UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 Notification Out – Apply Online, Eligibility, Exam Date, Syllabus, Vacancies

The Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) has officially published UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 Notification on 10 December 2025 for admission to the 157th NDA Course and 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from 1 January 2027.

In this article, you will get complete details on the UPSC NDA 2026 exam including registration process, eligibility, age limit, vacancies, exam pattern, syllabus, selection procedure and more.

UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 Notification – Overview

UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 : Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria.

Educational Qualifications for NDA & NA (I) 2026

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Recruitment 2025 Notification: Apply Online for 764 Vacancies

Age Limit for NDA & NA 2026

Candidates born not earlier than 01st Jul 2007 and not later than 01st July 2010 are eligible to Apply.

• Only unmarried male & female candidates can apply.
• Candidates marrying during training will be disqualified and liable for refund of training cost.

Nationality

Candidate must be:

• Citizen of India
• OR subject of Nepal
• OR Indian origin migrated from select countries with intention of permanent settlement

UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies

Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) Vacancies

Selection Process for NDA & NA (I) 2026

The selection process for NDA & NA (I) 2026 Examination consists of three major stages:

1. Written Examination,
2. SSB Interview (Two‑Stage Process), and
3. Final Merit & Medical Fitness.

Below is the complete details and easy to understand

1. Written Examination (900 Marks)

UPSC conducts a pen‑and‑paper written exam consisting of two papers:

Key Points:

• All questions are objective type.
• Negative marking applies.
• Only candidates who score the minimum qualifying marks (decided by UPSC) are shortlisted for the SSB Interview.

2. SSB Interview (900 Marks)

Candidates who qualify the written exam must appear before the Services Selection Board (SSB) for a detailed Intelligence & Personality Assessment.

The SSB is conducted in two stages:

Stage I – Screening Test

This stage includes:

• Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test
• Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT)

Candidates are shortlisted based on their combined performance in OIR and PP&DT. Only those who qualify Stage I move to Stage II.

Stage II – SSB Evaluation (4 Days)

Stage II consists of:

• Psychology Tests
• Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
• Personal Interview
• Conference

These tests assess:

• Leadership qualities
• Communication skills
• Teamwork
• Officer‑like qualities (OLQs)
• Mental & emotional stability

Candidates must also submit their original Class 10 & 12 certificates during this stage.

3. CPSS Test (For Air Force Candidates Only)

Candidates opting for the Air Force (Flying Branch) must additionally qualify the:

• Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS)

Important notes:

• CPSS is conducted only once in a lifetime.
• Candidates who fail CPSS cannot apply for Flying Branch again.
• HWG (Habitual Wearer of Glasses) candidates are considered only for Ground Duty.

4. Medical Examination

Candidates recommended by SSB undergo a comprehensive medical examination as per standards laid out in Appendix‑III of the notification.

Medical fitness is mandatory for final selection.

5. Final Merit List

The final merit list is prepared based on:

• Written Exam Marks (900)
• SSB Interview Marks (900)

Allocation to Army, Navy, Air Force, or Naval Academy depends on:

• Merit position
• Preferences filled by the candidate
• Medical fitness
• Availability of vacancies

Candidates selected in the final merit list receive a joining letter through their online profile

NDA & NA (I) 2026 – Stipend, Salary & Allowances

Candidates selected through the NDA & NA Examination receive an attractive salary package along with multiple allowances and benefits. Below is the complete salary structure as per the 7th Pay Commission Defence Pay Matrix.

1. NDA Cadet Stipend During Training

This stipend is paid once the cadet joins the National Defence Academy or Indian Naval Academy.

2. Officer Salary After Commissioning

After completing training, candidates are commissioned as Lieutenant in the Indian Army/Navy/Air Force.

Lieutenant (Level 10) Salary

3. Promotion‑Wise Salary Structure

4. Allowances for NDA Officers

Officers receive several allowances depending on posting, branch, and risk level.

(A) Dearness Allowance (DA)

• Revised every 6 months
• Calculated on Basic Pay + MSP

(B) Flying Allowance (Air Force Cadets & Pilots)

• ₹25,000 per month

(C) Field Area Allowance

(D) High Altitude Allowance

(E) Siachen Allowance

• ₹42,500 per month

(F) Uniform Allowance

• ₹20,000 per year

(G) Transport Allowance

• ₹3,600 – ₹7,200 + DA (depending on city)

(H) House Rent Allowance (HRA)

UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 – Physical Standards

To qualify for admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA), candidates must meet the prescribed physical and medical standards as outlined in Appendix‑III of the official UPSC NDA notification.

General Physical Fitness Requirements

Candidates must be:

• Physically fit as per the standards laid down for NDA & NA.
• Free from any disease or disability that may interfere with military training.
• Mentally sound, with no history of mental breakdown.
• Able to perform rigorous physical activities required during training.

Height Requirements

Minimum height requirements vary by service and gender Check Appendix‑III on official website).

Minimum Height for Army (Male & Female)

Minimum Height for Navy

Minimum Height for Air Force

Female Candidates – Height Standards for UPSC NDA

Note: Relaxation is provided for candidates from specific regions such as Gorkhas, North‑East, Garhwal, Kumaon, etc.

Vision Standards

Army & Navy

• Unaided vision: Must meet the minimum standard prescribed.
• Corrected vision: Allowed using spectacles within limits.
• Color blindness: Not permitted.

Air Force

• Stricter vision standards apply.
• Candidates must meet requirements for:
  • Near vision
  • Distant vision
  • Color perception
  • Astigmatism limits

Habitual Wearers of Glasses (HWG):

• Not eligible for Flying Branch.
• Eligible for Ground Duty branches if otherwise fit.

Hearing Standards

Candidates must have normal hearing, able to hear a forced whisper at 6 meters in each ear.

Chest Measurement (Male Candidates)

• Chest should be well developed.
• Minimum expansion: 5 cm.

Physical Conditions That Lead to Disqualification

Candidates will be rejected if they have:

• Weak constitution or underweight
• Chronic diseases
• Hernia, piles, or hydrocele
• Flat feet or knock knees
• Past history of mental illness
• Any deformity of bones or joints
• Night blindness or color blindness (for specific branches)

Medical Examination

Candidates recommended by SSB undergo a comprehensive medical exam conducted by Military Medical Boards. This includes:

• X‑ray
• Blood & urine tests
• ENT evaluation
• Eye examination
• Orthopedic assessment
• Cardiac evaluation

Only candidates declared Medically Fit are considered for final merit.

Important Notes

• Physical standards differ slightly for Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Final medical fitness is mandatory for joining NDA/NA.
• Candidates previously discharged from training academies on disciplinary grounds are not eligible

How to Apply for NDA 2026

UPSC has introduced a four-module online application system:

1. Account Creation
2. Universal Registration Number (URN)
3. Common Application Form (CAF)
4. Exam-Specific Module (fees, centre selection, etc.)

Step‑by‑Step Process to Apply for NDA 2026

Step 1: Visit the UPSC Online Portal

Go to https://upsconline.nic.in and read the General Instructions, Profile/Module Instructions, and Document Upload Instructions before starting the form.

Step 2: Create Your Account (One‑Time Registration)

• Register on the UPSC Online Application Portal.
• After registration, the system generates a Universal Registration Number (URN), which remains the same for all future UPSC exams.

Step 3: Fill the Universal Registration (URN) Profile

You must enter:

• Personal details
• Date of birth
• Educational details
• Valid Photo ID (Aadhaar/Voter ID/PAN/Passport/Driving Licence/School ID)

Important: This Photo ID will be used for all future references and must be carried to the exam/SSB.

UPSC strongly advises using Aadhaar for seamless verification.

Step 4: Fill the Common Application Form (CAF)

In this module, candidates must:

• Upload a passport‑size photograph
• Capture a live photograph using the portal
• Upload signature and required documents

Both uploaded and live photos must be clear and as per UPSC guidelines.

Step 5: Fill the Examination‑Specific Module

This is the final part of the NDA application. Here you must:

• Select your preferred service choices (Army/Navy/Air Force/Naval Academy)
• Choose your exam centre
• Pay the application fee
• Submit the form

Failure to upload required documents or fill any mandatory field will result in cancellation of candidature.

Application Fee

• ₹100 for General/OBC candidates
• No fee for SC/ST, female candidates, and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Sainik/Military Schools

Payment modes:

• Debit/Credit Card
• UPI
• Net Banking

Important Instructions

• No Correction Allowed
  • Once submitted, no changes or modifications can be made in the application form.
• No Withdrawal Allowed
  • Candidates cannot withdraw their application after submission.
• Photo ID Must Match
  • The same Photo ID used during registration must be carried to:
    • Written exam
    • SSB interview