NDA 2026 – Complete National Defence Academy Guide

The National Defence Academy (NDA) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for the prestigious National Defence Academy and Naval Academy. NDA is the joint services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets are trained for all three services — Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. It is one of the world's premier tri-service training institutions.

NDA 2026 will be conducted twice a year (NDA I and NDA II), offering approximately 400 vacancies per cycle. The examination is open to male and female candidates who have passed or are appearing in their 12th standard examination. For young aspirants dreaming of a career in the armed forces, NDA provides the most prestigious entry route with comprehensive training at the Khadakwasla campus near Pune.

The NDA selection process involves a written examination followed by an SSB (Services Selection Board) interview spanning 5 days. The written exam has two papers: Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test (600 marks, covering English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs). The SSB interview evaluates Officer Like Qualities (OLQs) through psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews.

NDA cadets receive training allowance during their three-year training at NDA followed by one year at their respective service academies (IMA for Army, INA for Navy, AFA for Air Force). Upon commissioning as Lieutenant/Sub Lieutenant/Flying Officer, the starting basic pay is ₹56,100 (Pay Level 10), with Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 additional. The gross monthly salary including DA and allowances ranges from ₹80,000 to ₹1,00,000 for newly commissioned officers.

Eligibility for NDA requires candidates to be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age at the time of admission. Educational qualification is 12th pass or appearing — with Science stream mandatory for Air Force and Naval wings, while Army wing accepts all streams. Physical fitness is essential, with specific standards for height, weight, and eyesight depending on the service wing chosen.

NDA training is holistic, combining academic education (leading to a degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University) with military training, sports, adventure activities, and character development. NDA graduates are among the most respected professionals in India, leading troops in challenging environments from high-altitude Siachen to naval operations across the Indian Ocean.

This hub page consolidates all NDA 2026 resources. Access detailed information on notification, syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility, salary, and previous year papers through the links below.