The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Examination II Notification 2026 on 20-05-2026 at upsc.gov.in. A total of 394 vacancies have been announced under the UPSC NDA II 2026 Recruitment. Eligible candidates aged between 01-01-2008 and 01-01-2011 with a qualification of 12th Class pass (with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics for Navy, Air Force, and INAC) can apply online from 20-05-2026 to 09-06-2026. The official notification PDF and online application link are available below.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 Notification PDF

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II dated 20/05/2026 for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 to be held on 13.09.2026. The notification includes complete details on service-wise vacancies, eligibility conditions, scheme of examination, syllabus, selection process, exam centres, application procedure, and terms and conditions of service. Candidates are strongly advised to read the full notification before applying. The notification is available on the official UPSC website.

• Download UPSC NDA 2 2026 Official Notification PDF

UPSC NDA 2 2026 Overview

UPSC is conducting NDA & NA Examination II, 2026 for 394 vacancies across Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA and the Naval Academy, with last date 09 June 2026.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 Important Dates

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Vacancy Details

A total of 394 vacancies have been announced across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA (158th Course) and the Indian Naval Academy (120th INAC, 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme). Vacancies are provisional and may change depending on the availability of training capacity. Written results and final merit lists for men and women are prepared separately as per vacancies notified.

Note: Candidates must specify clearly their service preferences (1 to 4) in the Examination Specific Module. They will be considered only for the services for which they exercise preference. No addition/alteration in preferences is entertained after submission. At least one preference is mandatory to be considered for service allocation.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfill all eligibility conditions before the date of application. Their admission at all stages is purely provisional subject to satisfying eligibility conditions. Verification of eligibility with reference to original documents will be taken up only after the candidate has qualified for SSB/Personality Test.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Age Limit & Marital Status

Only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than 01-01-2008 and not later than 01-01-2011 are eligible. Age is accepted only as recorded in the Matriculation / Secondary School Leaving Certificate. No other document (horoscope, affidavit, birth extract from Municipal Corporation, service record, etc.) will be accepted. Once a date of birth is submitted, no change is allowed subsequently under any circumstance.

Note: There is no upper age relaxation for any category (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) in NDA & NA Examination. The age band is uniformly applicable to all candidates.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Application Fee

Fee is payable through online mode only (Net Banking / Visa / Master / RuPay Credit / Debit Card / UPI). Payment through any other mode is not valid. Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances nor can it be held in reserve for any other examination.

Note: No fee exemption is available to OBC/EWS male candidates; they must pay the full prescribed fee.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Selection Process

Selection consists of a Written Examination conducted by UPSC, followed by Intelligence and Personality Test at the Services Selection Board (SSB) including CPSS for Air Force Flying branch, and finally Medical Examination. Success at the written examination confers no right of admission to the Academy. Final allocation is based on total marks secured in both Written Examination and SSB tests, subject to eligibility, medical fitness, and merit-cum-preference.

Stage 1 – Written Examination (Objective Type)

Both papers are objective type only. Mathematics and Part B of General Ability Test are set bilingually in Hindi and English. Negative marking applies: 1/3 (0.33) marks deducted for each wrong answer. Calculators, mathematical instruments, and logarithmic tables are not permitted. Candidates must use Black Ball Pen only for all writing and marking in the OMR Answer Sheet. Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue.

Stage 2 – SSB Intelligence & Personality Test

Candidates who qualify the written examination must register on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in (same email ID as given to UPSC) to be allotted their Selection Centre and SSB date. The SSB follows a two-stage process:

• Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). Only those who clear Stage I are admitted to Stage II.
• Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference – conducted over 4 days. Personality is assessed by the Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and Psychologist, with equal weightage.

Candidates who qualify Stage II must submit original Matriculation certificate and 10+2 pass certificate or marks sheet for verification. Candidates who have opted for Air Force (Flying) shall undergo CPSS at the Selection Centre if willing. Candidates who fail CPSS or are in Habitual Wearing of Glasses (HWG) category can be considered for Air Force Ground Duty branches if willing. Travelling allowance (AC III Tier to-and-fro railway/bus fare) is paid to candidates appearing for SSB for the first time for a particular type of commission.

Stage 3 – Medical Examination

Candidates recommended by SSB undergo medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Only those declared fit are admitted to the Academy. Proceedings of the Medical Board are confidential. Candidates declared unfit will be intimated about the procedure for an Appeal Medical Board and, subsequently, a Review Medical Board. Candidates are advised to get themselves medically examined before applying to avoid disappointment at the final stage. Common defects found include wax in ears, deviated nasal septum, overweight/underweight, undersized chest, piles, tonsillitis, hydrocele/phimosis, gynaecomastia, and varicocele.

Tie-Breaking Principles:

If final marks (aggregate) are equal, the candidate securing more marks in written total is ranked higher. If still equal, by Paper II General Ability Test marks. If still equal, by age (senior ranked higher). Any remaining tie is resolved at the Commission’s discretion. Marks are rounded off to two decimal digits at all stages.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Scheme of Examination & Syllabus (Brief)

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Training & Career Details

Selected candidates undergo 3 years of combined academic and physical training at NDA, Khadakwasla, Pune (an Inter-Service institution). Army cadets pass out with B.Sc./B.Sc.(Computer)/B.A. from Jawaharlal Nehru University; Naval and Air Force cadets pass out with B.Tech degree (awarded at subsequent Pre-Commissioning Academies). Naval Academy (INAC) candidates undergo 4 years of training and are awarded B.Tech by JNU on successful completion.

After NDA, Army cadets proceed to IMA Dehradun (1 year; Permanent Commission as Lieutenant), Naval cadets to INA Ezhimala (1 year; Sub-Lieutenant), and Air Force Flying cadets to AFA Hyderabad (1.5 years flying training; Flying Officer on probation then confirmed). Air Force Ground Duty (Tech) cadets proceed to Air Force Technical College, Bengaluru; Ground Duty (Non-Tech) to AFA Hyderabad. Stipend during training: Rs. 56,100/- per month. Insurance cover: Rs. 30 lakh (Army Group Insurance Fund) from date of joining; Rs. 1.25 Cr cover during pre-commission training at NDA/IMA level on payment of monthly AGIF subscription of Rs. 12,500/-.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Exam Centres

The examination will be held across 86 cities in India. Allotment of centres (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur) is on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis with a ceiling on candidates per centre. Once a centre reaches capacity it is frozen. Candidates are advised to apply early to secure their preferred centre. No request for change of centre will be entertained after allotment. Key centres include Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Ajmer, Aligarh, Almora, Alwar, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharamshala, Dharwad, Dispur, Faridabad, Gangtok, Gaya, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Gurugram, Gwalior, Hisar, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kannur, Kanpur, Kargil, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Leh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mumbai, Mysuru, Nagpur, Nasik, Navi Mumbai, Panaji, Patna, Port Blair, Prayagraj, Puducherry, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Srinagar, Surat, Thane, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tirupati, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vellore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Warangal.

Competition Level Analysis for UPSC NDA 2 2026

The competition level for UPSC NDA & NA II 2026 is extremely high. With only 394 vacancies open to the entire country for one of the most prestigious defence academy entries, lakhs of Class 12 students and appearing candidates compete every year. The written exam covering Mathematics at Class 12 level and a 600-mark General Ability Test (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Current Affairs, and English) demands thorough preparation across all subjects simultaneously.

The SSB stage is the most demanding filter – only candidates with strong officer-like qualities, communication ability, and mental fitness succeed here. For the Air Force Flying branch, additional CPSS qualification is a significant barrier. Female candidates have very limited vacancies (24 total across all wings and INAC) making competition in that segment especially intense. Candidates with strong Maths and Science backgrounds have an advantage, but General Knowledge and English sections are equally decisive for the final merit.

Who should NOT apply for UPSC NDA 2 2026?

• Candidates who do not fall within the age band of born between 02-01-2008 and 01-01-2011 – there is no age relaxation of any kind for any category.
• Married candidates – only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible. Marriage after application results in disqualification even if successful in the exam.
• Candidates studying in Class 11; only Class 12 passed or appearing candidates are eligible. Class 11 students are explicitly not eligible.
• Candidates applying for the Navy wing, Air Force wing, or INAC who do not have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at 10+2 level.
• Candidates who have previously failed CPSS/PABT and wish to apply specifically for the Air Force Flying Branch (they may apply for Ground Duty branches).
• Candidates who habitually wear glasses and are not willing to settle for Air Force Ground Duty branches instead of Flying.
• Candidates who have been removed/withdrawn from any training academy of Armed Forces on disciplinary grounds or for lack of officer-like qualities.
• Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services.
• Candidates with permanent body tattoos on any part of the body other than the inner forearm (inside elbow to wrist) or the back/dorsal of palm.
• Candidates who cannot meet the physical fitness standards or have common medical defects (uncorrected deviated nasal septum, significant overweight/underweight, piles, varicocele, etc.) without prior rectification; they risk rejection at the medical stage after clearing written exam and SSB.

Common mistakes / What to check before applying UPSC NDA 2 2026?

• Entering incorrect date of birth; once submitted to UPSC it cannot be changed at any stage or in any future examination under any circumstances.
• Not checking subject eligibility before selecting Navy, Air Force, or INAC preferences; Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at 10+2 level are mandatory for these wings.
• Not registering on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in with the same email ID as provided to UPSC; this is mandatory after qualifying the written examination to receive SSB centre allotment and call-up information.
• Uploading unclear, blurred, or incorrect photographs or signatures; signatures must be done three times (one below the other) on plain white paper in black ink.
• Indicating service preferences carelessly; preferences cannot be changed after submission and candidates are considered only for services they have indicated.
• Not keeping the registered email ID and mobile number active; all communications including e-Admit Card and SSB call-up are sent electronically.
• Attempting to modify the application after submission; no correction, alteration, or modification is allowed in any field once submitted.
• Bringing mobile phones, smart/digital watches, Bluetooth devices, or any electronic gadget to the examination venue; possession even in switched-off mode is grounds for disciplinary action and ban from future examinations.
• Not entering the examination venue at least 30 minutes before commencement; entry is closed 30 minutes prior and no late entry is permitted under any circumstance.
• Not carrying original Matriculation and 10+2 certificates to the SSB centre; candidates without originals will not be allowed to appear for SSB interview and will be sent back at their own expense.
• Appearing candidates who fail to submit proof of passing 12th class by 10-06-2027; their candidature will be cancelled with no extension granted on any ground.

How to Apply for UPSC NDA 2 2026

Candidates must apply online only through https://upsconline.nic.in. No other mode of application is accepted. The Online Application Portal has four modules: Account Creation, Universal Registration (URN – one-time for lifetime), Common Application Form (CAF), and Examination Specific Module. The URN generated is common for all UPSC examinations; the Application Number generated is examination-specific and must be retained. Candidates in Government Service / Armed Forces / Sainik Schools / Military Schools must inform their Head of Office / Commanding Officer / Principal in writing that they have applied.

Documents / Details Required While Applying:

• Date of Birth as per Matriculation / Secondary School Leaving Certificate
• Educational qualification details (Class 12 pass certificate or appearing status)
• Aadhaar Card (strongly advised as primary ID; other options: Voter Card/EPIC, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, School Photo ID, or any Photo ID issued by State/Central Government)
• Passport-size photograph (uploaded) and live photograph captured via webcam
• Signature: signed three times (one below the other) on plain white paper with black ink, scanned and uploaded
• URN (Universal Registration Number) – generate once, valid for all UPSC exams for lifetime
• Fee payment: Rs. 100/- for General/OBC/EWS Male via Net Banking / Debit / Credit / RuPay / UPI; NIL for Female, SC/ST, and Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military/Sainik Schools
• Service preferences (1 to 4) to be indicated carefully in the Examination Specific Module

Documents to be Carried to SSB / Kept Ready After Written Result:

• Original Matriculation / Secondary School Examination Certificate showing date of birth
• Original 10+2 pass certificate or marks sheet (for candidates who have passed); bonafide certificate from school/college (for appearing candidates)
• Fee exemption certificate from Principal (for Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military/Sainik Schools)
• NOC from Commanding Officer (for Armed Forces / Naval Sailors candidates)
• Any other documents as required by the respective Services HQ

Apply Online at: https://upsconline.nic.in

For queries: Call 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, working days, 20-05-2026 to 09-06-2026) or email upscsoap@nic.in. All communications must include Name, Course Number & Year of Exam, URN, Application Number, Roll Number (if received), full name in block letters, complete postal address, and registered email ID / mobile number.

After clearing the written exam: For Army (first choice) – visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. For Navy (first choice) – visit www.joinindiannavy.gov.in or email officer@navy.gov.in. For Air Force (first choice) – register on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in for AFSB and date selection.

Important Instructions for UPSC NDA 2 2026 Candidates

• Applications once submitted cannot be withdrawn. No correction/alteration/modification in any field of the application is allowed after submission under any circumstances.
• The URN Profile provides a one-time edit facility; changes to the URN profile do not reflect in applications already submitted and apply only to future applications.
• Candidates must indicate service preferences carefully (1 to 4) in the Examination Specific Module; no addition/alteration is entertained after submission. It is mandatory to exercise at least one preference.
• All candidates who qualify the written examination must register on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in with the same email ID as provided to UPSC to receive SSB centre allotment. Those already registered should not register again.
• e-Admit Cards are available only on the Commission’s website for download. No admit card is sent by post or email. Candidates must enter the venue at least 30 minutes before commencement; entry is closed 30 minutes prior.
• Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue for all candidates.
• Use Black Ball Pen only for all writing/marking in OMR sheets. Any omission/mistake in encoding Roll Number or Test Booklet Series Code will render the answer sheet liable for rejection.
• Negative marking applies: 1/3rd of marks deducted for each wrong answer. Marking more than one answer is also treated as wrong. Questions left blank carry no penalty.
• Mobile phones, smart/digital watches, pagers, Bluetooth devices, calculators, and any electronic equipment are strictly banned inside the examination premises even in switched-off mode. Infringement entails disciplinary action including permanent/specified-period ban from UPSC examinations and possible prosecution under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
• Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. Marriage during training leads to discharge and recovery of all Government expenditure.
• Candidates appear before SSB at their own risk and are not entitled to compensation for any injury sustained during SSB tests. Parents/guardians must sign a certificate to this effect.
• Candidates who fail to report to the Academy within 7 days of the specified reporting date without prior written intimation will have their candidature liable for cancellation.
• Candidates previously removed from NDA/INAC for lack of officer-like qualities or on disciplinary grounds are not eligible. Those withdrawn on medical grounds or who left voluntarily remain eligible, provided they satisfy medical and other prescribed conditions.
• Representations on question papers and provisional answer keys can be submitted only through the Commission’s website within 5 days of the examination (Day 3 to Day 7 up to 6:00 PM). No representation by email/post/hand or any other mode is accepted.
• Government strives to have a workforce that reflects gender balance; women candidates are encouraged to apply.
• All revisions/corrigendum (if any) will be hosted on the UPSC website only. In case of any dispute between English and Hindi versions of the notification, the English version will prevail.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 – Important Links

• Apply Online: Click here
• Official Notification PDF: Click here
• Indian Army Recruiting Website: Click here
• Official Website: Click here
• Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
• Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
• Sarkari Result: Click Here