The journey to joining the National Defence Academy or Indian Naval Academy requires passing a rigorous two-stage testing system designed to evaluate both academic aptitude and officer potential. Candidates must clear the written examination to qualify for the 5-day SSB interview, culminating in a medical exam and final merit ranking.
Selection Stages
Stage 1: Apply Online
Candidates complete their online registration on the UPSC website, upload required documents, select preferences for Army, Navy, Air Force, or Naval Academy, and pay the application fee. The application window for NDA & NA (II) 2026 was active from May 20, 2026, to June 9, 2026.
Stage 2: Written Examination
A pen-and-paper objective test featuring two papers: Mathematics (300 marks, 120 questions) and General Ability Test (600 marks, 150 questions). Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks in each subject paper and achieve the overall cutoff to get shortlisted for the SSB interview. The exam was held on September 13, 2026.
Stage 3: SSB Interview (Stage 1 & Stage 2)
Shortlisted candidates undergo a 5-day Services Selection Board (SSB) evaluation totaling 900 marks. Day 1 (Stage 1) includes Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Only candidates qualifying Stage 1 proceed to Stage 2, which spans four days and includes Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, Personal Interview, and the final Board Conference.
Stage 4: Medical Examination
Candidates recommended by the SSB undergo comprehensive medical assessments by a Board of Service Medical Officers to ensure they fulfill physical and medical standards required for military training.
Stage 5: Document Verification
Candidates who qualify Stage 2 of the SSB interview present original documents, including matriculation pass certificates for date of birth verification and 10+2 pass certificates for educational qualifications, alongside self-attested photocopies.
Stage 6: Final Merit List
A final merit list is prepared based on total marks secured across the written exam and the SSB interview. Final course allocation relies on merit rank, wing preferences, eligibility, and medical fitness.
How The Final Merit Is Made
The final selection list is generated out of a total of 1800 marks. This comprises 900 marks from the Written Examination (Mathematics + GAT) and 900 marks from the SSB Interview. Candidates must secure separate minimum qualifying marks in both the written exam and the SSB interview stage. Final allotment to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy depends on combined merit scores, vacancy availability, medical fitness clearance, and candidate preferences specified during application.
Documents You'll Need
- Matriculation or equivalent certificate showing full name and date of birth.
- 10+2 pass certificate or mark sheet from a recognized Board or University.
- Valid photo identity proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, or Driving License).
- Printout of the submitted online application form and SSB interview call letter.
- Category certificates for SC, ST, or specific physical relaxation claims (where applicable).
- Recent passport-size color photographs as specified in the SSB instructions.
Selection FAQs
Does the UPSC NDA 2026 examination use score normalization?
No, normalization is not applied for the UPSC NDA & NA written examination as all candidates appear for standardized paper sets in a single unified schedule.
Is there negative marking in the NDA written exam?
Yes, one-third of the marks allotted to a question are deducted for every wrong answer. In Mathematics, 0.83 marks are deducted per incorrect response, while in GAT, 1.33 marks are deducted per incorrect response.
What happens if I fail Stage 1 of the SSB Interview?
Candidates who do not qualify Stage 1 (OIR and PP&DT) on the first day of the SSB interview are screened out and returned on the same day. Only qualified candidates stay for the Stage 2 testing routine.
How many total marks determine the final NDA merit list?
The final merit list is prepared out of 1800 total marks, combining 900 marks for the written examination and 900 marks for the SSB interview process.