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National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination
Army wing
Air Force / Naval wing
You qualify if you satisfy all rules within at least one of the paths above.
Registration opens
20 May 2026
Registration closes
9 Jun 2026
Admit card release
3 Sept 2026
Exam date
13 Sept 2026
Application fee
₹100(₹0 SC/ST/reserved)
Official website
https://upsc.gov.inNDA is UPSC's entrance exam for the National Defence Academy (Pune) and Indian Naval Academy - the joint training institution for future officers of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. It's held twice a year (NDA I and NDA II), and is one of the few national entrance exams open directly to Class 12 students, with no completed degree required.
Mode
Offline (pen-and-paper)
Duration
5 hours total - 2.5 hours each for Mathematics and the General Ability Test
Questions
120 (Mathematics) + 150 (General Ability Test)
Total marks
900
Marking scheme
-1/3 incorrect
Sections
1/3 of that question's marks is deducted for a wrong answer; unattempted questions lose nothing. You also need at least 25% in each of the two papers just to pass the written stage, separate from the overall cutoff.
Clearing the written exam (900 marks) qualifies you for a 5-day SSB (Services Selection Board) interview - group tasks, a personal interview, and psychological tests assessing leadership and suitability - worth another 900 marks. The final merit list combines both stages equally; the written exam alone does not get you in.
Last verified 9 Sept 2026. Dates and eligibility can change - always confirm on the official notification before applying.
