NDA 2 2026 Exam Notification Out – Age Criteria, Eligibility, Vacancy & Exam Date

If joining the Indian Armed Forces is your dream, then here’s some good news: UPSC has officially released the NDA 1 2026 Notification. This exam is one of the most prestigious opportunities for young defence aspirants who wish to join the Army, Navy, and Air Force as officers after Class 12.

NDA 2 2026 – Short Overview

Here’s a quick snapshot before we dive deeper:

Conducting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name: National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination
Cycle: NDA 2 (September Session)
Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen & Paper)
Training Academies: NDA Khadakwasla & INA Ezhimala
Eligibility: 10+2 passed/appearing, unmarried male & female candidates

The NDA written exam is conducted twice a year, and the NDA 2 2026 cycle is the second opportunity for aspirants who will complete Class 12 by next year.

NDA 2 2026 Important Dates

Make sure to note these dates so you don’t miss anything:

Event	Date
Notification Release	20 May 2026
Application Start Date	20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply	09 June 2026
Admit Card Release	Before Exam
NDA 2 2026 Exam Date	13 September 2026
Result Declaration	Will be updated here soon
SSB Interview	Soon after the written result

Keep checking UPSC’s website to stay updated, but these timelines are usually constant every year.

NDA 2 2026 Eligibility Criteria

UPSC follows strict guidelines for eligibility, and it’s important to know them before applying. Here’s the simplified breakdown:

A. Nationality

You must be:

A citizen of India

A subject of Nepal or Bhutan

A Tibetan refugee (before 1st Jan 1962)

B. Age Limit

You must be between 16.5 to 19.5 years.

For NDA 1 2026, candidates born between July 2007 and July 2010 will be eligible.

C. Educational Qualification

Army Wing: 10+2 Pass (any stream)
Air Force & Naval Wing / Naval Academy: 10+2 with Physics & Mathematics

Even if you’re appearing for Class 12 exams, you can still apply.

D. Marital Status

Candidate must be unmarried.

E. Physical Standards

Clearing the medical test is as important as the written exam. You must:

Be physically fit
Meet height and eyesight standards
Have no major medical issues

NDA 2 2026 Vacancy

UPSC will announce the exact number of vacancies in its detailed notification. Generally, NDA offers around 400–450 seats combined for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy.

The distribution usually looks like this:

Wing	Approx Vacancies
Army	208
Navy	42
Air Force (Flying + Ground Duties)	120
Naval Academy	24

NDA 2 2026 Exam Pattern

The NDA written exam consists of two papers, both conducted on the same day.

Paper 1: Mathematics

Duration: 2.5 hours
Marks: 300
Level: Class 11 & 12 Maths

Paper 2: GAT (General Ability Test)

Duration: 2.5 hours
Marks: 600

Sections:

English (200 marks)
General Knowledge (400 marks)

Total Marks: 900

If you clear the written cutoff, you’ll be called for the SSB Interview, which carries 900 marks.

NDA Selection Process Explained

Your selection happens in three stages:

1. Written Exam

You must score above the cutoff in both Maths and GAT.

2. SSB Interview (5 Days)

This includes:

Screening test
Psychology
GTO tasks
Personal interview
Conference

3. Medical Examination

Final shortlisting happens after medical clearance.

NDA 2 2026 Application Process

Applying for NDA is simple and fully online. Here are the steps:

Visit UPSC’s official website. www.upsc.gov.in
Click on “One-Time Registration (OTR)” if you’re a new user.
Log in and fill out the NDA 1 2026 application form.
Upload your photo, signature, and ID proof.
Pay the application fee (Rs. 100 for general; exempted for females & reserved categories).
Submit the form and download the confirmation.

Expected Cut Off for NDA 2 2026

Although UPSC releases the cutoff after the final result, based on previous years, here is the expected range:

Stage	Expected Cut Off
Written Exam	345–360 marks (out of 900)
Final Cut Off	700–725 marks (out of 1800)

How to Start Preparing for NDA 2 2026

Here’s a simple roadmap to begin your preparation in a stress-free way:

Understand the syllabus properly

Don’t jump into a random study; know exactly what UPSC asks.

Build strong basics

Especially for Maths, clarity of concepts is more important than solving too many questions.

Practice previous years’ papers

NDA papers repeat concepts frequently. Solving at least 10 past papers is a game-changer.

Focus on English and GK daily

Just 30–45 minutes of reading newspapers and brushing grammar helps a lot.

Take mock tests

Time management is crucial since the NDA has 270 questions in total.

Kickstart Your NDA 2 2026 Preparation With India’s Leading Defence Academy

If you’re serious about cracking NDA 2 2026, both the written exam and the SSB interview, then choosing the right guidance makes all the difference.

This is where Centurion Defence Academy (CDA) stands out.

At Centurion, you get:

Expert mentors, including ex-SSB board members
Complete NDA written + SSB training under one roof
Detailed study material based on the latest UPSC pattern
Daily practice sessions, doubt classes & mock tests
Psychological tests, GTO ground training, and interview sessions
Personalised feedback to improve your performance

With the highest recommended-to-selected ratio and a proven track record, Centurion Defence Academy is the trusted destination for NDA aspirants in Lucknow and Dehradun.

If your dream is to wear the uniform, Centurion Defence Academy will help you turn that dream into reality.