UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026: Apply for 394 Posts

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026

1: Important Date

Events	Dates
Start Date to Apply Online	10 December 2025
Last Date to Apply Online	30 December 2025 (till 06:00 PM)
UPSC NDA/NA-I Exam Date	12 April 2026
NDA Written Result Date	May 2026 (Tentative)

2: Application Fee

3: UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026 include nationality, age limit, marital status, educational qualification, and physical standards. Candidates must ensure they meet all requirements before applying.

3(a) Nationality:

A candidate must be an unmarried male or female and must be:

• A citizen of India, or

• A subject of Nepal, or

• A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or specified East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam) with the intention of permanently settling in India.

3(b) Age Limit (as on 01-07-2027):

• • Minimum Age: 16.5 years

  • Maximum Age: 19.5 years

  • Candidates must be born between 01 July 2007 and 01 July 2010 (both dates inclusive).
  • Calculate your age using the Online Age Calculator.

Note: Candidates must not marry until completion of training, or they will be disqualified and liable to refund training expenses.

3(c) Educational Qualification:

• Army Wing (NDA): 12th pass (10+2 pattern) from a recognized board or equivalent.

• Air Force, Naval Wings & Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme): 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM).

Students appearing in Class 12 may also apply but must submit proof of passing by 10 December 2026.

Important Notes:

• Class 11 students are not eligible.

• Candidates must present original documents at SSB; photocopies are not accepted.

• Candidates who failed CPSS/PABT earlier are eligible for Ground Duty branches of Air Force.

4: UPSC NDA Vacancy 2026

Total Posts: 394

The UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026 offers a total of 394 vacancies across the National Defence Academy and the Naval Academy. The NDA Army Wing has the highest intake with 208 posts, followed by the Air Force which includes 92 vacancies for the Flying Branch, 18 for Ground Duties (Technical), and 10 for Ground Duties (Non-Technical). The Navy has 42 vacancies, all under the Executive Branch. Additionally, the Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) offers 24 executive posts.

Academy	Service	Male	Female	Total
National Defence Academy	Army	198	10	208
	Navy	37	05	42 (All Executive Branch)
	Air Force
	(i) Flying	90	02	92
	(ii) Ground Duties (Tech)	16	02	18
	(iii) Ground Duties (Non-Tech)	08	02	10
Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)		21	03	24 (All Executive Branch)
Total		370	24	394

5: Mode of Selection

The selection process for UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026 follows a structured two-stage evaluation designed to assess aptitude, intelligence, and officer-like qualities.

The Services Selection Board (Army, Air Force, and Navy) conducts a two-stage selection procedure:

Stage I – Screening Test

• Includes Intelligence Test and Psychological Aptitude Test.

• Conducted on the first day of reporting.

• Candidates who qualify Stage I move to Stage II; others are sent back the same day.

Stage II – SSB Tests

• Consists of detailed psychological assessments, group tasks, and interviews.

• Candidates who clear Stage II must submit the following original documents plus one photocopy:

  • Matriculation certificate (proof of date of birth)

  • 10+2 certificate (proof of educational qualification)

6: UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026 – Exam Pattern & Syllabus

The UPSC NDA/NA-I Exam Pattern 2026 consists of a written examination followed by the SSB Interview. The written test includes two objective-type papers, and both are conducted in bilingual format (Hindi & English).

6(a). Written Examination Structure

Subject	Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
Mathematics	01	2½ Hours	300
General Ability Test	02	2½ Hours	600
Total (Written Exam)			900
SSB Test / Interview			900

6(b). Subject-Wise Question Distribution

• NDA Syllabus Overview:

  • Paper-I: Mathematics (Code 01) – 300 Marks

  • Paper-II: General Ability Test (Code 02) – 600 Marks

• Paper-II Breakdown:

  • Part A: English – 200 Marks, assessing language proficiency

  • Part B: General Knowledge – 400 Marks, covering a wide range of subjects

• General Knowledge Weightage:

  • Physics – 25%

  • Chemistry – 15%

  • General Science – 10%

  • History & Freedom Movement – 20%

  • Geography – 20%

  • Current Events – 10%

• Note: A detailed syllabus for each paper is provided below.

Section	Topics Covered
Maths	Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability.
English	Grammar & usage, vocabulary, comprehension, cohesion, error detection, sentence structure, reading comprehension.
Section A – Physics	States of matter, density, pressure, Archimedes principle, motion & Newton’s laws, gravitation, work & energy, heat & temperature, sound, light (reflection & refraction), electricity (Ohm’s law, circuits), magnets, primary & secondary cells, X-rays, working principles of pendulum, pulleys, levers, pumps, hydrometer, periscope, telescope, microscope, safety fuses, etc.
Section B – Chemistry	Elements, compounds, mixtures, chemical equations, air & water properties, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, CO₂ preparation & properties, acids, bases, salts, carbon forms, fertilizers, materials like soap, glass, cement, paints, gunpowder, atomic structure, valency.
Section C – General Science	Living vs non-living, cell structure, tissues, plant & animal growth, human body organs, epidemics & prevention, food & nutrition, balanced diet, solar system, comets & meteors, eclipses, scientists & their achievements.
Section D – History, Freedom Movement	Indian culture & civilisation, Indian freedom movement, constitution & administration basics, Five-Year Plans, Panchayati Raj, cooperatives, Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, national integration, Gandhian philosophy, world history (Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, Russian Revolution), UN, Panchsheel, democracy, socialism, India’s role globally.
Section E – Geography	Earth’s shape, latitude–longitude, time zone, International Date Line, Earth’s movements, rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, oceans & tides, atmosphere & pressure systems, climate types, natural regions, Indian geography (climate, vegetation, minerals, industry, agriculture), major ports, transport routes, imports & exports.
Section F – Current Events	Major national & international events, politics, sports, culture, awards, important personalities.

6(c). SSB Interview (Intelligence & Personality Test)

Stage	Details
Stage I	Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test, Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT); shortlisting based on combined performance.
Stage II	Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO), Psychology Tests & Conference (4 days). Evaluation is holistic with equal weightage.

7: How to Apply for UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026?

Candidates can apply for the UPSC NDA & NA I 2026 exam through the official online portal by following these steps:

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to upsconline.nic.in.

2. Create a New Account: Register and generate your URN (Unique Registration Number).

3. Fill the Common Application Form (CAF): Enter personal, educational, and contact details carefully.

4. Upload Documents: Submit a recent passport-size photograph and other required documents as per specifications.

5. Select Exam Centre and Service Preference: Choose your preferred examination centre and service branch.

6. Pay the Application Fee (if applicable): Complete the payment using online methods.

7. Submit and Download Confirmation: Submit the application form and download the confirmation page for future reference.

Note: Ensure that all information is correct before submission to avoid discrepancies. Keep your URN and confirmation page safely for future communications.

Important Tips:

• Ensure all information is correct to avoid rejection.

• Keep a copy of all uploaded documents ready in the specified format.

• Apply before the last date to avoid last-minute issues.

8: Salary Structure – UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026

Component	Details
During Training	₹56,100 per month
Lieutenant	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month
Allowances	MSP, DA, Uniform Allowance, and other benefits

9: Some Useful Links

Apply Online	Click Here
Download Notification	Click Here
Join  Whats App Channel	Click Here
Join Telegram Channel	Click Here
Official Website	UPSC Official Website

10: ❓UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026

Q1: What is the total number of UPSC NDA Vacancy 2026?
A1: The total number of vacancies for UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026 is 394 across Army, Navy, and Air Force wings.

Q2: When will the NDA Notification 2026 be released?
A2: The official NDA Notification 2026 has been released, and candidates can check all details on the UPSC website.

Q3: How can I UPSC NDA Apply Online 2026?
A3: Candidates can apply online through the official portal upsconline.nic.in by filling the Common Application Form (CAF) and uploading the required documents.

Q4: What are the NDA Exam 2026 Eligibility criteria?
A4: Candidates must be unmarried, between 16.5 to 19.5 years of age (as on 01 July 2027), meet educational qualifications (12th pass for Army, PCM for Air Force/Navy), and satisfy physical standards.

Q5: Is there an application fee for UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026?
A5: Yes, General/OBC male candidates need to pay Rs. 100. All female and SC/ST candidates are exempted from the fee.

Q6: Can class 12 students apply for NDA 2026?
A6: Yes, candidates appearing in Class 12 can apply, but they must provide proof of passing by 10 December 2026.

Q7: How are candidates selected in UPSC NDA/NA-I Recruitment 2026?
A7: Selection is through a two-stage SSB process, including Stage I (Intelligence & Psychological Tests) and Stage II (GTO tasks, Interview, and Personality Assessment).

Q8: When will the NDA Exam 2026 be conducted?
A8: The NDA Exam 2026 is scheduled for 12 April 2026, with results expected in May 2026 (tentative).