UPSC - 394 NDA & NA Examination II Online Form 2026

The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination is one of India's most prestigious defence entrance examinations, conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The NDA is an inter-service institution located at Khadakwasla, Pune, where selected cadets from the Army, Navy and Air Force wings undergo a rigorous three-year combined academic and physical training programme. Army cadets are subsequently commissioned at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Naval cadets proceed to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala; and Air Force cadets are trained at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad or Air Force Technical College, Bengaluru depending on their branch. Cadets successfully completing the NDA programme are awarded degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University — B.Sc., B.Sc. (Computer) or B.A. for Army cadets, and B.Tech for Naval and Air Force cadets. The Indian Naval Academy under the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme offers a four-year B.Tech programme in Applied Electronics and Communication Engineering for the Executive Branch. The examination tests mathematical reasoning, general knowledge, English proficiency and analytical ability, and is followed by a comprehensive psychological and physical assessment at Services Selection Boards across India. Final selection is based on combined written and SSB merit, subject to medical fitness and candidate preference for service branch.

Candidates must be unmarried males or females. Nationality requirements include Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal, and persons of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, specified East African countries or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided a Government of India eligibility certificate has been issued. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from the certificate requirement. The age window requires candidates to have been born not earlier than 1 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011. Age proof must be the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or an equivalent recognised by an Indian University; no other document such as horoscopes, affidavits or birth extracts from municipal corporations will be accepted. For the Army Wing, the minimum educational qualification is a pass in Class 12 or equivalent under the 10+2 pattern from a State Education Board or University in any stream. For the Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA and for the Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme, candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Candidates appearing in the final year of Class 12 may apply provisionally but must submit proof of passing by 10 June 2027. Candidates who have passed only Class 11 are not eligible. Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any commission in the Defence Services are also ineligible.

Men and women are treated as separate entries for NDA and Naval Academy; merit lists and final selection for male and female candidates are prepared independently based on vacancies notified for each gender. Wards of serving or ex-Junior Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks of the Army or equivalent ranks in the Navy and Air Force who are studying in Military Schools (formerly King George's Schools) or Sainik Schools run by Sainik Schools Society are exempt from the application fee. SC and ST candidates are exempt from the application fee. No fee exemption is available to OBC or EWS candidates. Candidates qualifying at SSB who are first-time applicants for a particular type of commission are entitled to AC III Tier to-and-fro railway or bus fare as travelling allowance for the SSB interview.