UPSC NDA II Exam Schedule 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially scheduled the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 for 13 September 2026 (Sunday). The examination will be conducted in one day for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of the Indian Naval Academy.
The official notification for NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 was released on 20 May 2026, and the last date for submitting the online application was 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Candidates who successfully submitted their applications should now focus on the upcoming written examination, admit card and exam-day instructions. UPSC has also published an official Examination Time Table for NDA & NA II 2026, making the examination schedule an important update for all registered candidates.
UPSC NDA II Exam Schedule 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 |
| Popular Name | UPSC NDA 2 Exam 2026 |
| Exam Type | Defence Entrance Examination |
| Notification Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 11 June 2026 |
| Last Time for Application | 6:00 PM |
| NDA II Exam Date 2026 | 13 September 2026 |
| Exam Day | Sunday |
| Exam Duration | One Day |
| Exam Mode | Offline / Written Examination |
| Admit Card | Before Examination |
| Result | To Be Announced |
| SSB Interview | After Written Result |
| Official Website | UPSC |
The UPSC examination archive confirms 13 September 2026 as the examination date for NDA & NA II 2026.
UPSC NDA 2 Exam Date 2026
The UPSC NDA II Examination 2026 will be conducted on 13 September 2026.
The examination is scheduled as a one-day examination. Candidates should reach their allotted examination centre according to the reporting time mentioned on their e-Admit Card.
The NDA examination is conducted twice every year:
- NDA & NA Examination I
- NDA & NA Examination II
The first NDA examination of 2026 was conducted on 12 April 2026, while the second examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
Therefore, candidates preparing for the second cycle should now concentrate on final revision and examination strategy.
UPSC NDA II Important Dates 2026
The complete important-date schedule is given below:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NDA II Notification 2026 | 20 May 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 11 June 2026 |
| Last Date & Time | 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM |
| NDA II Written Examination | 13 September 2026 |
| Admit Card | Before Exam |
| Written Result | To Be Announced |
| SSB Interview | After Written Result |
| Final Result | To Be Announced |
The notification and application dates are confirmed in UPSC’s examination archive.
UPSC NDA II Exam Time Table 2026
The NDA II written examination is conducted in two papers:
| Paper | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 2½ Hours |
| Paper II | General Ability Test (GAT) | 2½ Hours |
The written examination is held on a single day.
Candidates should carefully check their e-Admit Card for the exact reporting time, examination centre and other instructions.
UPSC has published an Examination Time Table for NDA & NA II 2026 on its official website.
UPSC NDA II Exam Pattern 2026
The written examination consists of Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT).
Mathematics
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Duration | 2½ Hours |
| Type of Questions | Objective |
| Mode | Offline |
General Ability Test
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 600 |
| Duration | 2½ Hours |
| Type of Questions | Objective |
| Mode | Offline |
Therefore, the written examination carries a total of 900 marks.
Candidates should remember that the GAT paper includes English as well as General Knowledge components.
UPSC NDA II Mathematics Paper
The Mathematics paper is designed around the level prescribed for the NDA examination.
Important areas generally include:
- Algebra
- Matrices and Determinants
- Trigonometry
- Analytical Geometry
- Differential Calculus
- Integral Calculus
- Vector Algebra
- Statistics
- Probability
- Mensuration
Candidates should practice numerical questions regularly because time management is particularly important in the Mathematics paper.
UPSC NDA II General Ability Test
The GAT is divided broadly into:
English
Important areas include:
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
- Sentence correction
- Usage of words
- Antonyms and synonyms
General Knowledge
Candidates should prepare:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- General Science
- History
- Geography
- Current Affairs
- Defence-related awareness
The GAT carries significantly more marks than Mathematics, making it an important part of the NDA selection process.
UPSC NDA II Selection Process 2026
The selection process generally consists of the following stages:
Written Examination → SSB Interview/Personality Test → Medical Examination → Final Selection
Stage 1 – Written Examination
Candidates first appear for Mathematics and GAT.
Stage 2 – SSB
Candidates who qualify the written examination are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) process.
Stage 3 – Medical Examination
Candidates recommended through the selection process undergo the required medical examination.
Stage 4 – Final Merit
Final selection is based on the applicable merit and eligibility conditions, subject to vacancies and other requirements.
UPSC NDA II Admit Card 2026
The UPSC NDA II Admit Card 2026 will be released before the examination.
Candidates should download the e-Admit Card from the official UPSC website when it becomes available.
The admit card is extremely important because it contains details such as:
- Candidate’s name
- Roll number
- Registration details
- Examination centre
- Examination date
- Reporting time
- Important instructions
Candidates should carefully check all details after downloading the admit card.
How to Download UPSC NDA II Admit Card 2026?
Candidates can follow these steps:
Step 1
Visit the official UPSC website.
Step 2
Go to the Examinations or e-Admit Card section.
Step 3
Find National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026.
Step 4
Click on the admit card link.
Step 5
Enter the required login information.
Step 6
Submit the details.
Step 7
Download the UPSC NDA II Admit Card.
Step 8
Take a clear printout and keep it safely for the examination.
Candidates should not wait until the last day to download the admit card.
UPSC NDA II Exam Centre 2026
The examination will be conducted at designated centres across India.
The exact examination centre allotted to each candidate will be mentioned on the e-Admit Card.
Candidates should visit the examination centre once beforehand if possible, especially when the centre is in an unfamiliar location.
UPSC NDA II Eligibility 2026
Candidates should satisfy the eligibility requirements specified in the official notification.
NDA is primarily a 10+2-level defence entrance examination.
The educational requirements depend on the wing for which the candidate is applying.
Army Wing
Candidates should have passed or be appearing in the 12th Class examination under the prescribed conditions.
Air Force and Naval Wings
Candidates generally need Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) at the 10+2 level.
Candidates should always verify the exact eligibility requirements in the official NDA II 2026 notification.
UPSC NDA II Age Limit 2026
The NDA examination has a specific date-of-birth range prescribed by UPSC.
The applicable date-of-birth requirement should be checked carefully from the official NDA II 2026 notification because eligibility is based on the candidate’s exact date of birth rather than simply a general age number.
Candidates should not rely on age calculations from unofficial websites.
UPSC NDA II Vacancy 2026
The number of vacancies for NDA & NA II 2026 is specified in the official notification and can be subject to change depending on service requirements and training capacity.
Vacancies are distributed among:
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
- Naval Academy
Candidates should check the official notification for the latest wing-wise and category-wise vacancy details.
UPSC NDA II Application Form 2026
The application process for NDA II 2026 was conducted through the new UPSC online application system.
The notification was released on 20 May 2026, and applications were accepted until 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM.
UPSC introduced its new online application portal in 2025. Candidates now use the UPSC online application system for examination applications.
Since the application deadline has already passed, new candidates cannot normally submit an application for the current NDA II 2026 examination unless UPSC announces any special extension or modification.
UPSC NDA II Exam Day Instructions
Candidates should carefully follow the instructions printed on the admit card.
Important points include:
- Carry the required e-Admit Card.
- Carry the prescribed photo identity document.
- Reach the centre before the reporting time.
- Do not carry prohibited electronic devices.
- Follow the examination-centre instructions.
- Carefully fill the answer sheet as instructed.
- Avoid unnecessary last-minute stress.
- Check the examination centre location in advance.
UPSC NDA II Preparation Strategy 2026
With the examination scheduled for 13 September 2026, candidates should now focus on revision and mock-test practice.
1. Make a Revision Plan
Divide your remaining preparation time between:
- Mathematics
- English
- General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
- Science
- History
- Geography
2. Solve Previous Year Papers
Previous-year NDA question papers can help candidates understand:
- Question difficulty
- Repeated topics
- Time pressure
- Question distribution
UPSC maintains an official previous-question-paper section containing NDA question papers.
3. Practice Mathematics Daily
Mathematics requires consistent practice.
Candidates should solve questions under a time limit rather than only studying formulas.
4. Improve English
Revise grammar rules and increase vocabulary through regular practice.
5. Study Current Affairs
Focus on major national and international developments, defence news, sports, awards, science and technology and important government developments.
6. Take Full-Length Mock Tests
Mock tests should be attempted under actual examination conditions.
7. Analyse Your Mistakes
After every mock test, identify:
- Incorrect answers
- Questions taking too much time
- Weak chapters
- Guessing mistakes
- Calculation errors
NDA II 2026 Previous Year Question Papers
Previous NDA question papers are useful for understanding the actual examination level.
UPSC’s official question-paper archive currently includes NDA & NA Examination (I), 2026 question papers for:
- Mathematics
- General Ability Test
These papers are available through the official UPSC question-paper section.
Candidates should use official papers as part of their final preparation.
UPSC NDA II Result 2026
The UPSC NDA II Result 2026 will be released after the written examination.
Candidates who qualify the written examination will be considered for the next stage of the selection process.
The result generally provides the roll numbers of candidates who qualify for the subsequent stage.
Candidates should check the official UPSC website for the result rather than relying on unofficial social-media updates.
UPSC NDA II Cut Off 2026
The UPSC NDA II Cut Off 2026 will be available after the examination and result process.
The cut-off can vary depending on factors such as:
- Number of vacancies
- Difficulty level
- Number of candidates
- Candidate performance
- Written examination marks
- SSB-related selection requirements
Candidates should not treat unofficial expected cut-offs as final.
UPSC NDA II SSB Interview 2026
Candidates who qualify the written examination are called for the SSB Interview.
The SSB process assesses candidates on various aspects of:
- Personality
- Leadership
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Decision-making
- Officer-like qualities
- Psychological suitability
Candidates should start learning about the SSB process before the written result rather than waiting until the result is declared.
UPSC NDA II Exam Schedule 2026 – Important Points
Candidates should remember these key updates:
- NDA II Notification: 20 May 2026
- Application Start: 20 May 2026
- Application Last Date: 11 June 2026
- NDA II Exam Date: 13 September 2026
- Exam Duration: One Day
- Written Exam: Mathematics + GAT
- Total Written Marks: 900
- Admit Card: Before examination
- Written Result: To be announced
- SSB: After written examination qualification
- Final Selection: Subject to applicable merit, vacancies and eligibility
The UPSC official archive confirms the 13 September 2026 examination date.
UPSC NDA II Exam Schedule 2026 – Important Links
| Check Exam Schedule Notice | Click Here |
| Apply Online Link | Click Here |
| Check Date Extend Notice | Click Here |
| Check Official Notification | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions – UPSC NDA II Exam Schedule 2026
Q1. When is the UPSC NDA II Exam 2026?
The UPSC NDA II Examination 2026 is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
Q2. Is the NDA II 2026 exam date officially announced?
Yes. UPSC’s official examination archive lists 13 September 2026 as the date of the NDA & NA II 2026 examination.
Q3. When was the NDA II 2026 notification released?
The official notification was released on 20 May 2026.
Q4. What was the last date to apply for NDA II 2026?
The last date for receipt of applications was 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Q5. How many papers are there in NDA II?
There are two written papers:
- Mathematics
- General Ability Test (GAT)
Q6. What is the total marks of the NDA written exam?
The written examination carries 900 marks in total—300 marks for Mathematics and 600 marks for GAT.
Q7. When will UPSC NDA II Admit Card 2026 be released?
The admit card will be released before the examination. Candidates should monitor the official UPSC website.
Q8. Is NDA II conducted in online mode?
No. The NDA written examination is conducted as an offline objective-type examination.
Q9. What happens after the NDA written examination?
Candidates who qualify the written examination are called for the SSB selection process, followed by medical and other applicable stages.
Q10. Where can I check the official NDA II Exam Schedule 2026?
Candidates can check the official UPSC website and the UPSC examination notification/time-table section for the latest updates.
Conclusion
The UPSC NDA II Exam Schedule 2026 is now officially available, and the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 will be conducted on 13 September 2026. The examination is being conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of the Indian Naval Academy.
The notification was released on 20 May 2026, while the application process closed on 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM. Candidates who have successfully applied should now concentrate on their final preparation, revision, previous-year papers and mock tests.
The written examination consists of Mathematics and General Ability Test, carrying a combined 900 marks. Candidates qualifying the written examination will proceed to the SSB stage.
For the latest NDA II Admit Card 2026, Exam Time Table, Exam Centre, Result and Cut Off, candidates should regularly check the official UPSC portal. UPSC has already listed the examination in its official examination schedule, so candidates should save 13 September 2026 as the key date for NDA II 2026.