NDA-1 2026 Notification Out- Check Details

Notifications
10-Dec-2025
26

NDA 1 2026 Eligibility, Exam Dates, Application Process & Vacancies

If joining the Indian Armed Forces is your dream, then here’s some good news: UPSC has officially released the NDA 1 2026 Notification. This exam is one of the most prestigious opportunities for young defence aspirants who wish to join the Army, Navy, and Air Force as officers after Class 12.

NDA 1 2026 – Short Overview

Here’s a quick snapshot before we dive deeper:

Conducting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name: National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination
Cycle: NDA 1 (April Session)
Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen & Paper)
Training Academies: NDA Khadakwasla & INA Ezhimala
Eligibility: 10+2 passed/appearing, unmarried male & female candidates

The NDA exam is conducted twice a year, and the NDA 1 2026 cycle is the first opportunity for aspirants who will complete Class 12 by next year.

NDA 1 2026 Important Dates

Make sure to note these dates so you don’t miss anything:

Event	Date
Notification Release	December 10, 2025
Application Start Date	December 10, 2025
Last Date to Apply	December 30, 2025
Application Correction Window	A few days after the application closes
Admit Card Release	1 week before the exam
NDA 1 2026 Exam Date	April 2026 (Expected)
Result Declaration	April/May 2026
SSB Interview	Soon after the written result

Keep checking UPSC’s website to stay updated, but these timelines are usually consistent every year.

NDA 1 2026 Eligibility Criteria

UPSC follows strict guidelines for eligibility, and it’s important to know them before applying. Here’s the simplified breakdown:

A. Nationality

You must be:

A citizen of India

A subject of Nepal or Bhutan

A Tibetan refugee (before 1st Jan 1962)

B. Age Limit

You must be between 16.5 to 19.5 years.

For NDA 1 2026, candidates born between July 2007 and July 2010 (approx.) will be eligible.

C. Educational Qualification

Army Wing: 10+2 Pass (any stream)
Air Force & Naval Wing / Naval Academy: 10+2 with Physics & Mathematics

Even if you’re appearing for Class 12 exams, you can still apply.

D. Marital Status

Candidate must be unmarried.

E. Physical Standards

Clearing the medical test is as important as the written exam. You must:

Be physically fit
Meet height and eyesight standards
Have no major medical issues

NDA 1 2026 Vacancy

UPSC will announce the exact number of vacancies in its detailed notification. Generally, NDA offers around 400–450 seats combined for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy.

The distribution usually looks like this:

Wing	Approx Vacancies
Army	200+
Navy	40–50
Air Force (Flying + Ground Duties)	90–100
Naval Academy	20–30

NDA 1 2026 Exam Pattern

The NDA written exam consists of two papers, both conducted on the same day.

Paper 1: Mathematics

Duration: 2.5 hours
Marks: 300
Level: Class 11 & 12 Maths

Paper 2: GAT (General Ability Test)

Duration: 2.5 hours
Marks: 600

Sections:

English (200 marks)
General Knowledge (400 marks)

Total Marks: 900

If you clear the written cutoff, you’ll be called for the SSB Interview, which carries 900 marks.

NDA Selection Process Explained

Your selection happens in three stages:

1. Written Exam

You must score above the cutoff in both Maths and GAT.

2. SSB Interview (5 Days)

This includes:

Screening test
Psychology
GTO tasks
Personal interview
Conference

3. Medical Examination

Final shortlisting happens after medical clearance.

NDA 1 2026 Application Process

Applying for NDA is simple and fully online. Here are the steps:

Visit UPSC’s official website.
Click on “One-Time Registration (OTR)” if you’re a new user.
Log in and fill out the NDA 1 2026 application form.
Upload your photo, signature, and ID proof.
Pay the application fee (Rs. 100 for general; exempted for females & reserved categories).
Submit the form and download the confirmation.