The Union Public Service Commission has released the official NDA 2 Notification 2026 for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). The eligible unmarried male and female candidates can now apply online for NDA 2 on the official UPSC portal. 

If you are looking for a defence job opportunity just after 12th, or army officer recruitment, or navy officer recruitment, or air force officer recruitment, then this opportunity is for you. Let's get into the   eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and selection process before applying.

NDA 2 Recruitment 2026 Overview

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

UPSC NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026

Conducting Authority

UPSC

Total Posts

394

Job Type

Defence Jobs 2026

Application Mode

Online

Selection Process

Written Exam + SSB Interview + Medical Test

Official Website

UPSC

UPSC NDA 2 Vacancy 2026 Wing Wise Details

Wing

Vacancies

Army Wing

208

Navy Wing

42

Air Force Wing

120

Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)

24

Total

394

Army, Navy & Air Force Vacancy Details

The UPSC NDA exam provides opportunities in:

  • NDA Army Wing Recruitment 

  • NDA Navy Recruitment 

  • NDA Air Force Recruitment 

  • NDA Naval Academy Entry 

This is one of the most prestigious military officer recruitment in India.

UPSC NDA 2 Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

Event

Date

NDA 2 Notification Release Date

20 May 2026

NDA 2 Apply Online Start Date

20 May 2026

NDA Online Application Last Date

9 June 2026

NDA Exam Date 2026

13 September 2026

NDA 2 Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates must satisfy all conditions related to:

  • NDA educational qualification 

  • NDA eligibility age 

  • Nationality 

  • Physical standards 

  • Marital status 

Educational Qualification for NDA 2 Exam

Wing

Qualification

Army Wing

12th Pass

Air Force & Navy Wings

12th Pass with Physics & Mathematics

Naval Academy

12th Pass with PCM

Candidates appearing in Class 12 can also apply for this NDA examination 2026.

UPSC NDA 2 Age Limit & Marital Status

Candidates are eligible if:

  • Unmarried

  • And are born between 2 January 2008 and 1 January 2011 

  • Both male and female candidates are eligible.

  • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. 

UPSC NDA 2 Nationality Criteria

Candidate becomes eligible if:

  • They are Indian citizens, or 

  • Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan as specified in UPSC rules. 

UPSC NDA 2 Physical Standards & Medical Fitness

NDA physical fitness and medical standards have to be met by candidates applying for NDA army entry, NDA naval academy or NDA air force wing.

Important criteria are:

  • Height/weight requirements 

  • standards of vision 

  • General medical health 

  • Physical stamina 

UPSC NDA 2 Selection Process Explained

Selection procedure of NDA comprises of:

  1. NDA Written Exam 

  2. SSB Interview Process 

  3. Medical Examination 

  4. Final Merit List 

Final selection is based on the NDA written exam and SSB.

NDA 2 Written Exam Pattern 2026

Subject

Marks

Duration

Mathematics

300

2.5 Hours

General Ability Test

600

2.5 Hours

Total

900

  1. Hours

The NDA general ability test comprises:

  • English, General Knowledge, Science, History, Geography, Current Affairs 

NDA Examination Centres:

S.No

Exam Centre

State/UT

1

Agartala

Tripura

2

Ahmedabad

Gujarat

3

Aizawl

Mizoram

4

Prayagraj (Allahabad)

Uttar Pradesh

5

Bengaluru

Karnataka

6

Bareilly

Uttar Pradesh

7

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh

8

Chandigarh

Chandigarh

9

Chennai

Tamil Nadu

10

Cuttack

Odisha

11

Dehradun

Uttarakhand

12

Delhi

Delhi

13

Dharamshala

Himachal Pradesh

14

Dispur

Assam

15

Gangtok

Sikkim

16

Hyderabad

Telangana

17

Imphal

Manipur

18

Itanagar

Arunachal Pradesh

19

Jaipur

Rajasthan

20

Jammu

Jammu & Kashmir

21

Jorhat

Assam

22

Kochi

Kerala

23

Kohima

Nagaland

24

Kolkata

West Bengal

25

Leh

Ladakh

26

Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh

27

Madurai

Tamil Nadu

28

Mumbai

Maharashtra

29

Nagpur

Maharashtra

30

Panaji (Goa)

Goa

31

Patna

Bihar

32

Port Blair

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

33

Raipur

Chhattisgarh

34

Ranchi

Jharkhand

35

Sambalpur

Odisha

36

Shillong

Meghalaya

37

Shimla

Himachal Pradesh

38

Srinagar

Jammu & Kashmir

39

Srinagar (Uttarakhand)

Uttarakhand

40

Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala

41

Tirupati

Andhra Pradesh

42

Udaipur

Rajasthan

43

Visakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh

NDA 2 Negative Marking Details

NDA written exam negative marking rules are:

• Mathematics: 0.83 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer 

• GAT: 1.33 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer 

UPSC NDA 2 Application Fee Details

Category

Fee

General/OBC

₹100

SC/ST/Female/Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs

Exempted

The application fee for NDA can be paid through on-line or through SBI branches.

How to Apply for NDA 2 Recruitment 2026 Online

The online process of NDA registration is as follows:

1. Go to the online application portal of UPSC. 

2. Complete One Time Registration (OTR) 

3. Fill out the NDA 2 online form properly. 

4. Upload the necessary documents. 

5. Pay NDA examination fees. 

6. Download and submit application form. 

Documents Required for NDA 2 Online Form

  • Photograph 

  • Signature 

  • Class 10 certificate 

  • Class 12 certificate 

  • ID proof 

  • Category certificate (if applicable) 

NDA 2 Admit Card & Exam Date Updates

Candidates must download the admit card from the UPSC portal using registration details.

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

UPSC NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026

NDA Exam Date 2026

13 September 2026

Admit Card Release Mode

Online

Official Website

UPSC

Credentials Required

Registration ID/Roll Number & DOB

SSB Interview Process for NDA 2 Candidates

The SSB interview process includes:

  • Psychological assessment 

  • Group Testing 

  • Personal Interview 

  • Officer Intelligence Rating 

  • Outdoor Tasks 

SSB interview tips:

  • Improve communication skills 

  • Build leadership qualities 

  • Stay physically fit 

  • Practice current affairs regularly 

NDA 2 Salary, Training & Career Growth

Selected candidates will receive:

  • Salary of NDA officer during training 

  • Military allowances 

  • Medical facilities

  • Opportunities for career development 

NDA provides the best government defence jobs and opportunity for long-term officer career in India.

Best Preparation Tips for UPSC NDA 2 Exam

  • Understand NDA exam pattern clearly 

  • Study NDA previous year papers 

  • Take NDA mock test regularly 

  • Strengthen Mathematics and English 

  • Prepare current affairs daily 

  • Maintain NDA physical fitness 

  • If required, join NDA coaching 

Students who are preparing for army navy air force jobs should be disciplined and consistent.

Apply OnlineUPSC Online Application Portal

Official NotificationNDA 2 Notification 2026 PDF

Conclusion

UPSC NDA 2 Recruitment 2026 is a wonderful opportunity for students who want to make their career in Defence after 12th in Army, Navy and Air Force. Candidates should complete the NDA 2 apply online process before the last date and start early preparation for both written examination and SSB interview.

Candidates can also follow Career Mitra for authentic career guidance and recruitment updates for government jobs, UPSC defence exams, NDA Preparation Tips and army navy air force jobs.

FAQs 

What is the total NDA 2 vacancy 2026?

A total of 394 posts have been announced.

Are girls eligible for NDA 2 Exam 2026?

Yes, females are eligible too.

What is the age limit for NDA?

Candidates must be born between 2 January 2008 and 1 January 2011.

Is PCM mandatory for NDA?

PCM is required for Navy and Air Force wings.

What is the NDA selection process?

Written Exam, followed by SSB Interview, and then Medical Examination.

Does NDA exam have any negative marking?

Yes, negative marking applies in both papers.