The Union Public Service Commission had released the annual calendar 2026 on 15th May 2025. If we talk about NDA 2026, then all important dates, i.e., Notification Date, Application Last Date and NDA Exam Dates are mentioned in the UPSC calendar. Interested candidates can check their NDA Exam Eligibility Criteria before starting preparation. Below, we have given all the important information related to NDA Exam. Eligible candidates can join online and offline batches in Target Defence Academy for their NDA 1 2026 Exam preparation.
Exam Overview
Name of the Exam
National Defence Academy (NDA)
Conducting Body
Union Public Service Commission, UPSC.
Frequency of Exam
Twice a year
Selection Process
Written Test consisting of Objective Type Questions, Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB)
Mode of exam
Offline
Mode of Application
Online only
Application Fee
Rs. 100/-
Papers in NDA Exam
Mathematics & General Ability Test
Marks Segregation
Mathematics: 300 Marks, GAT: 600 Marks
Total No. of Questions
Mathematics: 120, GAT: 150
Negative Marking
Mathematics: -0.83, GAT: -1.33 marks
Exam Duration
2.5 Hours For Each Paper (5 hours total)
Language of Question Paper
English &Hindi (English Language paper has to be attempted in English)
NDA 2026 Exam Dates
As you all know, the NDA Exam is conducted twice a year, in the months of April and September, respectively. Here, we have given all the important dates; candidates must check them.
The candidate must have been born between 2nd July 2007 and 1st July 2010. (Both dates are included.)
NDA 2 2026
The Candidate must have been born between 2nd January 2008 and 1st January 2011. (Both dates are included.)
The NDA Exam is held twice a year for 12th-appearing and 12th-passed out students who meet the eligibility criteria. The NDA exam dates are released on the UPSC official website.
Qualification:
For Air Force & Naval Wings (Cadet entry scheme): 12th Appearing or Candidates must have passed 10th and 12th level with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
For Army Wing: 12th Appearing or Candidates must have passed 10th and 12th levels from a recognised board or university. Students from any stream are eligible for NDA 2026.
Appearing: Students appearing for the 12th level are also eligible to apply. 11th Appearing students are not eligible for NDA.
