UPSC NDA & NA 1 Recruitment 2026 Notification: Apply Online for 400 Posts, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Salary

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the competitive examination notification for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026 on 25 October 2026. This flagship national-level recruitment drive offers a premier gateway for young, motivated male and female candidates to join the Indian Armed Forces—comprising the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force—as commissioned officers.

A total of 400 vacancies across the tri-services and the Indian Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) are being filled through this examination cycle. Candidates who have passed or are currently appearing in their Class 12 (10+2 pattern) examinations and meet the strict age window of 16.5 to 19.5 years are invited to register online. Complete your One Time Registration (OTR) on the official UPSC portal before filing the application form.

In this comprehensive recruitment guide, we break down every technical, procedural, and eligibility detail mandated by the UPSC notification. Candidates preparing for the General Ability Test and Mathematics papers should complement their preparation with our curated Daily Current Affairs Quiz (25 MCQs) and evaluate their speed using our free online tests.

UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026: Recruitment Overview

The National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune, is the world's first tri-service academy where cadets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force train together before progressing to their respective service academies. Successful entry into the 157th Course of the NDA and the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) opens doors to permanent commission in the Armed Forces of India.

Important Dates & Official Exam Schedule

Candidates must carefully adhere to the timeline set by the Union Public Service Commission. The online application portal was activated immediately following the release of the notification on 25 October 2026. Candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the deadline to prevent last-minute server bottlenecks during One-Time Registration (OTR) and application submission.

Category-Wise Application Fee Structure

The fee structure for the UPSC NDA/NA (I) Examination 2026 is nominal. SC/ST candidates, Female candidates, and Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are completely exempted from paying any examination fee. Fees can be paid online via SBI Net Banking, Visa/Mastercard/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI, or offline by depositing cash at any State Bank of India branch.

Eligibility Criteria: Academic Qualification, Age Bracket & Physical Standards

Eligibility for UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 is strictly evaluated on three primary dimensions: Academic Credentials, Age Bracket (Date of Birth limits), and Physical/Medical Standards. Both male and female candidates who are unmarried are eligible to apply.

1. Nationality & Marital Status

A candidate must be an unmarried male or unmarried female citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries with the intention of permanently settling in India. Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training course at NDA/INA.

2. Age Bracket & Permissible Birth Dates

To qualify for the NDA & NA (I) 2026 examination, candidates must satisfy the mandatory age criteria of 16.5 to 19.5 years at the time of course commencement. Specifically, candidates must be born not earlier than 2nd July 2007 and not later than 1st July 2010 (both dates inclusive).

Note for Appearing Candidates: Students currently enrolled in Class 12 under the 10+2 pattern are also eligible to apply provisionally. However, they must submit authentic proof of passing the 12th standard examination to the Services Selection Board (SSB) during the interview stage.

Category-Wise & Cadre-Wise Vacancy Breakdown

The total 400 vacancies distributed across the tri-services and the Naval Academy are detailed in the official notification. Candidates must specify their branch preferences (Army, Navy, Air Force Flying, Air Force Ground Duty Tech/Non-Tech, and Naval Academy) accurately while completing Part-I Registration.

Salary Structure, Pay Matrix & Allowances

Upon successful completion of three years training at NDA Khadakwasla and one year at the respective service academies (IMA Dehradun, INA Ezhimala, or AFA Dundigal), cadets are commissioned as Officers with the rank of Lieutenant (Army), Sub Lieutenant (Navy), or Flying Officer (Air Force).

During the final training period at Service Academies, cadets receive a fixed monthly stipend. Upon commissioning, their pay structure aligns with the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix Level 10, accompanied by Military Service Pay (MSP), Dearness Allowance (DA), Flying Allowance, High Altitude Allowances, and various service benefits.

Additional Allowances & Perks:

• Flying Allowance: ₹25,000/- per month for Army/Navy/Air Force Pilots.
• Dearness Allowance (DA): Paid at prescribed Central Government rates on Basic Pay + MSP.
• High Altitude / Hard Area Allowances: Ranges from ₹2,700/- to ₹25,000/- per month depending on posting zone.
• Uniform Allowance: Initial grant of ₹20,000/- followed by annual maintenance allowances.
• Other Benefits: Free Medical Facilities (Canteen Stores Department – CSD), Furnished Officer Accommodation, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), Group Insurance Cover of ₹1 Crore, and Lifetime Pensionary Benefits.

Selection Process & Detailed Exam Pattern

The recruitment process for UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 is conducted in two primary stages: Stage I is the Written Examination conducted by UPSC, and Stage II is the 5-day Intelligence and Personality Test conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).

Stage I: UPSC Written Examination (Total: 900 Marks)

The written exam comprises two objective-type papers. Questions are set bilingually in Hindi and English (except the English language portion of GAT). Penalty for wrong answers is applicable (1/3rd deduction of marks assigned to the question).