UPSC NDA 2 2026 Examination: Complete Guide, Shifts, Syllabus & Selection Architecture

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 [Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II] to select eligible young men and women as Commissioned Officers in the Indian Armed Forces (Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force).

Selected candidates join the prestigious 158th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC), Ezhimala, Kerala, commencing training in July 2027.

As of September 11, 2026, the examination is in the immediate pre-examination phase. The nationwide written examination will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Candidates can download their official e-Admit Cards via the UPSC portal at upsconline.nic.in.

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1. Official Schedule & Operational Highlights

The UPSC strictly enforces an annual standardized calendar for defence entrance examinations:

Examination Component	Official Operational Schedule
Notification Notice Number	10/2026-NDA-II
Notification Release Date	May 20, 2026
Online Application Window	May 20, 2026 to June 9, 2026 (6:00 PM)
Application Correction Window	June 10, 2026 to June 16, 2026
E-Admit Card Release	August 2026 (Active on upsconline.nic.in)
Written Examination Date	September 13, 2026 (Sunday)
Shift 1: Mathematics (Code 01)	10:00 AM to 12:30 PM (2½ Hours)
Shift 2: General Ability Test (Code 02)	02:00 PM to 04:30 PM (2½ Hours)
Expected Written Result	October / November 2026
Services Selection Board (SSB) Interviews	January to April 2027
Commencement of Course	July 2, 2027
Official Commission Portals	upsc.gov.in & upsconline.nic.in

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2. Academy Distribution & Service Wings

The NDA 2 2026 examination recruits for approximately 400 vacancies distributed across the tri-services:

1. National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla:
   • Indian Army: ~208 vacancies (including ~10 vacancies for female candidates).
   • Indian Navy: ~42 vacancies (including ~12 vacancies for female candidates).
   • Indian Air Force:
     • Flying Branch: ~92 vacancies (including ~2 vacancies for female candidates).
     • Ground Duty (Technical): ~18 vacancies (including ~2 vacancies for female candidates).
     • Ground Duty (Non-Technical): ~10 vacancies (including ~2 vacancies for female candidates).
2. Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala:
   • 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme: ~30 vacancies (including ~9 vacancies for female candidates).

Cadets spend three years at NDA Khadakwasla undergoing intensive joint-services academic and military training, graduating with a Bachelor's degree (B.A., B.Sc., or B.Tech) conferred by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Upon graduation, Army cadets proceed to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Naval cadets to the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, and Air Force cadets to the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad for one year of specialized pre-commission training.

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3. Strict Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must strictly satisfy nationality, marital status, age, and academic qualifications:

A. Nationality & Marital Status

• Candidate must be an unmarried male or unmarried female citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified nations with the intention of permanently settling in India.
• Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of application will not be selected for training.

B. Age Limits & Date of Birth Bracket

• Only unmarried candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2008 and not later than January 1, 2011 are eligible.
• Note: No age relaxation is applicable to SC, ST, or OBC candidates for NDA entrance; the age bracket is universally enforced across all categories.

C. Educational Qualifications

The educational requirement differs decisively by service wing:

• For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: Passed 12th Class of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University (Candidates from Arts, Commerce, or Science streams are fully eligible).
• For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: Passed 12th Class of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM).
• Appearing Candidates: Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply. They must submit proof of passing the 12th examination by the notified cutoff date prior to course commencement.

D. Physical & Medical Standards

• Candidates must be physically and medically fit according to the rigorous physical standards set by the Ministry of Defence.
• Minimum Height: 157 cm (162.5 cm for Air Force Flying Branch; 152 cm for Gorkhas and candidates from North-Eastern hills; 152 cm for female candidates).
• Visual Standards: Uncorrected vision of 6/6, 6/9 for Army; 6/6, 6/6 for Air Force Flying (no refractive error permissible for pilots; must clear the Computerised Pilot Selection System - CPSS).

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4. Two-Stage Selection Architecture (1800 Marks Total)

The selection procedure comprises two equal-weight stages totaling 1800 marks:

Selection Stage	Examination Component	Maximum Marks	Structure & Evaluation Focus
Stage I	Written Examination (OMR-based)	900 Marks	• Mathematics (Code 01): 300 Marks (120 MCQs; 2½ Hours) • General Ability Test (Code 02): 600 Marks (150 MCQs; 2½ Hours) • Deducts one-third (⅓) marks per wrong answer
Stage II	Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview	900 Marks	• Stage 1 (Day 1): Screening (OIR & PPDT) • Stage 2 (Days 2–5): Psychology, GTO Tasks, Personal Interview & Conference • Followed by Special Medical Board clearance
Final Merit	Combined Selection Merit Rank	1800 Marks	Final All India Merit List based strictly on Stage I (900) + Stage II (900) aggregate

Stage I: Written Examination Breakdown (900 Marks)

The written test is conducted on a single day in offline OMR format:

Paper	Subject Code	Duration	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Marking per Correct Answer	Penalty per Incorrect Answer
Paper I	Mathematics (01)	2 Hours 30 Mins	120 MCQs	300 Marks	+2.5 Marks	-0.83 Marks (⅓)
Paper II	General Ability Test (02)	2 Hours 30 Mins	150 MCQs	600 Marks	+4.0 Marks	-1.33 Marks (⅓)
— Part A	English	—	50 MCQs	200 Marks	+4.0 Marks	-1.33 Marks (⅓)
— Part B	General Knowledge	—	100 MCQs	400 Marks	+4.0 Marks	-1.33 Marks (⅓)
Total	Stage I Written Aggregate	5 Hours	270 MCQs	900 Marks	—	⅓ Negative Marking

• Sectional Cutoff: Candidates must secure a minimum qualifying percentage (historically 25% to 30%) in each individual paper to be evaluated for aggregate shortlisting.
• Negative Marking Rule: For each question for which a wrong answer is given, one-third (0.333...) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. Unanswered questions attract zero penalty.

Stage II: Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview (900 Marks)

Candidates who clear the written stage cutoff are summoned to an Army, Navy, or Air Force Selection Board for a five-day psychological and personality evaluation:

1. Stage 1 (Screening Test - Day 1): Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PPDT). Only candidates qualifying Stage 1 are retained for the remaining four days.
2. Stage 2 (Days 2 to 5):
   • Psychological Tests: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self-Description Test (SD).
   • Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks: Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Individual Obstacles Task (IOT), Command Task, Snake Race, and Final Group Task (FGT).
   • Personal Interview (PI): Conducted by the Interviewing Officer (IO) evaluating personal background, socio-economic perspective, and Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs).
   • Final Board Conference (Day 5): Collective assessment by all board officers.

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5. Comprehensive Syllabus Structure

Paper I: Mathematics (120 Questions, 300 Marks)

The Mathematics syllabus covers Class 11 and 12 curricula across core domains:

• Algebra: Sets, Venn diagrams, relations, equivalence relations, complex numbers, modulus and argument, binary system, arithmetic, geometric and harmonic progressions, quadratic equations, permutations and combinations, binomial theorem, logarithms.
• Matrices & Determinants: Types of matrices, operations, determinant of a matrix, basic properties, adjoint and inverse, Cramer's rule.
• Trigonometry: Angles and their measures in degrees and radians, trigonometrical ratios, trigonometric identities, inverse trigonometric functions, properties of triangles, heights and distances.
• Analytical Geometry (2D and 3D): Rectangular Cartesian coordinate system, distance formula, straight lines, angle between two lines, circles, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola, direction cosines and ratios, planes and spheres.
• Differential Calculus: Concept of real-valued functions, domain, range, continuity, limits, derivative of composite and trigonometric functions, second-order derivatives, tangents and normals, maxima and minima.
• Integral Calculus & Differential Equations: Integration as inverse of differentiation, definite integrals, area under curves, differential equations of first order and degree.
• Vector Algebra: Vectors in 2D and 3D, scalar multiplication, dot product, cross product, applications to mechanics.
• Statistics & Probability: Frequency distribution, mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, classical definition of probability, conditional probability, Bayes' theorem, binomial distribution.

Paper II: General Ability Test (150 Questions, 600 Marks)

• Part A: English (50 Questions, 200 Marks): Tests vocabulary, grammar, usage, comprehension passages, idioms, antonyms, synonyms, sentence rearrangement, and error spotting.
• Part B: General Knowledge (100 Questions, 400 Marks):
  • Section A (Physics - ~25%): Properties of matter, motion, Newton's laws, work, energy, power, gravitation, heat and thermodynamics, optics, sound, static and current electricity, magnetism.
  • Section B (Chemistry - ~15%): Physical and chemical changes, elements, mixtures, compounds, law of chemical combination, acids, bases, salts, oxidation and reduction, carbon and its compounds, fertilizers.
  • Section C (General Science - ~10%): Difference between living and non-living, cell biology, human anatomy and physiology, common epidemics, balanced diet, vitamins.
  • Section D (History, Freedom Movement - ~20%): Indian history overview, freedom struggle, Indian Constitution, Panchayati Raj, Renaissance, French and Russian Revolutions, UN charter.
  • Section E (Geography - ~20%): Earth, latitudes, longitudes, seasons, internal structure, volcanoes, earthquakes, atmosphere, planetary winds, monsoons, ocean currents, Indian physical and economic geography.
  • Section F (Current Events - ~10%): Prominent national and international events, defence developments, summits, sports, bilateral treaties, national awards.

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6. Preparation Strategy & Recommended Booklist

A disciplined, concept-first approach is essential for clearing the high cutoff of the NDA exam:

1. Master NCERT Fundamentals: Prioritize NCERT Mathematics textbooks of Class 11 and 12. Approximately 70% of NDA Mathematics questions are directly anchored in standard NCERT problems.
2. Target High-Yield Math Areas: Focus on Calculus, Matrices/Determinants, Trigonometry, and Vectors/3D Geometry, which collectively account for over 65% of the Mathematics paper.
3. Speed & Time Management: 120 questions in 150 minutes allows only 75 seconds per question. Learn shortcut techniques for determinant properties, limits, and coordinate geometry.
4. English Section as Rank Booster: Practicing previous years' vocabulary questions (synonyms, antonyms, idioms) yields quick scoring efficiency without mathematical calculations.
5. Standard Reference Books:
   • Mathematics: NCERT Class 11 & 12 Mathematics; Pathfinder for NDA & NA by Arihant Publications; NDA Mathematics by R.S. Aggarwal.
   • English: High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin; Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.
   • General Knowledge: General Knowledge by Lucent Publications; NCERT Science Class 9 & 10; Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong.

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7. Examination Day Guidelines & Shift Rules

Candidates appearing for the examination on September 13, 2026 must strictly follow these instructions:

• Reporting Time: Report to the allotted test centre at least 60 minutes before scheduled commencement. Entry closes 30 minutes prior to exam start (09:30 AM for Shift 1; 01:30 PM for Shift 2).
• Mandatory Documents: Printed copy of UPSC e-Admit Card; original valid Government Photo ID Card (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN Card, Driving License, or Voter ID as specified during application); two passport-sized photographs.
• Stationery: Black ballpoint pen for darkening circles on the OMR sheet. Gel pens, ink pens, or pencils are strictly prohibited on OMR sheets.
• Electronic Gadgets: Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, scientific calculators, or paper chits are completely forbidden. Possession leads to criminal debars.

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8. Official Resources & Verified Links Hub

Essential Resource	Direct Official Link
Official Portal (UPSC)	upsc.gov.in
Online Application & Admit Card Download	upsconline.nic.in
Official NDA 2 2026 Notification PDF	Download NDA 2 2026 Notice
UPSC Examination Calendar 2026	UPSC Programme of Examinations
Revised Syllabus & Scheme Archive	UPSC Scheme of Examination
Previous Question Papers Repository	UPSC Previous Question Papers

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9. Frequently Asked Questions (English & हिन्दी)

Q1. What is the official date of the UPSC NDA 2 2026 written exam?

The UPSC NDA 2 2026 examination is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026 across India in two shifts: Mathematics (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM) and GAT (02:00 PM – 04:30 PM).

Q2. Can female candidates apply for all three wings in NDA 2 2026?

Yes, female candidates are eligible for the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA as well as the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at INA, subject to meeting the prescribed educational and medical fitness criteria.

Q3. Is Mathematics compulsory in 12th for the Army Wing of NDA?

No. For the Army Wing of the National Defence Academy, a candidate only needs to be a 12th Class pass in any academic stream. Mathematics and Physics are compulsory only for the Air Force, Navy, and Naval Academy wings.

Q4. यूपीएससी एनडीए 2 2026 की परीक्षा कब आयोजित की जा रही है?

संघ लोक सेवा आयोग द्वारा एनडीए 2 2026 की लिखित परीक्षा 13 सितंबर 2026 (रविवार) को देश भर के विभिन्न केंद्रों पर दो पालियों (गणित: पूर्वाह्न 10:00 से 12:30 तथा सामान्य योग्यता परीक्षण: अपराह्न 02:00 से 04:30) में आयोजित की जा रही है।

Q5. एनडीए परीक्षा में नकारात्मक अंकन (Negative Marking) का क्या नियम है?

एनडीए लिखित परीक्षा में प्रत्येक गलत उत्तर के लिए उस प्रश्न को दिए गए अंकों का एक-तिहाई (⅓) काटा जाता है:

• गणित (Paper I): सही उत्तर पर +2.5 अंक; गलत उत्तर पर -0.83 अंक की कटौती।
• सामान्य योग्यता (Paper II): सही उत्तर पर +4.0 अंक; गलत उत्तर पर -1.33 अंक की कटौती।