NDA & NA 2026: Exam Dates, Women Eligibility, SSB, Salary

NDA & NA 2026 at a glance

The UPSC National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination, NDA & NA, is the main route into the armed forces straight after Class 12, leading to a commission as an officer in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. UPSC conducts it twice a year, as NDA I and NDA II. As of late July 2026, NDA I 2026 is a completed cycle and NDA II 2026 is the live one: it was notified on 20 May 2026, and its written exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026, for 394 vacancies.

Two things make this exam stand out. It is one of the few officer entries open right after Class 12, at an age of 16.5 to 19.5, and, since a Supreme Court ruling, it is open to women across all wings. This guide covers the two cycles, the women-eligibility position clearly, the written exam and the five-day SSB interview, and the honest difference between the stipend during training and the pay after commissioning.

Here is where the live cycle stands: NDA II 2026 applications closed in June 2026, and the written exam is on 13 September 2026, followed by the SSB interview for those who qualify. NDA I 2027 would be the next fresh cycle after this. So this page is a full guide to the exam and the path to a commission, with NDA I 2026 as a baseline reference.

Important dates for NDA & NA 2026

Vacancy details

NDA II 2026 has 394 vacancies, of which 370 are for male candidates and 24 for female candidates. The commonly reported service-wise split is Army 208, Air Force 120, Navy 42, and Naval Academy 24, though the exact split is set in the notification, so confirm it there. The Naval Academy figure is the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme intake.

Women in the NDA

This is a point competitors often state flatly or bury, so it is worth explaining clearly. Following a Supreme Court order in 2021, unmarried women became eligible for the NDA, and the first women cadets were admitted from the 2022 intake. Women are now eligible across all wings, that is the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy, subject to the same age, education, and medical standards, with the physical standards set to female norms. In NDA II 2026, 24 of the 394 seats are earmarked for women. So a woman candidate who has passed or is appearing in Class 12, meets the age band, and satisfies the wing-specific subject requirement can sit the NDA exactly as a male candidate does.

Eligibility for NDA & NA 2026

On age, you must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years, and unmarried. The exact birth-date window is set for each cycle in the notification, and there is no age relaxation for any category.

On education, you need to have passed or be appearing in Class 12. The subject requirement depends on the wing. For the Army wing, any stream is accepted, so Arts and Commerce candidates qualify. For the Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, that is the PCM combination, is mandatory. This distinction matters and many pages leave it vague: a candidate without PCM can still join the Army wing but not the Navy or Air Force.

On marital status, you must be unmarried, and you must remain unmarried until you complete training.

Physical and medical standards

Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards for a cadet, which are set out in the notification. The minimum height is around 157 cm for the Army and Navy and higher for the Air Force, with relaxations for candidates from Gorkha, North-Eastern, Garhwal, and Kumaon regions. Vision standards are stricter for the Air Force, where spectacles are not permitted for the flying branch, and procedures like LASIK or radial keratotomy are disqualifying. Candidates should read the medical standards carefully before applying, since a medical disqualification later is a hard setback.

Selection process

NDA selection has two stages that together carry 1800 marks.

1. Written examination: 900 marks. This shortlists candidates for the SSB.
2. Services Selection Board (SSB) interview: 900 marks, a five-day assessment.

The final merit is built from the written exam and the SSB together, so both carry equal weight, and a candidate must clear the SSB, not just the written exam, to be selected.

Written exam pattern

The written exam has two papers on the same day, both objective and bilingual, with different negative marking.

The General Ability Test is split into English for 200 marks and General Knowledge for 400 marks. Each question carries 2.5 marks. The negative marking differs by paper: Mathematics deducts about 0.83 marks per wrong answer, and the General Ability Test deducts about 1.33 marks per wrong answer. So a wrong guess in the GAT is costlier than in Maths, which shapes attempt strategy.

Syllabus

Mathematics covers algebra, matrices and determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry in two and three dimensions, differential and integral calculus, differential equations, vector algebra, and statistics and probability, with trigonometry, algebra, and calculus forming the bulk. The General Ability Test covers English grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension, and General Knowledge across Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and current affairs. The standard is broadly that of Class 11 and 12, drawing largely on the NCERT textbooks.

The five-day SSB interview

The SSB interview is where many written-qualified candidates fall, because it tests officer-like qualities rather than knowledge, and it runs over five days.

Day one is screening, with an officer intelligence rating test and a picture perception and discussion test, after which some candidates are sent home. Day two is the psychology round, with a thematic apperception test, a word association test, a situation reaction test, and a self-description. Days three and four are the group testing officer tasks, including group discussions, group planning, progressive group tasks, and command tasks, alongside the personal interview. Day five is the conference, where the board takes its final call. The SSB assesses qualities like reasoning, decision-making, initiative, and the ability to work in and lead a group, so preparation for it is different from exam study and rewards mock SSBs and self-awareness.

What the NDA cutoff has actually been

UPSC publishes the cutoff marks after each cycle closes, and the numbers move a lot from year to year, which is why a single "expected cutoff" figure from a coaching site is worth very little. These are the official UPSC cutoffs for recent NDA I cycles.

Two things stand out from that table. The written cutoff has swung between 291 and 360 marks in six cycles, a spread of 69 marks, which tracks paper difficulty rather than any trend you can plan around. And the gap between the written cutoff and the final cutoff sits at roughly 360 to 370 marks in every year, which tells you what the SSB adds: a candidate who scrapes through the written exam still needs a solid SSB performance to make the final list.

Alongside the aggregate cutoff, UPSC applies a minimum qualifying standard of 25 per cent in each subject. A candidate who clears the aggregate but falls below 25 per cent in Mathematics or in the General Ability Test is not evaluated further, so lopsided preparation that abandons one paper does not work here.

A practical target: aim for 400 or more in the written exam rather than the 300 to 350 band. That builds a cushion against a hard paper and against an average SSB day.

Stipend during training versus pay after commissioning

This is where honesty matters, because other pages blur a cadet's training stipend with an officer's salary. During the roughly three years at the NDA and the further year at the service academy, cadets do not draw a full officer salary; their food, accommodation, uniforms, and medical care are provided, and a stipend applies in the final pre-commission training year, commonly cited at around Rs 56,100 a month. That figure is the pre-commission stipend, not a multi-year salary.

On being commissioned as a Lieutenant or the equivalent, an officer enters Pay Level 10 with a basic pay of Rs 56,100, plus Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 and dearness allowance, which brings the in-hand to roughly Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,25,000 a month, alongside subsidised housing, rations, and other service benefits. The pay then grows through the officer ranks over a career. So the accurate picture is a modest stipend during training and a strong officer package after commissioning, not a large salary from day one.

What happens after selection: the training path

Selection into the NDA starts a four-year training path, not a posting. Cadets from all three services train together for three years at the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla near Pune, then move to their service academy for about a year of specialised training.

During the three years at Khadakwasla, cadets also read for a bachelor's degree affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University, in one of BA, BSc, or BSc Computer Science, and the degree is awarded at the passing out parade. So a cadet who completes NDA training leaves with a recognised graduate degree as well as a military commission, which matters if a career ever moves outside the services.

Candidates who take the Naval Academy route through the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme go directly to INA Ezhimala rather than through Khadakwasla, and read for a BTech there.

The commission comes at the end of the service academy year, not at the end of the NDA years. That is the point at which the stipend becomes an officer's pay.

Career progression after commissioning

An officer commissioned through the NDA enters as a Lieutenant in the Army, or a Sub Lieutenant in the Navy and a Flying Officer in the Air Force, and moves up through defined pay levels under the 7th Pay Commission. Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 a month applies at every one of these ranks, on top of basic pay and dearness allowance.

Promotion to Captain and Major is time-bound, at roughly two and six years of service, so an NDA entrant reaches Major in their late twenties. Above Lieutenant Colonel, promotion turns selective and depends on vacancies, annual reports, and courses. Beyond pay, the package includes subsidised accommodation, ration entitlements, medical cover for the officer and dependants under ECHS after retirement, group insurance, and a pension, which is the part of the deal that separates a permanent commission from the four-year Agniveer route covered on our Indian Army Agniveer page.

NDA versus CDS versus CAPF

Candidates aiming at an officer career often weigh NDA against the UPSC CDS route after graduation and the CAPF Assistant Commandant route into the paramilitary. This comparison sets out the difference.

NDA is the earliest officer entry, straight after Class 12. CDS is the graduate route into the armed forces. CAPF AC leads into the paramilitary forces. A candidate who is still in Class 12 and set on the armed forces should target NDA, while graduates would look at CDS or CAPF AC.

A preparation plan for NDA

NDA rewards a steady build across Maths and the General Ability Test alongside SSB readiness. For Maths, revise the Class 11 and 12 syllabus thoroughly, since trigonometry, algebra, and calculus dominate, and practise under the negative-marking scheme. For the GAT, build English through reading and grammar practice, and General Knowledge through NCERT science and social science plus a daily current-affairs habit, keeping in mind the heavier negative marking that punishes loose guessing. Just as important, prepare for the SSB in parallel, since it carries half the marks and cannot be crammed; mock interviews, group tasks, and honest self-reflection build the officer-like qualities the board looks for. The candidates who convert NDA are those who treated the SSB as seriously as the written exam.

Books and resources for NDA preparation

The syllabus sits at Class 11 and 12 level, so the NCERT textbooks do most of the work and specialised NDA books fill the gaps in practice and pattern.

Previous years' papers do more than any single book. UPSC repeats question types heavily in the General Ability Test, and working through 8 to 10 past papers under timed conditions teaches the negative-marking calculus better than reading about it.

Mistakes that cost NDA candidates

A few errors show up cycle after cycle, and every one of them is avoidable.

1. Applying for the wrong wing. A candidate without Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics who marks Navy or Air Force preferences is rejected at document verification, after months of preparation.
2. Ignoring the medical standards until the end. Vision requirements for the flying branch disqualify a large number of otherwise strong candidates, and refractive surgery like LASIK is disqualifying for the Air Force. Read the medical standards before you apply, not after you clear the written exam.
3. Guessing freely in the General Ability Test. At about 1.33 marks deducted per wrong answer against 2.5 for a correct one, loose guessing across 30 uncertain questions can cost more than it gains.
4. Treating the SSB as an afterthought. It carries 900 of the 1800 marks, and the gap between the written and final cutoffs shows exactly how much it decides.
5. Missing the age window. The 16.5 to 19.5 band is narrow and has no relaxation for any category, so a candidate typically gets only two or three attempts in total.
6. Letting one paper slide. The 25 per cent per-subject minimum means a strong Maths score cannot rescue a weak General Ability Test.

How to apply for NDA

Applications go through the UPSC online portal, and the process is the same in every cycle.

1. Complete the One Time Registration on upsconline.nic.in if you have not already. This is a separate step from the application itself and is reused across UPSC exams.
2. Open the NDA and NA application when the notification goes live and fill in personal, educational, and communication details exactly as they appear on your Class 10 certificate.
3. Choose your wing preferences in order, keeping the PCM requirement in mind for Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy.
4. Pick your exam centre. Centres fill on a first-apply basis, so applying early gives you a better chance of a nearby centre.
5. Upload your photograph and signature in the specified format, along with a photo ID.
6. Pay the fee of Rs 100. Women candidates and SC and ST candidates pay nothing.
7. Submit, then save the PDF and the registration number. UPSC opens a short correction window after the deadline for limited edits.

Documents you will need

Keep these ready for the application and the SSB.

1. Your Class 10 and Class 12 certificates and mark sheets, with the wing-specific subjects.
2. Proof of date of birth, usually your Class 10 certificate.
3. A recent photograph, signature, and a valid photo ID matching your application.
4. Documents for any regional height relaxation and other certificates as listed in the notification.

Frequently asked questions

Can girls apply for NDA in 2026? Yes. Following a Supreme Court order in 2021, unmarried women are eligible for the NDA across all wings, that is the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy, with the first women cadets admitted from the 2022 intake. In NDA II 2026, 24 of the 394 seats are earmarked for women.

What is the NDA 2026 exam date? The NDA II 2026 written exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026. The earlier NDA I 2026 written exam was held on 12 April 2026. UPSC conducts the NDA and NA examination twice a year, as NDA I and NDA II.

Is PCM compulsory for NDA? It depends on the wing. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are mandatory for the Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings. The Army wing accepts any stream, so an Arts or Commerce candidate can join the Army wing without PCM but not the Navy or Air Force.

What is the age limit for NDA 2026? Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years and unmarried, with the exact birth-date window set for each cycle in the notification. There is no age relaxation for any category.

Do NDA cadets get a salary during training? Not a full salary. Cadets get free food, accommodation, uniforms, and medical care during training, and a stipend of around Rs 56,100 a month applies in the final pre-commission training year. A full officer package, with basic pay, Military Service Pay, and allowances, begins only on commissioning.

What is the total marks of the NDA exam? The NDA selection carries 1800 marks in total: the written exam is 900 marks (Mathematics 300 plus General Ability Test 600), and the SSB interview is 900 marks. The final merit is built from both together.

Is there negative marking in NDA? Yes. The Mathematics paper deducts about 0.83 marks for each wrong answer, and the General Ability Test deducts about 1.33 marks per wrong answer. Because the GAT penalty is heavier, blind guessing there is costlier than in Maths.

Can I join NDA after 12th with Arts or Commerce? Yes, but only the Army wing. The Army wing accepts any stream, so Arts and Commerce candidates qualify. The Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings require Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

What is the difference between NDA and CDS? NDA is the officer entry straight after Class 12, at 16.5 to 19.5 years, while CDS is the graduate route into the armed forces at about 19 to 25 years. Both use a written exam plus the SSB interview, but NDA is the earlier entry and CDS is for graduates.