Indian entrance exam

NDA & NA

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination

UPSC holds the NDA & NA exam twice a year for entry to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and to the Indian Naval Academy. The written exam is followed by an SSB interview and a medical, and selected candidates join a course that begins the following year.

Conducted by: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) · Official site ↗

Dates

NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026 (UPSC) — course from July 2027
Dates from this cycle's official notice (2026-27 cycle).
  • 20 May 2026 – 9 June 2026 — Online application window [Source]
  • 13 September 2026 — NDA & NA (II) written exam [Source]
NDA & NA Examination (I) 2027 (UPSC)
Dates from this cycle's official notice (2026-27 cycle).
  • 2 December 2026 – 22 December 2026 — Notification and online application opens [Source]
  • 11 April 2027 — NDA & NA (I) 2027 written exam [Source]

Each date links to the official notice it was read from. Dates can be revised — check the official site.

Who can apply

From the 2026 (II) bulletin (the latest we hold) — rules can change; check the new bulletin.
  • Unmarried men and women; age window moves each sitting (NDA-II 2026: born 1 Jan 2008 – 1 Jan 2011).
  • Army wing: Class 12 in any stream.
  • Air Force and Navy wings (and the Naval Academy): Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
  • Class 12 students still appearing may apply; physical and medical standards apply.

Leads to: Officer training for the Army, Navy and Air Force

Source: UPSC · NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026 Notice · checked 2026-09-27

Scores

UPSC publishes minimum qualifying marks and the marks of recommended candidates only, so we show no score table.

Related exams: JEE Main · All entrance exams