NDA Guide 2026–2028: Eligibility, Syllabus, Salary & Age Limit

NDA Exam Dates: What is Open Right Now and What is Coming

NDA 2 2026 — Apply Now, Deadline is June 9

UPSC released the official NDA 2 2026 notification on May 20, 2026. The application window is open from May 20 to June 9, 2026 at 6 PM on upsconline.nic.in. Once the portal closes, there is no extension and no second chance for this cycle.

The exam is on September 13, 2026. A total of 394 vacancies have been announced — 370 for male candidates and 24 for female candidates. The 158th NDA Course and 120th INAC begin on July 1, 2027. The written result is expected in October 2026. SSB interviews will be held during December 2026 to January 2027.

Wing-wise vacancy breakdown for NDA 2 2026:

Wing	Male	Female	Total
Army	198	10	208
Navy (Executive Branch)	37	5	42
Air Force — Flying	90	2	92
Air Force — Ground Duties (Tech)	16	2	18
Air Force — Ground Duties (Non-Tech)	8	2	10
Naval Academy — INAC	21	3	24
Total	370	24	394

NDA 1 2027

Notification expected in December 2026. Exam expected in April 2027. Course starts January 2028.

NDA 2 2027

Notification expected in May 2027. Exam expected in September 2027. Course starts July 2028.

NDA 1 2028 and NDA 2 2028

NDA 1 2028 exam in April 2028, course from January 2029. NDA 2 2028 exam in September 2028, course from July 2029.

Dates for 2027 and 2028 follow UPSC's consistent historical pattern. Always confirm against the official notification at upsc.gov.in before applying.

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NDA Registration — How to Apply

The entire process is online at upsconline.nic.in. No offline mode is accepted.

You need a Universal Registration Number (URN) before you can apply. If you have registered for any UPSC exam before, your URN works here too. New candidates must complete the registration first to generate their URN.

Once registered, go to the Examination Specific Module, select NDA & NA (II) 2026, and complete the form. You will need to upload your photograph, sign three times on plain white paper with black ink and upload that, and capture a live photograph during the form filling process.

The application fee is ₹100 for General and OBC male candidates. SC/ST candidates, female candidates, and Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military or Sainik Schools are fully exempted. Payment is accepted only through net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI — no cash.

One critical point — once you submit the form, no correction or withdrawal is allowed under any circumstances. UPSC has made this absolutely clear in the official notification. Read everything carefully before hitting submit.

Aadhaar is strongly recommended as the photo ID for easy verification. You will need to carry the same ID to the exam and SSB.

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NDA Eligibility 2026 — Full Breakdown

Age Limit

UPSC calculates your age based on the course commencement date — not the written exam date. You must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old on the day the course starts.

Here is the complete date-of-birth eligibility chart:

Exam Cycle	Course Starts	Eligible Date of Birth
NDA 2 2026	July 1, 2027	Jan 2, 2008 — Jan 1, 2011
NDA 1 2027	January 2028	July 2, 2008 — July 1, 2011
NDA 2 2027	July 2028	Jan 2, 2009 — Jan 1, 2012
NDA 1 2028	January 2029	July 2, 2009 — July 1, 2012
NDA 2 2028	July 2029	Jan 2, 2010 — Jan 1, 2013

Zero age relaxation for any category — SC, ST, OBC, or any other. The rule is exactly the same for every candidate across India.

Not sure which cycles are still open for you? Use the NDA Attempt Calculator → — enter your date of birth and it shows every cycle you are still eligible for.

The only date of birth UPSC accepts is the one on your Class 10th certificate.

Educational Qualification

Army wing: Class 12 pass or appearing from any recognised board. Any stream — Science, Commerce, or Arts — is accepted.

Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy wings: Class 12 pass or appearing with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. If you are from Commerce or Arts, you can only apply for the Army wing.

No minimum percentage is required. But if you are appearing in Class 12, you must submit your pass certificate before joining the academy. Appearing candidates who fail their boards cannot join even if they clear the written exam and SSB.

Class 11 students are not eligible.

Marital Status and Nationality

Only unmarried candidates can apply — both male and female. If you marry after submitting the application, you will not be selected. If you marry during training, you will be discharged and required to refund all expenses incurred by the Government.

Indian citizens are eligible. Subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who arrived before January 1, 1962, and persons of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India are also eligible under conditions defined in the notification.

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NDA Eligibility for Female Candidates

Until 2021, only male candidates could appear for NDA. That changed after the Supreme Court of India passed a landmark interim order in the case of Kush Kalra versus Union of India. Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy directed UPSC to allow female candidates to appear for NDA 2 2021.

From 2022, female cadets started training at NDA Khadakwasla.

Age limit: Same as male candidates — 16.5 to 19.5 years on course commencement date. There is no separate rule and relaxation.

Educational qualification: Same rules apply. Army wing accepts any stream. Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy require Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class 12.

Marital status: Must be unmarried throughout application and training.

Wings available: All three — Army, Navy, and Air Force, including Ground Duties branches.

Seats: For NDA 2 2026, 24 out of 394 seats are for female candidates — 10 in Army, 5 in Navy, 2 in Air Force Flying, 2 in Ground Duties Tech, 2 in Ground Duties Non-Tech, and 3 in Naval Academy INAC. Competition for these seats is very intense.

Physical standards: Minimum height for male candidates is 157 cm. For female candidates it is 152 cm. Candidates from Gorkha and hilly regions of North East India, Garhwal, and Kumaon get a further relaxation of 5 cm. For Lakshadweep candidates the minimum is reduced by 2 cm. For the Air Force pilot branch, the minimum height is 162.5 cm regardless of gender.

The written exam and SSB process is completely identical for male and female candidates.

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NDA Salary 2026 — Full Breakdown

Training Stipend

From day one at NDA, you receive ₹56,100 per month. This is the Level 10 starting pay under the 7th Pay Commission. It continues through all three years at NDA and through pre-commissioning training at your service academy — IMA Dehradun for Army, INA Ezhimala for Navy, AFA Hyderabad for Air Force.

Accommodation, food, uniform, and medical care are all provided by the Government. The stipend covers personal expenses.

One important deduction on joining day — cadets pay a one-time non-refundable premium of ₹14,000 for an Army Group Insurance Fund cover of ₹30 lakh for the three-year training period.

Pay After Commissioning

After training you are commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army, Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy, or Flying Officer in the Air Force. All three start at Level 10 of the defence pay matrix.

Basic pay: ₹56,100 per month.

On top of this, every officer from Lieutenant to Brigadier receives Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500 per month. This is exclusive to defence officers and does not change with DA revisions.

Dearness Allowance is currently at 60% of basic pay, effective January 1, 2026, following the Union Cabinet approval on April 18, 2026. It is revised every January and July.

Adding DA, HRA or free accommodation, and other allowances, the in-hand salary at entry level comes to approximately ₹75,000 to ₹90,000 per month depending on posting.

Rank-Wise Pay Scale (7th Pay Commission)

Rank	Pay Level	Basic Pay Range
Lieutenant / Sub-Lt / Flying Officer	Level 10	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500
Captain / Lt (Navy) / Flight Lt	Level 10B	₹61,300 – ₹1,93,900
Major / Lt Cdr / Sqn Leader	Level 11	₹69,400 – ₹2,07,200
Lt Colonel / Commander / Wg Cdr	Level 12A	₹1,21,200 – ₹2,12,400
Colonel / Captain (Navy) / Gp Capt	Level 13	₹1,30,600 – ₹2,15,900
Brigadier / Commodore / Air Cdre	Level 13A	₹1,39,600 – ₹2,17,600
Major General / Rear Admiral / AVM	Level 14	₹1,44,200 – ₹2,18,200
Chief of Army/Navy/Air Staff	Level 18	₹2,50,000 (fixed)

Promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel are time-scale — automatic based on years of service. Colonel and above are selection-based.

Key Allowances

DA: 60% of basic pay, revised every January and July.

MSP: ₹15,500 per month fixed for all officers up to Brigadier.

HRA: Based on city category of posting. If government accommodation is provided, HRA is not paid separately.

Transport Allowance: ₹7,200 per month in higher TPTA cities, ₹3,600 in other places, plus DA on it.

Field Area, High Altitude, and Special Forces Allowances add significantly to in-hand pay depending on the nature and location of posting.

Dress Allowance: ₹20,000 per year.

Children Education Allowance: ₹2,250 per month per child for the two eldest.

Non-Monetary Benefits

Free accommodation or HRA in lieu. Free medical treatment for you and your family. Access to CSD canteen for subsidised goods. Free ration in field postings. Pension under OROP, which links your retirement pension to the most recently retired officer of the same rank.

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NDA Syllabus 2026

The written exam has two papers on the same day — both multiple choice, both with negative marking.

• Paper 1: Mathematics — 120 questions, 300 marks, 2.5 hours
• Paper 2: General Ability Test — 150 questions, 600 marks, 2.5 hours
• Total written: 900 marks

Mathematics Syllabus

Topics are at Class 11 and 12 level.

Algebra: Sets, Venn diagrams, De Morgan's laws, complex numbers, quadratic equations, arithmetic, geometric and harmonic progressions, binomial theorem, permutations and combinations, logarithms, binary number system.

Matrices and Determinants: Types of matrices, operations, determinants, adjoint, inverse, solving linear equations using Cramer's rule and matrix method.

Trigonometry: Ratios, identities, equations, heights and distances, properties of triangles, inverse trigonometric functions.

Analytical Geometry — 2D and 3D: Straight lines, circles, parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas. Lines and planes in three dimensions, direction cosines, equation of a sphere.

Differential Calculus: Limits, continuity, derivatives, tangents, normals, maxima and minima, second order derivatives.

Integral Calculus and Differential Equations: Integration by substitution, by parts, and partial fractions. Definite integrals, areas under curves, first order differential equations.

Vector Algebra: Vectors in two and three dimensions, scalar and vector products, work done by a force.

Statistics and Probability: Mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, correlation and regression. Bayes' theorem, Bernoulli trials, binomial distribution.

Algebra and Trigonometry carry the highest weightage — roughly 40 to 45 questions out of 120. If preparation time is short, these two give the highest return per hour of study.

General Ability Test (GAT) Syllabus

English (200 marks): Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension, and cohesion. Tests workmanlike use of words and understanding of extended text.

General Knowledge (400 marks) — section-wise weightage from the official notification:

Physics (25%): Properties of matter, Newton's laws, work and energy, sound, light, heat, magnetism, electricity, basic working of common devices.

Chemistry (15%): Physical and chemical changes, elements and compounds, acids, bases and salts, preparation of common gases, carbon compounds, fertilizers, basic atomic structure.

General Science (10%): Living versus non-living, cells and tissues, growth and reproduction, human body and organs, common diseases.

History and Freedom Struggle (20%): Indian history, culture and civilisation, the national movement, Indian Constitution, Five Year Plans, teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, world history including Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, and role of India in the world.

Geography (20%): Earth's shape and structure, atmosphere, ocean currents, Indian climate, natural vegetation, mineral and agricultural resources, sea ports and trade routes.

Current Events (10%): Important national and international events from the past 12 to 18 months, prominent personalities, sports.

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NDA Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

Paper	Subject	Questions	Marks	Time
Paper 1	Mathematics	120	300	2.5 hours
Paper 2	General Ability Test	150	600	2.5 hours
Written Total	-	270	900	5 hours
SSB Interview	—	—	900	4–5 days
Grand Total	-	-	1800	-

Negative marking is 1/3rd of the marks for that question per wrong answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty. Only attempt a question when you can eliminate at least two options with confidence.

Calculators and mathematical tables are not permitted inside the exam hall. Use black ball pen only — pencil and ink pen are not allowed.

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NDA Selection Process — After the Written Exam

Clearing the written exam gets you a call for the SSB interview. Once the written result is out in October 2026, register on joinindianarmy.nic.in to get your SSB centre and date. Interviews for NDA 2 2026 will be held during December 2026 to January 2027.

SSB centres for the Army are at Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, and Kapurthala. For the Navy they are at Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, and Kolkata. Air Force Selection Boards are at Dehradun, Mysore, Gandhinagar, Varanasi, and Kanchrapara.

Stage 1 — Screening (Day 1)

Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test followed by Picture Perception and Description Test (PP & DT). This is an elimination round. Candidates who do not clear it go home on Day 1. Only those who pass proceed to Stage 2.

Stage 2 — Days 2 to 5

Psychology Tests: Thematic Apperception Test, Word Association Test, Situation Reaction Test, and Self Description Test.

Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks: Group Discussion, Group Planning Exercise, Progressive Group Task, Half Group Task, Individual Obstacles, Command Task, and Lecturette.

Personal Interview: One-on-one with an Interviewing Officer. Your Personal Information Questionnaire filled on Day 1 forms the basis of the interview. Know your own background — school, hobbies, family, current affairs, why you want to join the forces.

Conference

All three assessors — Psychologist, GTO, and Interviewing Officer — sit together and decide. You need consensus across all three to get recommended. Strong performance in one area alone does not get you through.

Medical Examination

Recommended candidates appear at a designated military hospital. The complete medical standards are governed by the Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces, available at joinindianarmy.nic.in. Get a thorough check before your SSB — correctable issues caught early can save your candidature.

Final Merit List

UPSC prepares separate merit lists for male and female candidates based on written exam marks plus SSB marks out of a total of 1800. The final list is published at upsc.gov.in.

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How to Prepare for NDA

How Much Time Do You Need

Starting from Class 10 or early Class 11 with solid school maths — 12 to 18 months of focused preparation is enough. Starting in late Class 11 — 6 months of serious, structured work is doable but leaves no room for wasted weeks.

Mathematics

Start with NCERT Class 11 and 12. Clear every concept from the NCERT before picking up anything else. Then move to RS Aggarwal's NDA/NA Mathematics for practice.

Solve the last 10 years of NDA question papers topic by topic before attempting full timed mocks. This shows exactly which topics repeat and at what difficulty level.

Do not skip Matrices, Determinants, and Vector Algebra. Many students from Arts and Commerce backgrounds who apply for the Army wing lose easy marks here because they have never studied these chapters.

General Ability Test

For English: Wren and Martin for grammar, SP Bakshi's Objective English for practice. Read newspaper editorials daily — comprehension speed improves noticeably after two to three months.

For GK and Current Affairs: NCERT books from Class 6 to 12 for History, Geography, Physics, and Chemistry. Pathfinder NDA/NA by Arihant covers static GK well. For current affairs, read and take short daily notes — monthly digests miss too much.

Mock Tests

Start timed mock tests at least three months before the exam. After each mock, calculate your exact score accounting for negative marking. It tells you whether your attempt strategy is helping or hurting your total.

SSB Preparation

Do not leave SSB preparation for after the written result. The qualities it tests — communication, leadership, group behaviour, self-awareness — take months to build genuinely.

Start reading about the SSB process in your first month of preparation. Practice speaking about current events and your opinions clearly. Books like Let's Crack SSB Interview by Arihant are a useful starting point.

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Final Word

NDA gives you fully funded training, a government salary from day one, a commission as an officer at 21, and a career with long-term financial stability through rank-wise salary growth, allowances, and pension.

The written exam is doable with the right preparation. The SSB is the real filter, and it rewards candidates who have spent months building genuine communication skills and self-awareness.

Start by knowing exactly where you stand. The NDA Attempt Calculator → shows you which cycles you are eligible for and how many attempts you have left. Once you know your window, every week of preparation has a real deadline attached to it.

All dates, vacancy figures, and salary data in this guide are verified against the official UPSC NDA 2 2026 Notification (Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II, dated May 20, 2026) and 7th Pay Commission guidelines. For 2027 and 2028 cycles, dates follow UPSC's historical pattern and must be confirmed against official notifications at upsc.gov.in before applying.