How to Join NDA 2026: Application Form, Dates & Admission Process

1. What is NDA? (NDA Kya Hai)

NDA stands for National Defence Academy. It is located in Khadakwasla, Pune. The NDA exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select young candidates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy, as well as the Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC).

After clearing the exam and training, candidates are commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

The NDA exam is one of the most competitive exams in India. But it is also one of the earliest entry points into the defence forces, open to students who have just passed or are appearing in Class 12.

2. NDA Exam Cycle: Two Exams Every Year

UPSC conducts the NDA exam twice a year:

For NDA-II 2026 specifically (as per official UPSC notification):

NDA-I 2026 has already been conducted. If you are planning to appear, the next opportunity is NDA-II 2026 on 13 September 2026. The last date to apply was originally 9 June 2026, which was officially extended to 11 June 2026 (until 6:00 PM).

3. NDA-II 2026 Vacancies

As per the official notification, a total of 394 vacancies are available for NDA-II 2026:

Note: Male and female candidates are treated as separate entries. Merit lists are prepared separately; there is no combined merit list.

4. About the NDA Exam: Quick Overview

For full syllabus and exam pattern details, check our NDA Syllabus & Exam Pattern guide.

5. NDA Admission Process: The Full Picture

NDA admission works in four clear stages:

Stage 1: Written Examination

UPSC conducts a written exam with two papers on the same day. Mathematics carries 300 marks, and the General Ability Test carries 600 marks. Both are objective types with negative marking.

Stage 2: SSB Interview

Candidates who clear the written exam qualify for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. This is a two-stage process:

• Stage I, Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT)
• Stage II, Interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, Psychology tests, and Conference (conducted over 4 days)

SSB interviews for NDA-II 2026 are expected to be held between December 2026 and January 2027.

Stage 3: Medical Examination

A medical board of senior Armed Forces doctors examines each SSB-recommended candidate. Only those who pass this medical examination move forward in the selection process.

Stage 4: Merit List and Joining

Final selection is based on combined marks from the written exam and SSB. If you are selected, UPSC will issue your joining letter through your UPSC online portal profile.

After that, you must download the detailed joining instructions from www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. If you fail to report within 7 days of the specified date, without prior written intimation, your candidature can be cancelled.

6. How to Apply for NDA: Step by Step

How to apply for NDA is a common question. Here is the complete process:

Step 1: Create Your URN (One-Time Registration)

Visit https://upsconline.nic.in and complete the One-Time Registration to get your Universal Registration Number (URN). This is a one-time process, your URN stays the same for all future UPSC exams.

Step 2: Fill the Common Application Form (CAF)

After URN registration, fill out your Common Application Form. This includes personal details, educational qualifications, and photo ID details.

Important during CAF:

• Upload your photograph as per specifications
• Capture a live photograph on the portal (mandatory)
• Write your signature three times, one below the other, on plain white paper using black ink, then upload a clear scanned copy.

Step 3: Fill the Examination Specific Module

This is the fourth module on the portal, specific to NDA-II 2026. Here you will:

• Select your service preferences (Army, Navy, Air Force) in order of priority
• Choose your exam centre
• Pay the application fee

You must indicate at least one service preference. No changes are allowed after submission.

Step 4: Pay the Fee

Fee can be paid via Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit or Debit Card, or UPI.

Step 5: Submit and Save

After submission, save your Application Number. This is exam-specific and different from your URN. You will need both for future communication with UPSC.

Important: No changes are allowed after submitting the form. UPSC gives you one chance to edit your URN profile after registration, but any changes you make will only reflect in applications you submit after that edit. Your already-submitted NDA form will not be updated.

7. Documents Required for NDA Form

When filling the NDA application form 2026, keep these ready:

• Aadhaar Card (strongly recommended as primary ID)
• Alternatively: Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence, School Photo ID, or any State/Central Government-issued photo ID
• Scanned passport-size photograph (as per specifications)
• A scanned copy of your signature (refer to Step 2 for exact instructions)
• Class 10 / Matriculation certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 certificate or marksheet (if already passed)

Appearing candidates: Class 12 students can also apply. However, if you clear the SSB, you must submit your Class 12 pass certificate by 10 June 2027. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of candidature.

8. Exam Centres

The NDA-II 2026 exam will be held across 86 cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Patna, Bhopal, and many more.

Note: Centres are allotted on a first-apply, first-allot basis, except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur, which have no ceiling. Apply early to get your preferred centre.

9. How Many Attempts Do You Have Left?

This is a question every NDA aspirant should know the answer to. The number of remaining attempts depends entirely on your date of birth and which upcoming exam cycles fall within the eligible age window.

Use our NDA Attempt Calculator to find out exactly how many NDA attempts you have left based on your date of birth, in seconds.

10. Important Instructions to Remember

• Apply only at https://upsconline.nic.in, no other mode is accepted
• Do not carry your phone or any electronic device to the exam hall, even keeping it switched off is not allowed
• Reach the exam venue before time, the gate shuts 30 minutes before the exam begins, and no one is allowed in after that
• Face authentication is mandatory at the exam venue
• Use a black ball pen only for marking answers on the OMR sheet
• Wrong answers carry a penalty of 1/3rd of the marks for that question

Tip: Use our NDA Negative Marking Calculator before the exam to understand exactly how wrong answers can impact your total score: and plan your attempt strategy accordingly.

11. After the Exam: What Happens Next?

Once the written exam is done, here is what follows:

• Answer Key Released, UPSC releases provisional answer keys. Candidates can submit representations within a 5-day window (Day 3 to Day 7 after the exam) at upsconline.nic.in.
• Written Result, Expected in October 2026. Once the result is out, shortlisted candidates need to register on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in, use the same email ID you used while filling the UPSC form.
• SSB Centre Allotment, Selection centres are allotted through the Army website.
• SSB Interview, Expected December 2026 to January 2027.
• Medical Examination, After SSB clearance.
• Final Merit List, Based on combined written + SSB marks.
• Course Commencement, 1 July 2027 for NDA-II 2026.

Important: If you fail to report within 7 days of the specified joining date, without prior written intimation to the Academy, your candidature can be cancelled.

12. Helpdesk

If you face any issues during the application process, contact UPSC directly:

• Phone: 011-24041001 / 011-40303444
• Email: [email protected]
• Helpdesk hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (working days, during application window)

Quick Summary

All information in this article is based on the official UPSC NDA & NA Examination-II, 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II) dated 20 May 2026.