NDA Exam Information 2026

The National Defence Academy (NDA) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for students who want to join the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force as officers after Class 12. It is an excellent option for students who want to begin their defence career early.

1. NDA exam at a glance

Detail	Information
Full form	National Defence Academy
Conducting body	UPSC
Exams	NDA I and NDA II
Qualification	Class 12 pass or appearing
Age	Approximately 16.5–19.5 years, subject to the official date-of-birth criteria
Gender	Eligible unmarried male and female candidates
Selection	Written exam, SSB interview, medical examination
Training academy	NDA, Khadakwasla, Pune
Official website	UPSC.gov.in

Age eligibility is determined by the precise date-of-birth window in each UPSC notification, not just by your age in completed years.

2. Which wings can you join?

Indian Army

• Class 12 in any stream.
• Suitable for students from Science, Commerce or Arts backgrounds, subject to other eligibility conditions.

Indian Navy

• Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM).
• Must satisfy applicable medical and service requirements.

Indian Air Force

• Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM).
• Additional medical and flying-branch standards may apply.

3. NDA written exam pattern

Paper	Maximum marks	Duration
Mathematics	300	2.5 hours
General Ability Test (GAT)	600	2.5 hours
Total	900	5 hours

The written exam is followed by the SSB interview, worth 900 marks. The written papers are objective-type, and negative marking applies to incorrect answers.

4. NDA syllabus

Mathematics — 300 marks

• Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Matrices and determinants
• Analytical geometry
• Differential and integral calculus
• Statistics and probability

General Ability Test — 600 marks

• English: grammar, vocabulary, comprehension
• Physics and Chemistry
• General Science
• History and freedom movement
• Geography
• Current affairs and general knowledge