UPSC NDA NA II 2026 notification has been officially released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) vide Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II dated 20 May 2026. Through this notification, UPSC has announced a total of 394 vacancies for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) for the 158th Course and for the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from 1st July 2027. Eligible unmarried male and female candidates born between 01 January 2008 and 01 January 2011 can apply online from 20 May 2026 to 09 June 2026 through the official UPSC website upsconline.nic.in. This is one of the most prestigious defence job opportunities in India and a golden chance for young candidates dreaming of a career in the Indian Armed Forces.
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UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Overview – Apply Online for 394 Army Navy Air Force Vacancies | Sarkari Naukri 2026
| Particular | Details |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination-II, 2026 |
| Examination Notice No. | 10/2026-NDA-II |
| Course | NDA 158th Course & 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) |
| Post / Wing | Army, Navy (Executive), Air Force (Flying, Ground Duties Tech, Ground Duties Non-Tech), Naval Academy |
| Total Vacancies | 394 (370 Male + 24 Female) |
| Course Commencement | 1st July 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online (upsconline.nic.in) |
| Job Type | Central Government / Defence Job (Direct Entry) |
| Date of Notification | 20 May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 09 June 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Date of Examination | 13 September 2026 |
| Written Result (Expected) | October 2026 |
| SSB Interview (Expected) | December 2026 – January 2027 |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in |
UPSC NDA NA 2 2026 is among the most sought-after central government defence recruitment notifications of the year. This examination is conducted for admission to the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune and the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. Selection is based on a Written Examination conducted by UPSC followed by SSB Intelligence and Personality Test. Candidates selected through NDA NA II Exam 2026 will receive a degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University on successful completion of training. All candidates who dream of serving the nation in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, or Indian Air Force must not miss this latest govt job opportunity in 2026.
UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Vacancy Details – Wing Wise and Gender Wise Vacancy Breakup
The total 394 vacancies for UPSC NDA NA Examination II 2026 are distributed across different wings of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy. Below is the complete wing-wise and gender-wise vacancy breakup:
| Academy | Service / Wing | Male Vacancies | Female Vacancies | Total |
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | Army | 198 | 10 | 208 |
| Navy (All Executive Branch) | 37 | 05 | 42 | |
| Air Force – Flying | 90 | 02 | 92 | |
| Air Force – Ground Duties (Tech) | 16 | 02 | 18 | |
| Air Force – Ground Duties (Non-Tech) | 08 | 02 | 10 | |
| Naval Academy | 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme (All Executive Branch) | 21 | 03 | 24 |
| Grand Total | 370 | 24 | 394 | |
Important Note: Although vacancies for male and female candidates under NDA/Naval Academy are notified through a common notification and tested through a common written examination, NDA/Naval Academy male and female entries are separate. The preparation of written results and final merit lists for male and female candidates will also be done separately as per vacancies notified. Vacancies are provisional and may change depending on the availability of training capacity of the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy.
UPSC NDA NA 2 2026 Eligibility Criteria – Nationality, Age Limit, Educational Qualification
Nationality:
A candidate must be an unmarried male or female and must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. Candidates from categories other than Indian citizen must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are not required to produce such a certificate.
Age Limit for UPSC NDA NA II Exam 2026:
Only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than 01 January 2008 and not later than 01 January 2011 are eligible to apply for NDA NA 2 2026. Age will be verified from the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate only. No other document such as horoscope, birth certificate from municipality, or service record will be accepted.
| Criteria | Details |
| Minimum Age (Not Born After) | 01 January 2011 |
| Maximum Age (Not Born Before) | 01 January 2008 |
| Marital Status | Unmarried (Male & Female both) |
| Age Calculation Date | As per date of birth in Matriculation Certificate |
Educational Qualification for NDA NA II 2026:
| Wing / Academy | Required Educational Qualification |
| Army Wing of NDA | 12th Class pass (10+2 pattern) from a State Education Board or University, or equivalent examination |
| Air Force Wing of NDA, Naval Wing of NDA, and 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at Indian Naval Academy | 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (10+2 pattern) from a State Education Board or University, or equivalent |
Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class examination can also apply for UPSC NDA NA II 2026. Such candidates must produce proof of passing 12th class or equivalent by 10th June 2027. Candidates appearing in the 11th class are not eligible. Candidates who have failed CPSS/PABT earlier are now eligible for Air Force in Ground Duty branches if they indicate their willingness in the Exam Specific Form.
UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Application Fee – Category Wise Fee Details
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS and all other candidates | ₹100/- (Rupees One Hundred Only) |
| SC / ST candidates | Nil (Fee Exempted) |
| Female Candidates | Nil (Fee Exempted) |
| Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military School / Sainik School | Nil (Fee Exempted) |
Fee can be paid through Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI Payment. No other mode of payment is valid. Applications without prescribed fee (unless fee exemption is claimed) will be summarily rejected. Fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances, nor will it be held in reserve for any other examination. Note: No fee exemption is available to OBC/EWS candidates — they must pay the full prescribed fee of ₹100/-.
UPSC NDA Exam 2026 Selection Process – Written Exam, SSB Interview and Medical Test
The selection process for UPSC NDA NA II 2026 consists of the following stages:
- Stage 1 – Written Examination (Conducted by UPSC): Objective Type (OMR-based) written examination consisting of two papers — Mathematics (300 Marks) and General Ability Test (600 Marks). Total written marks: 900. There is negative marking of one-third (0.33) marks for each wrong answer. Both papers are of 2½ hours duration each. The question papers of Mathematics and Part B of General Ability Test will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
- Stage 2 – SSB Intelligence and Personality Test (900 Marks): Candidates qualifying the written examination will be called for SSB Test at a Services Selection Board. The SSB process is a two-stage selection — Stage I includes Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Only candidates clearing Stage I are admitted to Stage II, which includes Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference, conducted over 4 days. For Air Force Flying Wing, candidates must also separately qualify the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS).
- Stage 3 – Medical Examination: Candidates recommended by SSB will undergo a Medical Examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Only those declared medically fit will be admitted to the academy.
Important: Final allocation to Army, Navy, Air Force wings of NDA and 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of Naval Academy will be made based on total marks in Written Examination and SSB Tests, subject to eligibility, medical fitness, and merit-cum-preference. Candidates must indicate their service preferences (order 1 to 4) in the Exam Specific Module. It is mandatory to exercise at least one preference.
UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Exam Scheme and Syllabus – Paper Wise Details
| Subject | Subject Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Mathematics | 01 | 2½ Hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test | 02 | 2½ Hours | 600 |
| Written Examination Total | 900 | ||
| SSB Test / Interview | 900 | ||
| Grand Total | 1800 | ||
Mathematics Syllabus (Paper I): Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability.
General Ability Test Syllabus (Paper II):
- Part A – English (200 Marks): Grammar and usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Cohesion in extended text.
- Part B – General Knowledge (400 Marks): Covers Physics (approx 25%), Chemistry (approx 15%), General Science (approx 10%), History and Freedom Movement (approx 20%), Geography (approx 20%), and Current Events (approx 10%).
Calculators, mathematical tables, and logarithmic tables are not permitted inside the examination hall. All papers consist of objective type questions only. Candidates must use black ball pen only for marking answers in OMR sheet.
UPSC NDA NA 2 2026 Salary – Pay Scale and Allowances for Army, Navy and Air Force Officers
Selected candidates joining the National Defence Academy will receive a fixed stipend during their training period. After commissioning, they will be placed in the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix as officers of the Indian Armed Forces. Below is the complete pay and allowances structure:
| Stage | Pay / Stipend Details |
| During Training at NDA / IMA (Cadet Stipend) | ₹56,100/- per month (Starting Pay in Level 10) |
| Lieutenant (on Commission) | Level 10 – ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 per month |
| Captain | Level 10B – ₹61,300 to ₹1,93,900 per month |
| Major | Level 11 – ₹69,400 to ₹2,07,200 per month |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A – ₹1,21,200 to ₹2,12,400 per month |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) – Lt to Brig | ₹15,500/- per month (fixed) |
In addition to the basic pay, commissioned officers of the Indian Armed Forces are also entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance or Ration in Kind, Transport Allowance, Dress Allowance (₹20,000/- per year), Children Education Allowance (₹2,250/- per month per child for two eldest), Hostel Subsidy, and various Field Area Allowances depending on rank and posting area. The Army Group Insurance Fund also provides insurance cover of up to ₹1.25 Crore to Lady/Gentleman Cadets during pre-commission training.
UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Important Dates – Notification to Exam Calendar
| Event | Date |
| Date of Official Notification | 20 May 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 09 June 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Date of Written Examination | 13 September 2026 |
| e-Admit Card Available | Last working day of the preceding week of the examination date on upsconline.nic.in |
| Written Result Declaration (Expected) | October 2026 |
| SSB Interview (Expected) | December 2026 – January 2027 |
| NDA 158th Course Commencement | 1st July 2027 |
| Helpline Operational Period | 20 May 2026 to 09 June 2026 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days) |
UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Centres – All 86 Cities Across India for NDA NA II Written Exam
The UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Written Examination will be held at 86 centres across India. There will be a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each centre except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur. Centre allotment is on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Candidates are advised to apply early to get their preferred centre. No request for change of examination centre will be entertained once allotted.
Some of the major examination centres include: Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Ajmer, Aligarh, Almora, Alwar, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharamshala, Dispur, Faridabad, Gangtok, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Gurugram, Gwalior, Hisar, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kargil, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Leh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mumbai, Mysuru, Nagpur, Nasik, Navi Mumbai, Panaji, Patna, Prayagraj, Puducherry, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Srinagar, Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Surat, Thane, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tirupati, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vellore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and several others.
UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Training Details – Degree, Training Duration and Career After NDA
Candidates selected through UPSC NDA NA 2 Exam 2026 will undergo the following training:
- NDA Training (3 Years): Preliminary academic and physical training for Army, Navy, and Air Force cadets. Training during the first 2.5 years is common to all wings. Degrees awarded from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU): Army cadets receive B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Computer) / B.A.; Naval cadets and Air Force cadets receive B.Tech degree.
- Naval Academy Training (4 Years): Selected candidates under 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme undergo a 4-year B.Tech course at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, with degree awarded by JNU.
- Post-NDA Training: Army cadets proceed to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun; Naval cadets to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala; Air Force cadets to Air Force Academy, Hyderabad; Air Force Ground Duty (Tech) cadets to Air Force Technical College, Bengaluru.
- Commission Rank on Passing Out: Army — Lieutenant (Level 10, ₹56,100-₹1,77,500); Navy — Sub Lieutenant; Air Force — Flying Officer. These are Permanent Commissions in the Indian Armed Forces.
How to Apply Online for UPSC NDA NA II 2026 – Step by Step Application Guide
- Visit the official UPSC online application portal at upsconline.nic.in
- If you are a new user, complete the Account Creation step first using your active email ID and mobile number
- Fill in the Universal Registration Number (URN) Profile — this is a one-time registration and the URN will remain constant for all UPSC examinations in your lifetime
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) — upload your photograph and also capture a live photograph as required. Sign three times (one below the other) on plain white paper using black ink and upload the same
- Fill in the Examination Specific Module for NDA NA II 2026 — select your examination centres carefully and indicate your service preferences (Army/Navy/Air Force/Naval Academy) in order of preference (at least one preference is mandatory)
- Pay the application fee of ₹100/- (if applicable) through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI
- Submit the application form — note that no correction or modification is allowed in any field after submission
- Note down your Application Number generated after submission of the Exam Specific Module, along with your URN, for all future communications with the Commission
- Candidates are strongly advised to use their Aadhaar Card as ID document for seamless verification
- The e-Admit Card will be available for download on upsconline.nic.in on the last working day of the preceding week of the examination — no admit card will be sent by post or email
Important: Applications cannot be withdrawn after submission. No correction/alteration in any field is allowed after submission. Candidates already in government service, including those serving in the Armed Forces, must also apply online directly to the Commission and inform their Head of Office/Commanding Officer in writing about their application.
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UPSC NDA 2026 – Physical Standards and Medical Fitness Guidelines
Candidates must be physically and mentally fit as per the prescribed physical standards for NDA NA II 2026. The medical standards and procedures are governed by the “Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces (1st Edition)” available on joinindianarmy.nic.in. A number of qualified candidates are rejected on medical grounds at the final stage. Candidates are therefore strongly advised to get themselves medically examined before submitting their applications to avoid disappointment later.
Some commonly found defects/ailments that candidates must rectify in advance include: Wax in Ears, Deviated Nasal Septum, Hydrocele/Phimosis, Overweight/Underweight, Under-sized Chest, Piles, Gynaecomastia, Tonsillitis, and Varicocele. Regarding tattoos — permanent body tattoos are permitted only on the inner face of the forearm (elbow to wrist) and on the reverse side of palm/back of hand. Tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable.
UPSC NDA NA II 2026 Important Links – Apply Online and Official Notification PDF
| Action | Link |
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF | Download |
| UPSC Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
| UPSC Online Application Portal | https://upsconline.nic.in/login |
| UPSC Helpline | 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 | upscsoap@nic.in |
FAQs – UPSC NDA NA II 2026 | National Defence Academy Naval Academy Exam 2026
UPSC NDA NA II 2026, officially known as the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination-II, 2026, is a prestigious central government defence recruitment examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) vide Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II dated 20 May 2026. Through this examination, a total of 394 vacancies have been notified for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) for the 158th Course and for the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from 1st July 2027. The 394 vacancies are distributed as follows: Army — 208 (198 Male + 10 Female), Navy — 42 (37 Male + 5 Female), Air Force Flying — 92 (90 Male + 2 Female), Air Force Ground Duties Tech — 18, Air Force Ground Duties Non-Tech — 10, and Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) — 24. This is one of the most sought-after latest government jobs in India for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces as commissioned officers.
The last date for submitting the online application for UPSC NDA NA II 2026 is 09 June 2026 up to 6:00 PM, after which the online application link will be disabled. The application window opened on 20 May 2026. Once the application is submitted, candidates will not be allowed to withdraw it, nor will any correction or modification be permitted in any field. Candidates are strongly advised to apply well before the closing date and not wait for the last day, as server overload during final days can cause issues. The application must be submitted along with the required fee payment (if applicable) to be considered complete and valid.
Only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than 01 January 2008 and not later than 01 January 2011 are eligible to apply for UPSC NDA NA II 2026. This means candidates must be between approximately 15 and 18 years of age as of the examination date. Age is strictly verified from the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate only. No other document like horoscope, birth certificate from Municipal Corporation, affidavit, or any service record will be accepted as proof of age. Candidates appearing in the 11th class examination are not eligible for this examination. Candidates already appearing in the 12th class can apply, subject to producing proof of 12th pass by 10 June 2027.
The educational qualification requirement for UPSC NDA NA II 2026 varies by wing. For the Army Wing of NDA, candidates must have passed the 12th class (10+2 pattern) from a State Education Board or University or equivalent examination — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are not compulsory for Army Wing. However, for the Air Force Wing of NDA, the Naval Wing of NDA, and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of Indian Naval Academy, candidates must have passed the 12th class with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Candidates currently appearing in the 12th class can also apply. Certificates issued by the Principals of institutions are acceptable where Boards/Universities have not yet issued certificates. Certified true copies or photostat copies of such certificates are not acceptable.
During the training period at NDA and IMA, selected candidates receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100/- per month (starting pay in Level 10 of the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix). After being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army (or equivalent rank in Navy/Air Force), the pay is in Level 10 of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 per month. In addition to the basic pay, officers also receive Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500/- per month (fixed for Lieutenant to Brigadier rank), Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance/Ration in Kind, Dress Allowance, Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance, Hostel Subsidy, and various Field Area Allowances depending on the posting. The cost of training, accommodation, books, uniforms, boarding, and medical treatment is borne entirely by the Government of India, making the NDA career one of the most rewarding government job opportunities in the country.
The selection process for UPSC NDA NA II 2026 involves three main stages. First is the Written Examination conducted by UPSC on 13 September 2026 — it consists of two objective type papers: Mathematics (300 marks, 2.5 hours) and General Ability Test (600 marks, 2.5 hours), with negative marking of one-third (0.33) marks per wrong answer. Candidates qualifying the written test proceed to the second stage — the SSB Intelligence and Personality Test (900 marks) conducted at Services Selection Boards over multiple days, which includes Stage I (OIR Test and PP&DT) and Stage II (Interview, Group Testing, Psychology Tests, and Conference). Air Force Flying candidates also undergo CPSS (Computerised Pilot Selection System). The third stage is the Medical Examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Final selection is based on combined merit in Written Exam and SSB, subject to medical fitness.
The application fee for UPSC NDA NA II 2026 is ₹100/- (Rupees One Hundred Only) for General, OBC, and EWS category candidates. SC/ST candidates, all female candidates, and Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military School/Sainik School are completely exempted from payment of fee. Fee can be paid only through Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, or UPI Payment. No other mode of payment is valid or acceptable. Applications submitted without the prescribed fee (unless fee remission is claimed) will be summarily rejected. The fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances, nor adjusted against any other UPSC examination or selection.
Candidates who complete their training at the National Defence Academy are awarded degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Army cadets are awarded B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Computer) / B.A. degrees. Naval cadets and Air Force cadets are awarded B.Tech degrees on completion of their subsequent Pre-Commissioning Training at the respective training academies. Candidates selected under the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme for the Indian Naval Academy undergo a 4-year B.Tech course in Applied Electronics and Communication Engineering (for Executive Branch) at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, and are awarded the B.Tech degree by JNU on completion. This combination of a quality degree and a prestigious career in the Indian Armed Forces makes the NDA route one of the finest career paths available in India today.