UPSC has officially released the notification for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination-II, 2026 — one of the most prestigious defence entrance examinations in the country. A total of 394 vacancies are on offer across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA, as well as the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy. Both male and female candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 are eligible to apply. The written exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026, and the application window closes on 09 June 2026 at 06:00 PM. Apply online at https://upsconline.nic.in — this is the only accepted mode.
UPSC NDA NA Exam II 2026 – Full Details:
| Conducting Body: | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name: | National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination-II, 2026 |
| Exam Notice No.: | 10/2026-NDA-II |
| Admission To: | 158th NDA Course (Army, Navy, Air Force) & 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) |
| Course Commences: | 1st July 2027 |
| Total Vacancies: | 394 Posts (370 Male + 24 Female) |
| Eligibility: | Unmarried Male / Female — 12th Pass or appearing (PCM required for Navy, Air Force & Naval Academy) |
| Age Limit: | Born between 01 January 2008 and 01 January 2011 |
| Application Fee: | Rs. 100/- | Exempted: SC/ST, Female, Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs in Military/Sainik Schools |
| Apply Mode: | Online Only — https://upsconline.nic.in |
| Application Opens: | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply: | 09 June 2026 — by 06:00 PM |
| Date of Exam: | 13 September 2026 |
| Official Website: | https://upsc.gov.in | https://upsconline.nic.in |
Vacancy Breakup – Service & Wing wise:
| Service / Wing | Total Vacancies | Male | Female | Entry Type |
| Army (NDA) | 208 | 198 | 10 | NDA |
| Navy — Executive Branch (NDA) | 42 | 37 | 05 | NDA |
| Air Force — Flying Branch (NDA) | 92 | 90 | 02 | NDA |
| Air Force — Ground Duties (Tech) | 18 | 16 | 02 | NDA |
| Air Force — Ground Duties (Non-Tech) | 10 | 08 | 02 | NDA |
| Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry) | 24 | 21 | 03 | INAC |
| TOTAL | 394 | 370 | 24 |
Note: Vacancies are provisional and may change based on available training capacity. Men and women are treated as separate entries and selection is done independently for each gender.
Eligibility Criteria:
Go through every eligibility condition carefully before you apply. Your admission at all stages is purely provisional and will be verified against original documents only after you qualify for SSB.
- Nationality: Candidates must be unmarried Indian citizens. Subjects of Nepal and persons of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries (with a Certificate of Eligibility from Government of India) are also eligible.
- Age Limit: Only unmarried male or female candidates born on or after 01 January 2008 and on or before 01 January 2011 are eligible. Age will be verified from Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate only. No other document — horoscope, affidavit, birth extract from a Municipal Corporation, or service records — will be accepted.
- Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of application and must remain so throughout training. Anyone who marries after submitting the application will be disqualified even if they clear all stages. A candidate who marries during training will be discharged and may have to refund all government expenses incurred on their training.
- Educational Qualification — Army Wing (NDA): Class 12 pass or appearing in the 10+2 pattern from a recognised State/Central Board or University is sufficient. PCM is not mandatory for Army entry.
- Educational Qualification — Navy, Air Force & Naval Academy: Class 12 pass or appearing with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as subjects is mandatory for Air Force (all branches), Navy, and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy.
- Appearing Candidates: Students currently in Class 12 and awaiting results are eligible to apply. However, if they qualify the SSB but are unable to produce their Class 12 certificate, they must submit self-attested copies to the respective headquarters by 10 June 2027. Class 11 students are NOT eligible.
- Physical Fitness: Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards.
- Tattoo Policy: Permanent tattoos are allowed only on the inner forearm (elbow to wrist) and back of the hand. Tattoos on any other part of the body will result in disqualification.
Application Fee:
- Fee: Rs. 100/- paid online via Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.
- Exempted: SC/ST candidates, all Female candidates, and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military Schools or Sainik Schools run by Sainik Schools Society (with certificate from Principal).
- Note: Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be transferred to any other exam.
Selection Process:
- Stage 1 — Written Examination (UPSC)
- Stage 2 — SSB Interview (Services Selection Board)
- Stage 3 — Medical Examination
Training & Pay After Selection:
- NDA Training Duration: 3 years at National Defence Academy, Pune. First 2.5 years common to all three wings.
- Naval Academy Training: 4 years at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
- Degree Awarded: Army: B.Sc./B.A. from JNU. Navy & Air Force (Tech): B.Tech from JNU.
- Stipend During Training: Rs. 56,100/- per month.
- Starting Pay After Commission: Level 10 (Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 1,77,500/-) + Military Service Pay of Rs. 15,500/- per month + DA and other applicable allowances.
- Additional benefits: Ration in kind, Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance, Dress Allowance, Army Group Insurance (Rs. 30 lakh cover), pension, gratuity, and post-retirement medical care.
Apply Procedure:
Applications are accepted online only. Do not send anything by post or email to UPSC.
- Step 1 — Create URN (One Time): If you are applying to UPSC for the first time, create your Universal Registration Number (URN) profile at https://upsconline.nic.in. This URN is valid for all future UPSC exams — register it only once.
- Step 2 — Fill Common Application Form (CAF): Complete the Common Application Form. Upload your photograph, capture a live photograph as prompted, and upload your signature (sign 3 times one below the other in black ink on plain white paper and upload as one image).
- Step 3 — Fill Exam Specific Module: Select NDA & NA Examination-II 2026. Enter your service preferences in the order you want (1 to 4). You will only be considered for services you have listed — so fill preferences carefully. Choose your exam centre early, as seats fill up on a first-come-first-allot basis.
- Step 4 — Pay Fee & Submit: Pay Rs. 100/- online (if applicable) and submit the application. No changes are allowed after submission. Note your Application Number along with your URN for future communication.
- Carry a valid Photo ID (Aadhaar preferred) to the exam and SSB. Face authentication will be done at the exam venue.
- Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, and electronic gadgets are strictly banned inside the examination hall.
Dates to Remember:
- Notification Date: 20 May 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 09 June 2026 — by 06:00 PM
- Date of Written Exam: 13 September 2026
- Written Result Expected: October 2026 (approximate)
- SSB Interviews: December 2026 – January 2027 (approximate)
- NDA Course Commences: 1st July 2027
Important Links:
| UPSC Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in |
| Apply Online | https://upsconline.nic.in |
| Exam Notice No. | 10/2026-NDA-II |
| SSB Results — Army | www.joinindianarmy.nic.in |
| SSB Results — Navy | www.joinindiannavy.gov.in |
| Helpline | 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 | [email protected] (10 AM–5:30 PM, Working Days) |
| Helpline Active Period | 20 May 2026 to 09 June 2026 only |