The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has invited applications for the National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination (I), 2026, 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 on 1st January, 2027.

The number of vacancies expected is 394 as follows. (a) NDA: Army - 208 (including 10 for females); Navy-42 (all in Executive Branch- including 5 for females); Air Force - (i) Flying – 92 (including 02 for female candidates) (ii) Ground Duties (Tech)- 18 (including 02 for females) (iii) Ground Duties (Non Tech)-10 (including 02 for females) (b) Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme): 24 (all in Executive Branch- including 3 for females).

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 1st July, 2007 and not later than 1st July, 2010.

Educational Qualifications: (i) For Army Wing of NDA: 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 NDA 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 10th December 2026.

Applicant must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to NDA and NA Examination (I), 2026 as per guidelines given in Appendix-III of the Notification.

Application: Application is to be submitted online at https://upsconline.nic.in/ latest by 6 pm on 30.12.2025. 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/- by using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking of any Bank.

Scheme of selection: The selection process consists of Written Test carrying 900 marks and SSB Test/Interview carrying 900 marks. The written examination to be held on 12th April, 2026, 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

A candidate recommended by the Services Selection Board will undergo a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Only those candidates who are declared fit by the Medical Board will be admitted to the academy. The final allocation/selection for admission to the Army, Navy, Air Force of the NDA and 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of Indian Naval Academy will be made upto the number of vacancies available subject to eligibility, medical fitness and merit-cum-preference of the candidates.

Training: The selected candidates for the three services - Army, Navy and Air Force are given preliminary training both academic and physical for a period of 3 years at the National Defence Academy which is an Inter-Service Institution. All the cadets on passing out will be awarded degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi as given in the Notification. On passing out from the National Defence Academy, Army Cadets go to the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, Naval Cadets to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala and Air Force cadets and Ground Duty-Non Tech streams to Air Force Academy, Hyderabad and Air Force cadets of Ground Duty–Tech stream to Air Force Technical College, Bengaluru. The selected candidates of the Naval Academy will be given preliminary training both academic and physical, for a period of 04 years at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. The cadets of 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme will be awarded a B. Tech Degree on successful completion of training.

On successful completion of training cadets are granted Permanent Commission.

More details can be had from the Notification.