UPSC NDA 2026 · Notification & recruitment
UPSC NDA Notification 2026: Recruitment, Vacancy, Dates, Fee and How to Apply
The latest UPSC NDA notice is "National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II", published 20 May 2026. Applications closed on 9 June 2026.
Dates, vacancies, fee, eligibility and selection process, copied from the latest official notice. Nothing here is estimated; the official notice is the final word.
UPSC NDA 2026 important dates
Applications closed on 9 June 2026.
| Notification | 20 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Online application (last date) | 9 June 2026 (6 pm) |
| Written examination | 13 September 2026 |
| Course commencement | 1 July 2027 (158th NDA Course and 120th INA Course) |
Source: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II (published 20 May 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
UPSC NDA vacancy 2026
Vacancies: 394 (370 male, 24 female): NDA Army 208, Navy 42, Air Force: Flying 92, Ground Duties Tech 18, Ground Duties Non-Tech 10; Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry 24
- National Defence Academy — Army wing
- National Defence Academy — Navy wing
- National Defence Academy — Air Force wing (Flying, Ground Duties Tech and Non-Tech)
- Indian Naval Academy — 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme
Source: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II (published 20 May 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
NDA & NA (II) 2026 vacancies by academy and wing
The notice lists 394 vacancies. The Army wing of NDA has the largest share (208), followed by the Air Force wing (Flying 92, Ground Duties Tech 18 and Ground Duties Non-Tech 10), the Navy wing (42) and the Naval Academy's 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme (24). All Navy and Naval Academy vacancies are in the Executive branch.
Women can apply to every wing: 24 of the 394 vacancies are for female candidates. The notice says the vacancies are provisional and may change depending on the training capacity of the academies.
Vacancies as printed in the notice
| Academy | Wing / branch | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Defence Academy | Army | 198 | 10 | 208 |
| National Defence Academy | Navy (Executive branch) | 37 | 5 | 42 |
| National Defence Academy | Air Force — Flying | 90 | 2 | 92 |
| National Defence Academy | Air Force — Ground Duties (Tech) | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| National Defence Academy | Air Force — Ground Duties (Non-Tech) | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Indian Naval Academy | 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme (Executive branch) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Total | 370 | 24 | 394 |
Provisional; may change depending on training capacity.
UPSC NDA eligibility summary
Age limit: Unmarried male and female candidates born between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2011 (both dates included) (as on Date-of-birth window printed in the notice (para 3(b))).
- Army wing of NDA: Class 12 pass of the 10+2 pattern, or equivalent, from a State Education Board or University
- Air Force and Navy wings of NDA, and 10+2 Cadet Entry at the Naval Academy: Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
- Candidates appearing in Class 12 may apply and must submit proof of passing by 10 June 2027; Class 11 candidates are not eligible
UPSC NDA application fee
₹100
SC and ST candidates, female candidates, and wards of serving/ex-JCOs, NCOs and Other Ranks (as specified in Note 2 of the notice, studying in Military Schools or Sainik Schools) are exempted. OBC and EWS candidates get no exemption.
Source: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II (published 20 May 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
UPSC NDA selection process
- Written examination by UPSC: Mathematics and General Ability Test (objective)
- Intelligence and Personality Test at a Services Selection Board (two stages, over 4 days for Stage II)
- Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) for Air Force candidates
- Medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers
How to apply for NDA & NA
- 1
Register on the UPSC online portal
Apply only on upsconline.nic.in. Your Universal Registration Number (URN) is registered once in a lifetime and reused for later examinations.
- 2
Keep a photo ID ready
You need the details of one photo ID, such as an Aadhaar card or voter card; the notice advises Aadhaar. Carry the same ID to the examination and the SSB.
- 3
Upload and capture your photograph
You must upload a photograph and also capture a live photograph while filling the form. Make sure both are clear, following the portal's instructions.
- 4
Fill your service preferences
Give your order of preference for the services in the examination-specific module. At least one preference is mandatory to be considered for allocation.
- 5
Choose your centre early
Centres are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis and are frozen once full, so apply early to get the centre you want.
- 6
Pay the fee and submit
The fee is ₹100 by net banking, Visa/MasterCard/RuPay card or UPI; no other mode is accepted. SC, ST, female candidates and eligible wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempt. For this cycle the form closed at 6 pm on 9 June 2026.
- 7
Check before submitting
The notice says no correction is allowed in any field after submission, and an application cannot be withdrawn once submitted.
- 8
Download the e-Admit Card
The e-Admit Card is issued on the last working day of the week before the examination. The venue closes 30 minutes before each session starts.
UPSC NDA official links
- Official notice (PDF): National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II (published 20 May 2026)
- Official website: upsc.gov.in (the only place to apply)
Check the official notice before applying: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-NDA-II-2026-Engl-200526.pdf
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for UPSC NDA?
Online application (last date): 9 June 2026 (6 pm), as per the notice published on 20 May 2026. Applications are made only on upsc.gov.in.
How many vacancies are there in UPSC NDA?
394 (370 male, 24 female): NDA Army 208, Navy 42, Air Force: Flying 92, Ground Duties Tech 18, Ground Duties Non-Tech 10; Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry 24, according to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II.
What is the application fee for UPSC NDA?
₹100. SC and ST candidates, female candidates, and wards of serving/ex-JCOs, NCOs and Other Ranks (as specified in Note 2 of the notice, studying in Military Schools or Sainik Schools) are exempted. OBC and EWS candidates get no exemption. (as per the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II).
How many vacancies are there in NDA & NA (II) 2026?
394 provisional vacancies: 208 in the Army wing, 42 in the Navy wing and, in the Air Force wing, 92 Flying, 18 Ground Duties (Tech) and 10 Ground Duties (Non-Tech), plus 24 in the Naval Academy's 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme. Of these, 24 are for women.
Can girls apply for NDA?
Yes. Unmarried female candidates can apply to every wing; 24 of the 394 vacancies in this cycle are for women. Female candidates are also exempt from the fee.
Can I apply for NDA while studying in Class 12?
Yes. Candidates appearing in Class 12 can apply but must submit proof of passing by 10 June 2027. Class 11 students are not eligible.
What is the NDA application fee?
₹100. SC and ST candidates, female candidates and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs as specified in the notice are exempt; OBC and EWS candidates must pay.
More on UPSC NDA
- UPSC NDA syllabus & exam pattern →
- UPSC NDA salary & pay level →
- UPSC NDA age limit & eligibility →
- Complete UPSC NDA guide →
- NDA — Army Wing: pay and eligibility →
- NDA — Naval Wing: pay and eligibility →
- NDA — Air Force (Flying): pay and eligibility →
- NDA — Air Force Ground Duties (Tech): pay and eligibility →
- NDA — Air Force Ground Duties (Non-Tech): pay and eligibility →
- Indian Naval Academy — 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme: pay and eligibility →
- Free practice questions and mock tests →