Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
NDA 2 2026 — Exam Date September 13, Eligibility, Pattern & Complete Preparation Guide
Important Dates
Eligibility
Nationality: Indian citizen. For Army Wing: Unmarried male candidates. For Navy and Air Force Wings, and Naval Academy: Unmarried male and female candidates. Age: Born between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2011 (i.e., 16.5 to 19.5 years of age). Educational Qualification: Class 12 pass or appearing in Class 12 from any recognised Board. For Air Force and Naval Academy (B.Tech) entry: Must have Physics and Mathematics in Class 12. For Army: Any stream in Class 12 is acceptable. Physical and Medical Standards: Candidates must meet specific physical and medical standards set by the Ministry of Defence. Height minimums: Army and Navy — 157 cm for males, 152 cm for females; Air Force — 162.5 cm for males, 152 cm for females. Eyesight requirements are strictest for Air Force (vision must be correctable to 6/6). Complete medical standards are detailed in the official notification at upsc.gov.in.
Syllabus
Mathematics (300 marks): Algebra — Sets, Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Matrices, Determinants, Binomial Theorem, Logarithms, Permutations & Combinations. Matrices and Determinants — Properties, Inverse, Linear equations. Trigonometry — Angles, Identities, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Properties of Triangles. Analytical Geometry 2D — Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate System, Distance, Section Formula, Lines, Circles, Conic Sections. Analytical Geometry 3D — Lines and Planes in 3D, Angle between lines. Differential Calculus — Concept of Limit, Continuity, Derivatives, Application to maxima/minima. Integral Calculus and Differential Equations — Definite and Indefinite Integration, Integration by substitution, Differential equations of first order. Vector Algebra — Vectors, Scalar product, Vector product. Statistics and Probability — Classification of Data, Frequency distribution, Mean, Median, Mode, Variance, Standard Deviation, Probability. General Ability Test (600 marks) — Part A (English, 200 marks): Grammar and Usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Spotting Errors, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Ordering; Part B (General Knowledge, 400 marks): Physics (Sound, Light, Heat, Electricity, Magnetism, Nuclear Physics — Class 9/10 level), Chemistry (Physical and Chemical Changes, Atomic Structure, Oxidation-Reduction, Acids, Bases, Salts, Fuels — Class 9/10), General Science (Common diseases, Food and Health, Solar System, Earth basics), History (Freedom Struggle, Constitution, Five Year Plans, National Integration), Geography (Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean, Climate, India's geography, Human geography), Current Events (National and International).
Official Links
NDA 2 2026 — The Path to India's Military Academies
The National Defence Academy is India's tri-services premier training institution. Officers who graduate from NDA go on to command ships, fly fighter jets, and lead infantry. It is one of the most respected career paths an 18-year-old can take. NDA 2 2026 gives you that chance — 394 seats across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings.
Application for NDA 2 2026 has closed. The written examination is on September 13, 2026. If you applied, this guide is your preparation roadmap. If you missed this cycle, the next NDA (NDA 1 2027) notification will be released around November–December 2026.
Important Dates — NDA 2 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | May 20, 2026 |
| Application Opens | May 20, 2026 |
| Application Last Date | June 9, 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (SC/ST and sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs: Exempt) |
| Written Exam | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| SSB Interviews | After written result (typically October 2026 onwards) |
| Training Commencement (Expected) | January 2027 |
Vacancies
A total of 394 vacancies are available across:
- Indian Army Wing of NDA
- Indian Navy Wing of NDA
- Air Force Wing (Flying Branch) of NDA
- Indian Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry — B.Tech)
The exact wing-wise breakup is published in the official notification at upsc.gov.in.
Eligibility
Nationality: Indian citizen
Gender and Marital Status:
- Army Wing: Unmarried male candidates only
- Navy Wing, Air Force Wing, Naval Academy: Unmarried male AND female candidates
Age (for NDA 2 2026): Born between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2011 (16.5 to 19.5 years of age)
Educational Qualification:
- Army Wing: Class 12 (or appearing) from any recognised Board — any stream
- Navy Wing and Naval Academy (B.Tech): Class 12 or appearing with Physics and Mathematics as subjects
- Air Force Wing (Flying Branch): Class 12 or appearing with Physics and Mathematics as subjects
Physical Standards (males):
| Service Wing | Minimum Height | Weight (proportionate) |
|---|---|---|
| Army and Navy | 157 cm | As per age-height chart |
| Air Force | 162.5 cm | As per age-height chart |
Physical Standards (females): Minimum height 152 cm for all wings.
Eyesight: Specific vision standards apply for each wing. Air Force has the strictest requirements — distant vision must be 6/6 in each eye for Flying Branch. Check the complete medical standards in the official notification.
Exam Pattern
The written exam has two papers, both conducted offline (OMR sheets):
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 hours |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 150 | 600 | 2.5 hours |
| Total Written | 270 | 900 | |
| SSB Interview | — | 900 | 5 days |
| Grand Total | 1800 |
Negative Marking: 1/3 of marks per wrong answer
- Mathematics: Each question = 2.5 marks; wrong answer = –0.83 marks
- GAT: Each question = 4 marks; wrong answer = –1.33 marks
Don't guess randomly. If you can eliminate 2 options, attempt it. If you have no idea, leave it.
GAT breakdown:
- Part A — English: 50 questions, 200 marks
- Part B — General Knowledge: 100 questions, 400 marks
Mathematics Syllabus
NDA Maths is Class 11–12 level, but the questions are not trivial. Common high-weightage areas:
- Algebra: Matrices, Determinants, Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Binomial Theorem — these appear every year
- Trigonometry: Identities, inverse functions, triangle properties — multiple questions guaranteed
- Calculus: Limits, continuity, derivatives, integration — high weightage
- Coordinate Geometry: Lines, circles, conics (parabola, ellipse, hyperbola) — standard questions
- Vector Algebra: Scalar and vector products — direct formula application
- Probability and Statistics: Mean, variance, probability theorems — relatively easy marks
Study from NCERT Class 11 and 12 Maths textbooks first. Then solve previous NDA Maths papers.
GAT — General Ability Test
Part A — English (50Q, 200 marks): Grammar (tenses, prepositions, articles, voice, narration), vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution), comprehension passages, sentence completion.
Most candidates who have studied in English-medium schools score 130–160 here. Hindi-medium candidates need to deliberately practise English grammar patterns.
Part B — General Knowledge (100Q, 400 marks):
| Section | Approximate Questions | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 20–25 | Class 9–10 |
| Chemistry | 15–20 | Class 9–10 |
| General Science | 10–15 | Class 8–10 |
| History & Freedom Struggle | 15–20 | Class 10 level |
| Geography | 15–20 | Class 9–10 |
| Current Affairs | 10–15 | Last 6 months |
NCERT Class 9 and 10 Science, Social Studies, and Geography books are the foundation for GK. Current affairs: read any standard monthly booklet or newspaper for the last 6 months before the exam.
The SSB Interview — What It Actually Is
The written exam filters candidates. The real selection happens at the SSB (Service Selection Board) — a 5-day residential selection process conducted at defence SSB centres.
Stage 1 (Day 1–2): Screening — Intelligence Test (verbal and non-verbal) and Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT). Roughly 30–40% of candidates are screened in.
Stage 2 (Day 2–5, for those who clear Stage 1):
- Psychology Tests: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), Self Description Test (SD)
- Group Testing: Group Discussions, Group Planning Exercises, Progressive Group Task, Half Group Task, Command Task, Lecturette, Final Group Task
- Personal Interview: 30–45 minutes with an Interviewing Officer
The SSB is 900 marks — equal to the written exam. The assessors are looking for Officer Like Qualities (OLQs): effective intelligence, self-confidence, leadership ability, social adaptability, decisiveness, and integrity. These cannot be faked over 5 days.
Written exam + SSB = your final merit rank = which wing and academy you get.
Training at NDA
Selected candidates report to the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune for a 3-year residential training programme. The NDA campus is jointly managed by all three services.
During 3 years at NDA:
- Academic education (B.Sc. or B.Tech equivalent)
- Military, naval, and air training
- Sports, adventure activities, leadership development
After NDA, cadets go to their respective service academies for pre-commissioning training (typically 1 year):
- Army: Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
- Navy: Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala
- Air Force: Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad
After completing service academy training, you are commissioned as:
- Lieutenant (Army)
- Sub-Lieutenant (Navy)
- Flying Officer (Air Force)
Starting salary as a newly commissioned officer (Pay Level 10): ₹56,100 basic + ₹15,500 Military Service Pay + allowances = approximately ₹80,000–1,00,000 per month depending on posting.
Preparation Strategy
Mathematics:
- Start with NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks — do every exercise
- NDA Maths is slightly easier than JEE but has negative marking — accuracy matters
- Solve previous 5 years' NDA Maths papers under timed conditions
- Weak area: Most candidates struggle with Integration, 3D Geometry, and Probability — target these first
General Ability Test:
- English: Solve previous NDA English sections. Focus on grammar rules and vocabulary.
- GK: NCERT Class 9 and 10 Science + Social Studies are the foundation. Don't go beyond this for GK.
- Current Affairs: Read any monthly current affairs PDF for April–September 2026 period.
Physical preparation: Even though the physical test is at SSB (not the written exam stage), start running and fitness training now. SSB candidates who show up physically unfit get a negative impression — officers need to be physically sharp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can girls appear for NDA 2 2026? Yes. Since September 2022, female candidates can appear for NDA. They are eligible for Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings. Army wing is still only open to male candidates.
Q: I'm in Class 12 appearing. Can I apply? Yes. Candidates appearing in Class 12 final exams are eligible to apply. However, you must pass the Class 12 exam before joining NDA. If you don't pass, your selection is cancelled.
Q: What happens if I fail the medical test at SSB? Candidates who are declared medically unfit at SSB are given information about the specific deficiency. You can appeal to the Special Medical Board (SMB) and the Review Medical Board (RMB) if you believe the findings are incorrect. Some conditions that are temporarily disqualifying can be corrected and re-evaluated.
Q: How does NDA rank compare to CDS? NDA is for candidates who are Class 12 or below (age 16.5–19.5). CDS is for graduates (age 19–24+). NDA gives 3 more years of training before commissioning — NDA officers graduate at age ~21–22. Both are excellent career paths; NDA officers typically have a longer active service period.
Official Links
- UPSC Official Site: upsc.gov.in
- Apply Online (when open): upsconline.nic.in
Disclaimer: All information is based on the official NDA 2 2026 notification released by UPSC on May 20, 2026. Physical and medical standards must be verified from the complete official notification at upsc.gov.in before appearing.