–90,000 👁️ 26 views
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📅 Important Dates

Application Start Date 10 Dec 2025
Application End Date 30 Dec 2025
Exam Date 2026-04-12

📋 Vacancy & Pay Details

Total Vacancies 394
Category-wise Vacancies

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) invited applications for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I) 2026, offering 394 vacancies across Army, Navy, and Air Force wings including the Naval Academy.

Academy / WingMaleFemaleTotal
NDA — Army Wing19810208
NDA — Navy Wing37542
NDA — Air Force (Flying)90292
NDA — Air Force (Ground Tech)16218
NDA — Air Force (Ground Non-Tech)8210
Naval Academy (Executive Branch)21324
Grand Total394

Both male and female candidates can apply. Candidates appearing in Class 12 are also eligible to apply.
Pay Scale Training Stipend: Rs. 56,100/month. After commissioning as Lieutenant: Basic Pay Rs. 56,100 + MSP Rs. 15,500 + DA/HRA (Gross approx. Rs. 75,000–90,000
Location —
Department Union Public Service Commission
Ministry Ministry of Defence

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Minimum educational qualification required differs by wing:

  • Army Wing: Class 12 (10+2) passed or appearing from a recognised board — any stream accepted.
  • Navy Wing: Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as subjects from a recognised board.
  • Air Force Wings (Flying, Ground Tech, Ground Non-Tech): Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as subjects from a recognised board.
  • Naval Academy (Executive Branch): Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board.

Candidates who are appearing in the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of applying and must remain unmarried throughout the training period.
Age Limit 16 – 19 years
Age Relaxation Age: Born between 01 July 2007 and 01 July 2010 (i.e., 16.5 to 19.5 years as on exam date). No category-based age relaxation for NDA. SC/ST/Female/Wards of JCOs-NCOs-ORs are exempt from application fee but not age.
Nationality Indian

💳 Application Fee

General / OBC ₹100
SC / ST / PH ₹0
Payment Mode Online – Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card

🏆 Selection Process

  1. Written Examination (Offline/OMR-based): Held on April 12, 2026 at centres across India. Two papers: Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test (600 marks).
  2. SSB Interview (Services Selection Board): Shortlisted candidates appear before SSB at Allahabad, Bhopal, Bengaluru, or Bhubaneswar. Carries 900 marks. Five-day process including Officer Intelligence Rating, Psychological Test, Group Testing, and Personal Interview.
  3. Medical Examination: Conducted by Armed Forces Medical Services for SSB-cleared candidates. Medical standards vary by wing (Air Force requires high-grade vision).
  4. Merit List: Based on total of Written Exam (900) + SSB (900) = 1800 marks.

📝 How to Apply

  1. Visit the official UPSC online application portal at upsconline.nic.in.
  2. Click on the "Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC" link.
  3. Complete Part I registration with personal details and upload photograph and signature.
  4. Complete Part II with examination-specific details — select wing preference, exam centre, and medium of examination.
  5. Pay the application fee online using Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. SC/ST/Female/Wards of JCOs-NCOs are exempted from fee.
  6. Submit the application and note your Registration ID and roll number for future reference.
  7. Download and print the e-Admit Card from the UPSC website approximately 10 days before the written exam.

📊 Exam Pattern

Written Examination (900 marks, offline, OMR-based):

PaperSubjectQuestionsMarksDuration
Paper IMathematics1203002.5 hours
Paper IIGeneral Ability Test (GAT)1506002.5 hours
Total Written2709005 hours

SSB Interview: 900 marks. Grand total = 1800 marks.

  • Negative marking: 1/3 of marks per wrong answer (0.83 for Paper I; 1.33 for Paper II).
  • Unattempted questions carry zero marks.
  • GAT covers Part A: English (200 marks) and Part B: General Knowledge (400 marks).

🔗 Important Links

Apply Online Apply Now →
Official Website 🌐 https://upsc.gov.in

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board. For Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings, Physics and Mathematics are compulsory at 12th level. Candidates must be unmarried and born between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2010.

UPSC NDA I 2026 has 394 total vacancies: 208 in the Army Wing, 42 in the Navy Wing, 120 in Air Force wings (Flying, Ground Tech, Ground Non-Tech), and 24 in the Naval Academy. Both male and female candidates can apply.

During training at NDA, cadets receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 56,100. After commissioning as a Lieutenant, the basic pay is Rs. 56,100 plus Military Service Pay of Rs. 15,500 along with DA, HRA, and other allowances, making the gross salary approximately Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 90,000 per month.

No category-based age relaxation is given in NDA examination. All candidates must be born between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2010. However, SC/ST/Female candidates and wards of JCOs, NCOs, and ORs are exempted from paying the application fee.

The NDA written exam has two papers: Paper I is Mathematics (120 questions, 300 marks, 2.5 hours) and Paper II is the General Ability Test (150 questions, 600 marks, 2.5 hours). Negative marking of 1/3 marks per wrong answer applies. The SSB Interview carries 900 marks, making the grand total 1800 marks.

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Quick Summary
Post Name
UPSC NDA I 2026 – National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination
Vacancies
394
Last Date
30 Dec 2025
Pay Scale
Training Stipend: Rs. 56,100/month. After commissioning as Lieutenant: Basic Pay Rs. 56,100 + MSP Rs. 15,500 + DA/HRA (Gross approx. Rs. 75,000–90,000
Category
Defence
Status
Upcoming
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