Apply for NDA & Naval Academy Exam 2025: 406 vacancies open for defence aspirants

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has invited applications for the National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination (I), 2025, for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 155th Course and for the 117th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing on 1st January, 2026.

The number of vacancies expected is 406 as follows: (a) NDA: Army - 208 (including 10 for female candidates); Navy - 42 (including 6 for female candidates); Air Force - (i) Flying – 92 (including 02 for female candidates) (ii) Ground Duties (Tech)- 18 (including 02 for female candidates) (iii) Ground Duties (Non Tech) - 10 (including 02 for female candidates) (b) Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme): 36 (including 05 for female candidate). 

Eligibility: Applicant must be unmarried male/female satisfying Nationality condition given in the detailed Notification at http://upsc.gov.in and born not earlier than 2nd July, 2006 and not later than 1st July, 2009.

Educational Qualifications: (i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University (ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent conducted by a State Education Board or a University. Those who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination provisionally. They need to submit the result of the qualifying course by 15th December 2025.

Applicant must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2025 as per guidelines given in Appendix-IV of the Notification.

Application: Application is to be submitted online at https://upsconline.nic.in/ latest by 6 pm on 31.12.2024. Applicant is required to specify clearly in the Online Application Form the Services for which he/she wishes to be considered in the order of preference.

Application Fee: Applicants excepting SC/ST candidates/female candidates/Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs specified in the notification who are exempted from payment of fee, are required to pay a fee of Rs. 100/- either by remitting the money in any Branch of State Bank of India by cash using the system generated Pay-in-slip by 23.59 hours on 30.12.2024 or by using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking of any Bank by 6 pm on 31.12.2024. 

Scheme of selection: The selection process consists of Written Test carrying 900 marks and SSB Test/Interview carrying 900 marks. The written examination will consist of 2 papers each of 2½ Hours duration. Paper I will be Mathematics carrying 300 marks and Paper II will be General Ability Test carrying 600 marks. The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only. Details and syllabus are given in the Notification. 

The SSB procedure consists of two stage Selection process - Stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are given in the Notification at http://upsc.gov.in