UPSC NDA 2 2026 Notification — Exam Date, Eligibility & Syllabus

UPSC NDA 2 2026 notification is out, and the exam date has been confirmed for 13 September 2026 for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy. With 394 vacancies announced across the three wings, Class 12 students and appearing candidates now have a clear window to plan their preparation. This guide covers the confirmed NDA 2 2026 exam date, eligibility, exam pattern and how to start free practice today.

UPSC NDA 2 2026 — Key Dates

• Notification released: 20 May 2026
• Application deadline: extended to 11 June 2026
• NDA II 2026 written exam: 13 September 2026
• Vacancies: 394 posts across Army, Navy and Air Force wings (158th NDA / 120th Naval Academy course)

Track this alongside other exam dates on the FreePrep Exam Calendar.

NDA 2026 Eligibility

• Age limit: 16.5 to 19.5 years; only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible
• Education: Class 12 pass or appearing (10+2). Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are compulsory for Air Force and Naval Wing applicants; Army Wing accepts any 10+2 stream
• Application fee: ₹100 for General/OBC candidates; Nil for Female/SC/ST candidates

UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Pattern

Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration
Paper 1	Mathematics	300	2.5 hours
Paper 2	General Ability Test (English + GK)	600	2.5 hours
SSB Interview	Intelligence & Personality Test	900	Multi-day

Both written papers carry 1/3rd negative marking per wrong answer, and the Mathematics paper is set only in English while the General Ability Test is bilingual (English and Hindi).

What to Study for NDA General Ability Test

The General Ability Test blends English (grammar, vocabulary, comprehension) with General Knowledge across Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and Current Affairs — a similar syllabus base to UPSC CDS, which makes cross-practice between the two exams efficient for defence aspirants targeting both.

Free NDA 2026 Practice on FreePrep

Start structured, no-login practice for the General Ability Test and Mathematics sections:

• UPSC NDA exam page — pattern, eligibility, dates and resources
• English practice sets — grammar, vocabulary and comprehension for the GAT English section
• Static GK practice sets — history, geography, polity and general science
• Daily Current Affairs & Quiz — a fresh current affairs quiz every day to stay exam-ready
• Also preparing for the sister defence exam? See our CDS previous year question papers guide

FAQs

What is the NDA 2 2026 exam date?
The NDA II 2026 written exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026, as notified by UPSC.

What is the age limit for NDA 2 2026?
Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age, unmarried, and must have been born between 2 January 2008 and 1 July 2011 for this cycle.

Is Physics and Maths compulsory for NDA?
Yes, for Air Force and Naval Wing applicants. Army Wing candidates can apply with any stream in Class 12, though comfort with Mathematics still helps in the written exam.

How many vacancies are there in NDA 2 2026?
UPSC has notified 394 vacancies across the Army, Navy and Air Force wings for the NDA II 2026 / 120th Naval Academy course.