NDA 1 2026 Notification To Be Released On Dec 10, Exam Date (Out), 400+ Vacancies Expected
The NDA 1 2026 Notification will be released on December 10, 2025, on upsc.gov.in. The application closing date is December 30, 2025. The written exam is scheduled for April 12, 2026. Eligibility requires a 12th pass (PCM for Air Force/Navy) and specific age limits. This is for selection into the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Divya Sharma9 Dec, 2025
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NDA 1 2026 Notification: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the NDA 1 2026 Notification on its official website upsc.gov.in. The notification link will be active on December 10, 2025, as per the UPSC calendar. 12th-passed-out candidates can apply for the NDA exam to pursue their career in the defence sector. NDA 1 2026 Apply Online link will be active from December 10 to December 30, 2025.
NDA 1 2026 Notification: Overview
National Defence Academy (NDA) is a national-level exam organised twice a year by UPSC. Candidates who have completed their 12th class and are in the age group of 16.5 to 19.5 years are eligible to apply. The forms will be filled on the UPSC official website after completing the OTR process with the release of the NDA 1 2026 Notification.
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NDA 1 2026 Notification: Overview |
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Conducting Body |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
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Exam Name |
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA) I, 2026 |
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Official Website |
upsc.gov.in |
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Notification Release Date |
December 10, 2025 |
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Application Start Date |
December 10, 2025 |
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Application End Date |
December 30, 2025 |
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Exam Date (Written) |
April 12, 2026 (Announced on UPSC Calendar) |
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Total Expected Vacancies |
~400 (Expected, final number will be in the official notification) |
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Mode of Application |
Online (UPSC OTR Portal) |
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Exam Stages |
1. Written Examination (900 Marks) 2. SSB Interview (900 Marks) 3. Medical Examination |
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Educational Qualification |
12th Pass/Appearing (Any stream for Army; PCM mandatory for Air Force/Navy/Naval Academy) |
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Age Limit |
16.5 to 19.5 years |
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Gender |
Unmarried Male and Female Candidates |
NDA Notification 2026 PDF
NDA Notification 2026 PDF is an official document released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The interested candidates who want to appear in the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam. They should carefully read the information mentioned in the NDA 1 2026 Notification.
NDA 1 2026 Notification PDF (Link Active December 10)
NDA 1 2026 Exam Date
NDA 1 2026 Exam Date, as provided in the UPSC calendar, will be organised on April 12, 2026. The admit cards for the exam will be issued by the authority. It will be an offline test of 5 hours combining the GAT and Mathematics papers. Candidates get 2.5 hours each to appear and solve the two papers in the written test.
NDA 1 2026 Vacancy Details
It is expected that around 400 posts to be announced in the NDA 1 2026 Vacancy. The distribution of the NDA 1 2026 Vacancy Details will be provided to the candidates. It will be updated with the release of the NDA 1 2026 Notification on the UPSC portal itself.
NDA 1 2026 Apply Online Link
NDA 1 2026 Apply Online Link for the candidates opens on the official portal from December 10, 2025. Candidates can visit the website to fill out the application form. NDA 1 2026 Application Form Date (deadline) is December 30, 2025. The application form will be accepted only after the fee payment is made online.
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General: Rs. 100
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SC/ST candidates/female candidates/Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs: Exempted
NDA 1 2026 Apply Online Link (Active On December 10, 2025)
NDA 1 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates after 12th class are interested in joining the defence forces. They can appear in the NDA exam. NDA 1 2026 Eligibility Criteria include nationality, education, age limit, and physical measurements. Detailed information about the eligibility criteria will be provided in the NDA 1
2026 Notification for the candidates. Candidates of Indian nationality can appear in the NDA.
NDA 1 2026 Educational Qualification
NDA 1 2026 Educational Qualification is a 12th Class Pass (or equivalent), but the required subjects depend on the specific wing.
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NDA 1 2026 Educational Qualification |
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Wing |
Minimum Educational Qualification |
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Army Wing (National Defence Academy) |
12th Class Pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent. (Any stream is accepted). |
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Air Force & Naval Wings (National Defence Academy) |
12th Class Pass of the 10+2 pattern with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as compulsory subjects. |
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10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme (Indian Naval Academy - INA) |
12th Class Pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as compulsory subjects. |
NDA 1 2026 Age Limit
NDA 1 2026 Age Limit for the unmarried male and female candidates is 16.5 to 19.5 years. The candidates should not be born before 2nd July 2006 and not later than 1st July 2009 can apply for the NDA 2026 exam.
NDA 1 2026 Nationality Requirements
A candidate must be an unmarried male or female and must be either:
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A Citizen of India.
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A Subject of Bhutan or Nepal.
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A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India.
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A Person of Indian Origin who has migrated from countries like Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African countries (e.g., Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) to permanently settle in India.
Important: Candidates belonging to categories other than a Citizen of India or a Subject of Nepal must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
NDA 1 2026 Selection Process
The Union Public Service Commission has mentioned detailed information regarding the selection process in the NDA 1 2026 Notification. Candidates who want to appear for the NDA exam. They should qualify the stages of the NDA 1 2026 Selection Process.
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Written Test
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SSB
NDA 1 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern
NDA 1 2026 Syllabus covers the questions from the Mathematics and General Ability Test. Candidates should carefully read the syllabus mentioned in the NDA 1 2026 Notification to begin with the preparation. The NDA 1 2026 Exam Pattern provides details on the questions and time limit. NDA is an offline test that comprises GAT (150 questions) and Mathematics (120 questions). Candidates get 2.5 hours each to appear in the two papers.
| NDA Exams Related link | |
| NDA Syllabus | NDA Eligibility |
| NDA Exam Date | NDA Admit Card |