
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially activated the online application link for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA) 2, 2026. Aspiring defense candidates who dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces as commissioned officers can now fill out their registration forms online.
According to the official UPSC notification (Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II), a total of 394 vacancies are available across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA, as well as the Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). The comprehensive timeline, direct application link, step-by-step guide, and core eligibility criteria have been detailed below to help candidates navigate the application process seamlessly.
To avoid last-minute server congestion or technical glitches on the portal, candidates are advised to complete their registration well in advance. The core schedule for the NDA 2 2026 examination is outlined below:
| Important Events | Official Dates / Timelines |
| NDA 2 Notification Release Date | May 20, 2026 |
| Commencement of Online Registration | May 20, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | June 9, 2026 (Until 6:00 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | June 10, 2026 to June 16, 2026 |
| UPSC NDA 2 Admit Card Release | September 6, 2026 (Tentative) |
| UPSC NDA 2 Written Exam Date | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Course Commencement Date | July 1, 2027 |
UPSC has announced 394 provisional vacancies for male and female candidates. The wing-wise distribution is as follows:
National Defence Academy (NDA):
Army: 208 vacancies (including 10 for female candidates)
Navy: 42 vacancies (including 5 for female candidates)
Air Force: * Flying: 92 vacancies (including 2 for female candidates)
Ground Duties (Tech): 18 vacancies (including 2 for female candidates)
Ground Duties (Non-Tech): 10 vacancies (including 2 for female candidates)
Indian Naval Academy (INA - 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme): 24 vacancies (including 3 for female candidates)
Total Vacancies: 394
Before clicking on the direct application link, aspirants must verify if they fulfill the strict eligibility parameters set by the commission:
Age Bracket: Only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2008, and not later than January 1, 2011, are eligible to apply.
Marital Status: Candidates must remain unmarried throughout the duration of their training period.
For Army Wing of NDA: Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the Class 12 / Intermediate exam or its equivalent from a recognized board or university.
For Air Force, Navy Wings, and 10+2 Cadet Entry at INA: Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the Class 12 / Intermediate exam with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
The registration process is completed exclusively online through the official One-Time Registration (OTR) platform. Follow these steps to register:
Visit the Official Portal: Go to the official UPSC application website at upsconline.nic.in or [suspicious link removed].
Complete One-Time Registration (OTR): If you are a new user, click on the "New Registration" tab. Enter your active mobile number, email ID, and basic personal identification details to generate your unique OTR ID. (Existing users can log in directly using their OTR ID/Email and password/OTP).
Fill the Application Form: Navigate to the "Latest Notification" tab and click on NDA & NA (II) 2026. Fill in your specific educational qualifications, personal details, and communication address.
Select Preferences: Choose your preferred choice of service wings (Army, Navy, Air Force, INA) in order of preference.
Upload Documents: Upload clear, scanned copies of your recent photograph (with a white background, size between 20 KB to 300 KB in JPG format), signature, and a valid photo ID proof (Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Passport, etc. in PDF format).
Pay the Application Fee: Pay the required fee through secure online channels.
Choose Exam Centre & Submit: Select your preferred examination center from the available list, review the entire application, and click "Submit". Download and print the final confirmation page for future reference.
General / OBC Category: Rs. 100/-
Exempted Categories: SC, ST, Female candidates, and Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are completely exempted from paying the application fee.
Payment Modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, or Net Banking facilities.
Important Note: The application window closes precisely at 6:00 PM on June 9, 2026. The commission will not entertain any modifications or submissions past this deadline.
If candidates face technical issues, document upload failures, or transaction errors while filling out the online application form, they can reach out to the official UPSC facilitation counter on all working days between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM:
Helpline Contact Numbers: 011-23385271, 011-23381125, 011-23098543, 1124041001, 01140303444
Official Helpdesk Email ID: upscsoap@nic.in
The last date to submit the online application form for UPSC NDA 2 2026 is June 9, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The application fee must also be cleared before this specified deadline.
Yes, unmarried female candidates who fulfill the required physical, age, and academic qualifications are fully eligible to apply for the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy. Out of 394 total vacancies, 24 are reserved for female candidates.
Yes, students who are currently studying in Class 12 or appearing for their board exams in 2026 are completely eligible to apply, provided they can produce proof of passing the exam before the commencement of the official course on July 1, 2027.
Yes, UPSC will activate an application correction window from June 10, 2026, to June 16, 2026. Registered candidates can modify specific fields in their submitted OTR profile and application details during this period.
Starting from the 2026 cycles, the UPSC NDA syllabus structure is aligning closer with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The evaluation parameters focus heavier on deep conceptual understanding, analytical thinking, and practical problem-solving in both Paper I (Mathematics) and Paper II (General Ability Test), moving away from conventional rote memorization patterns.