NDA Exam 2026: NDA 1 Result (Soon), Exam (April 12), Cut Off, Answer Key, Question Papers & More
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam 2026 ( NDA )
Registration - 20 May '26 - 9 Jun '26
NDA 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the NDA 1 exam April 12. The authority is expected to soon release the NDA 1 result 2026. It will be released on the official website. The NDA result will consists of the roll numbers of the qualified candidates. Those candidates who will qualify the exam will be called for the SSB. The scorecard of the NDA will be released after the completion of selection process. The UPSC conducted the NDA 2026 exam in an offline mode.
The application form filling process for NDA 1 2026 was closed on December 30. The exam is conducted for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 157th Course and for the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from January 1, 2027.
NDA 2 2026 notification will be released on May 20. The last date to fill the application form is June 9, 2026. The exam will be held on September 14. Read below for more details on the exam.
- NDA Result 2026
- NDA Exam Schedule 2026
- NDA Cutoff 2026
- NDA Exam Analysis 2026
- NDA Answer Key 2026
- NDA Admit Card 2026
- NDA Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
- NDA Preparation Tips
- NDA Vacancies 2026
- What is NDA exam?
- NDA Selection Process 2026
- NDA Application Form 2026
- NDA Salary
- NDA 2026 FAQs
NDA Result 2026
Result: Apr ' 26
The result of NDA is announced online by UPSC. NDA result PDF comprises the roll numbers of qualified candidates.Shortlisted candidates will appear for SSB interview. The process to check the result is given below.
- Click the direct link to check NDA result to be provided on this page
- Result is made available in PDF form roll-number-wise
- Search your roll number
- Download result PDF of NDA exam 2026 and save it
NDA Toppers
Candidates can click on the links to check the interviews given by NDA toppers to Shiksha on how to prepare for the exam.
| Interviews of NDA Toppers | |
|---|---|
| NDA 2019 Topper Interview, Piyush Thorve, (AIR 16) | NDA Exam 2018 Topper, Interview Sparsh Kankane, (AIR 1) |
| - | |
NDA Exam Schedule 2026
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NDA 2026 exam
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| Apr ' 26 | NDA 1 2026 Result TENTATIVE |
| 20 May ' 26 | NDA 2 2026 notification |
| 20 May ' 26 - 09 Jun ' 26 | NDA 2 2026 application |
| 13 Sep ' 26 | NDA 2 2026 Exam |
| Dates | Past Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 12 Apr ' 26 | NDA 1 2026 Exam Date |
| 02 Apr ' 26 | NDA 1 Admit Card 2026 |
| 10 Dec ' 25 | NDA 1 Notification 2026 |
NDA Cutoff 2026
NDA cutoff for the written exam will be released after the completion of recruitment process. The commission releases cutoffs for written exam and SSB Interview. The cutoff for the written exam is calculated out of 900. The final cutoff is calculated based on the marks secured by the last recommended candidates out of 1800 marks (900 marks of written exam and 900 marks of SSB Interview). The qualifying cutoff marks prescribed for each subject are 25 per cent. Candidates are required to qualify the exam by securing separate cutoff marks in the written exam and SSB Interview.
Candidates can check below the previous years' NDA 1 & NDA 2 cut off marks.
| NDA Paper | Written Exam Cut off | Final Exam Cut off |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 (1) |
291 |
654 |
| 2024 (2) |
305 |
673 |
| 2023 (2) |
292 |
656 |
| 2023 (1) |
301 |
664 |
NDA Exam Analysis 2026
Here we will provide the UPSC NDA 1 Exam Analysis 2026 aftert he conduction of an exam based on the feedback received from the students.
NDA 1 2026 Exam Analysis (Shift 1) OUT
As per the student reactions, the NDA 1 2026 maths exam overall difficulty level was Moderate. Candidates attempt around 100. Question paper pattern is same. 10 to 15% questions were lengthy. Around 40% questions were based on the previous year. Some of the questions are mentioned below that were asked in the examination:
- Find the value of sinθ + cosθ if sinθ − cosθ = 1
- Evaluate a 3×3 determinant
- Solve the differential equation dy/dx = x + y
- Perform matrix multiplication (find AB)
- Evaluate limit: lim x→0 (sin x / x)
- Find direction ratios of a line
- Simplify a trigonometric expression
- Find the equation of a straight line passing through two points
- Solve a quadratic equation and identify roots
- Find area under a curve using integration
NDA 1 2026 Exam Analysis (Shift 2) OUT
As per the students feedback, the GAT paper was Moderate in difficulty level. The English section was a bit easier where as General Knowledge section was a mic easy as well as moderate with some tricky questions. The GAT paper in NDA 1 Exam 2026 are estimated to be around 80 to 100 questions.
Students can use UPSC NDA exam analysis to know the details, such as the difficulty level of each paper, students' review, types of questions, etc.
NDA Answer Key 2026
The answer key of NDA exam 2026 will be released after completion of the test. Answer keys will be provided separately for Maths and GAT. Candidates can download NDA Answer Key for test booklets-A, B, C, D. The answer keys that are released on the exam day are made available by the coaching institiutes. The official keys by UPSC will be released after the completion of the recruitment process. The UPSC will not release the official answer key as it will be released after the declaration of final result in October 2026.
How to Download NDA Answer Key 2026?
Candidates can check below the process to download the NDA 1 Answer key 2026.
- Go to the answer key page
- NDA answer key opens in PDF form
- Download the answer key
- Save the file
NDA Question Papers 2026
The question papers for Maths and GAT are released on the day of the exam. We will provide the NDA 1 question paper PDFs on this page for all sets. Candidates can download these for free. They can also raise challenge against the same through Question Paper Representation Portal.
NDA Admit Card 2026
NDA 1 hall ticket 2026 is available now. All registered candidates can download their NDA admit cards through the direct link provided on this page. The details that candidates need to enter to access the e-admit card of UPSC NDA NA exam is either by the registration number or roll number. Candidates need to carry the printed copy of their admit cards along with one photo-identity proof to the exam centre of NDA exam 2026.
As per the offiical notice, the candidates will have to produce the printout of their e-Admit card at the allotted venue for appearing at the Examination. A candidate, who does not produce his/her NDA 1 e-Admit card for checking at the allotted venue, shall not be allowed to take the Examination. The candidates are also required to carry the photo ID card, whose number is mentioned in the e-Admit Card, in each session.
How To Download the NDA Admit Card 2026?
- Visit at upsc.gov.in
- Find ‘E-admit card National Defence Academy Examination,’ link on the homepage
- In a new tab, a login page will open
- Read the instructions carefully before downloading the admit card
- Agree to the terms and conditions
- Select any of the options-registration number or roll number
- Click the ‘Submit’ button
- NDA admit card appears on the screen
- Download the admit card and take its printout
Direct link to download the NDA 1 2026 Admit Card
NDA Exam Centres List
| Agartala |
Ghaziabad |
Panaji (Goa) |
| Agra |
Gorakhpur |
Patna |
| Ajmer |
Gurgaon |
Port Blair |
| Ahmedabad |
Gwalior |
Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
| Aizawl |
Hyderabad |
Puducherry |
| Aligarh |
Imphal |
Pune |
| Almora (Uttarakhand) |
Indore |
Raipur |
| Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh) |
Itanagar |
Rajkot |
| Aurangabad |
Jabalpur |
Ranchi |
| Bengaluru |
Jaipur |
Sambalpur |
| Bareilly |
Jammu |
Shillong |
| Bhopal |
Jodhpur |
Shimla |
| Bilaspur |
Jorhat |
Siligudi |
| Chandigarh |
Kochi |
Srinagar |
| Chennai |
Kohima |
Srinagar (Uttarakhand) |
| Coimbatore |
Kolkata |
Thane |
| Cuttack |
Kozhikode (Calicut) |
Thiruvananthapuram |
| Dehradun |
Leh |
Tiruchirapalli |
| Delhi |
Lucknow |
Tirupati |
| Dharwad |
Ludhiana |
Udaipur |
| Dispur |
Madurai |
Varanasi |
| Faridabad |
Mumbai |
Vellore |
| Gangtok |
Mysore |
Vijayawada |
| Gaya |
Nagpur |
Vishakhapatnam |
| Gautam Buddh Nagar |
Navi Mumbai |
Warangal |
NDA Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
NDA syllabus is prescribed by UPSC. The standard of the syllabus is of high school level. UPSC NDA/NA syllabus carries subjects such as Maths and GAT. Candidates need to be thorough with the syllabus to score good in the exam. It is necessary to be thorough with the NDA syllabus. After going through the syllabus, candidates must also refer to the previous years question papers. Candidates can check below the topics included in the syllabus of NDA exam 2026.
- NDA Math Syllabus-Matrices and Determinants, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Trigonometry, Vector Algebra, Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and Probability, Algebra, etc.
- NDA English syllabus- Vocabulary, Comprehension, Cohesion, Preposition, etc.
- NDA General Knowledge syllabus- Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events.
NDA Exam Pattern
NDA comprises written exam and SSB Interview. The written exam carries 900 marks. The SSB Interview carries 900 marks. The structure of NDA paper pattern is given below.
| Code | Exam Name | Duration | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 |
Mathematics |
2 ½ hours |
120 |
300 |
| 02 |
General Ability Test |
2 ½ hours |
50 |
200 |
| 100 |
400 |
|||
| - |
SSB Interview |
- |
50 |
900 |
| Total |
1800 |
|||
SSB Interview: Know its Different Stages
SSB Interview comprises two stages.
- Stage 1 comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT).
- Stage 2 of SSB interview comprises Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference. The SSB interview carries 900 marks.
NDA Preparation Tips
To prepare for a NDA exam, it is important to understand the exam pattern. Concepts should be clear. Candidate should make proper strategy and should not forget to practice previous year question papers. Frequent revision also plays an important role. Go through the syllabus properly. Practice Mock test which will help in improving the speed and accuracy of solving the questions. Check below some of the important NDA preparation strategies.
- Go through the exam pattern to know the number of questions, score calculation, time duration, etc.
- Revise the topics given in the NDA syllabus
- Clear your basics by referring to the high school books
- Solve sample papers for NDA exam 2026
- Practice mock tests
- For current affairs, candidates must read the newspapers
- Review your level of preparation
- Work on weak areas
Also Read: NDA Books
NDA Vacancies 2026
What is NDA exam?
NDA Selection Process 2026
NDA Application Form 2026
Notification: 20 May ' 26
NDA Salary
NDA 2026 FAQs
Cracking SSB Interview is not easy task. The difficulty level is high and candidates must have sound knowledge of their subjects to clear the interview. The best books for SSB Interview are given below: SSB Interview: The Complete Guide by Dr N. K. Natarajan SSB OIR & PPDT: Complete Guide to Stage 1 SSB Interview by DDE.
NDA syllabus is prescribed by the examination authority. The syllabus comprises the topics that candidates need to prepare for the exam. The first and foremost step towards preparation is going through the syllabus. Knowing the syllabus helps candidates to plan a strategy to ace the exam, thereby, giving them the right direction for preparation. NDA syllabus has two sections for the written exam, General Ability Test (GAT) and Mathematics. GAT aims to test the candidate's basic knowledge of History, GK, Current Affairs of National and International Events, English, Science, and Geography. On the other hand, the Mathematics paper of NDA comprises questions based on Class 12. The GAT paper holds the maximum weightage in the syllabus.
The pyschological tests in NDA SSB interview comprises the following:
- Thematic Apperception Test
- Word Association Test
- Situation Reaction Test
- Self Description Test
NDA salary per month is INR 56,100 during the training period. After joining NDA, candidates get the starting salary. Over the time, the NDA salary increases based on the experience and performance. NDA salary per month for Lieutenant is between INR 56,100-1,77,500. The highest NDA salary for Officer is INR 2,50,000 per month for the Chief of Army Staff. The month-wise NDA salary is given below:
- Captain: INR 61,300-1,93,900
- Major: INR 6,94,00-2,07,200
- Lieutenant Colonel: INR 1,21,200-2,12,400
On successful commissioning in Army, candidates are given the rank of Lieutenant. In Navy, candidates are given the rank of Sub Lieutenant. In Air Force, candidates are given the rank of Flying Officer. The starting NDA salary of an Officer is INR 56,100. This is the stipend offered to the candidates during the training period and the minimum salary that a Lieutenant gets. It keeps on increasing as per the level of the post.
NDA salary during the entire duration of training is INR 56,100. Candidates starting salary during the training period and in the initial phase of their job. Over time, the post and salary of NDA officers keep increasing based on their performance and experience. The NDA salary per month for the Lieutenant post ranges from INR 56,100 to 1,77,500, while the highest salary for NDA Officer is INR 2,50,000 per month for the Chief of Army Staff.
Army group insurance fund cover is INR 15 Lakh. An ex-gratia amount of INR 12.5 Lacs or INR 9,000 per month is paid to the NoK.
Army Group Insurance Fund provides insurance cover of INR 15 Lacs on payment of one time non-refundable premium of INR 7,200 (subject to revision from time to time) by cadets from the date of joining for pre-commission training i.e. for 3 years.
The Lady/Gentlemen Cadets during pre commission trg when in receipt of stipend are insured for INR One Cr as applicable to officers of the regular Army. Monthly AGIF subscription will be deducted directly by PCDA (O), Pune. For those who are invalidated out by Invalidated Medical Board (IMB) on account of disability and not entitled to any pension will be provided INR 25 Lacs for 100 percent disability. This will be proportionately reduced to INR 5 Lacs for 20 percent disability. However, for less than 20 percent disability, an ex-gratia grant of INR 50,000 only will be paid. Disability due to alcoholism, drug addiction
and due to the diseases of pre-enrolment origin will not qualify for disability benefit and ExGratia Grant. In addition, Lady/Gentleman Cadets withdrawn on disciplinary grounds, expelled as an undesirable or leaving the Academy voluntarily will not be eligible for disability benefits and Ex-Gratia.
NDA exam is conducted for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy Course. CDS exam is conducted to select eligible candidates for Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
The level of NDA syllabus is of Class 10, 11 and 12 levels. Whereas the standard of CDS syllabus is of graduation level. NDA syllabus is divided into Maths and GAT. CDS syllabus is divided into Elementary Maths, English and General Awareness. The total marks allotted to the NDA written exam are 900. The total marks allotted to the written exam of CDS are 300 for IMA, INA and AFA and 200 for OTA.
NDA exam is conducted every year twice in a year. The exam is conducted to select candidates for admission to Army, Navy and Air Force wings of NDA and Indian Naval Academy courses. The selection process comprises written exam and SSB Interview. The total marks allotted to the written exam are 900. The SSB interview carries 900 marks.
There is no difference between UPSC NDA 1 and 2 exams. NDA 1 exam is conducted for admission to the January batch. Whereas, NDA 2 exam is conducted for admission to July batch.
National Defence Academy or NDA exam is conducted twice a year by Union Public Service Commission for admission to Army, Navy and Air Force wings of NDA and Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). It is the most sought-after defence entrance exams in the country where both male and female candidates can apply.
The exam is conducted in two stages: written exam and SSB Interview. In 2020, a total of 5.3 Lacs candidates had applied for the exam, out of which 2.4 Lacs candidates appeared for the exam. UPSC prepares a list of candidates who obtain minimum qualifying marks in the written exam. Such candidates are called for SSB Interview for Intelligence and Personality Test.
Also Read: Know the difference between NDA & NA I and II Exams
NDA question paper is framed in both English and Hindi. The written exam is conducted for 900 marks. The test carries two papers-Maths and GAT. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for SSB interview.
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 Application Form Apr '26 - Apr '26