How to apply  

The NDA & Naval Academy (II) 2025 exam will be held on 14th September 2025. The schedule is out, however, registrations are now closed.
The next opportunity will be the NDA & NA (I) 2026 exam.

• Official Notification & Applications: December 2025
• Exam Date: April 2026 (exact date will be announced)

The NDA exam is held twice every year:

• NDA (I): Conducted for the January intake
• NDA (II): Conducted for the July intake

Both exams have the same format and syllabus, so students can prepare once and attempt either (or both) depending on eligibility.

• Exam Fees : INR 100 for male candidates belonging to the General and OBC categories. However, SC/ST/Women candidates/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempted from paying the fees.
• Admit cards will be available for download 7 days before the exam on the UPSC website.
• Application link: https://upsconline.gov.in/upsc/OTRP/ 
• Documents Required : 

1. Scanned copy of the Photograph and Signature.
2. Valid Photo Identity Card (Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID Card, Driving Licence, etc).
3. Admit Card and Marksheet of Class 10 and 12.

Steps to fill the form 

Part I: Registration

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to upsconline.nic.in
2. New Registration: Click on the “New Registration” link on the homepage.
3. Enter Personal Details: Fill in personal information, educational qualifications, and your address. Required details include:
   • Name
   • Date of Birth
   • Aadhar Number
   • Father’s Name
   • Mother’s Name
4. Select Preferred Branches: Choose your preferred branches: Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy.
5. Preview Details: Review the information entered in the application form.
6. Generate Registration ID: After completing the previous steps, your registration ID will appear on the screen.

Part II: Application Submission

1. Login: Go back to upsconline.nic.in and log in using your Email ID/Mobile Number/OTR ID and password.
2. Pay Application Fees: Pay the application fee of Rs 100 through available payment options (Cash, Credit/Debit Card, UPI, etc.). Note: No fees for SC/ST candidates, female candidates, and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs.
3. Choose Exam Centres: Select any three NDA Exam Centres in the application form in order of preference.
4. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and Photo ID Card.
5. Submit Declaration: Click “I agree” on the declaration form and submit your NDA application.
6. Download/Print: Download or print the NDA Application Form 2025 for future reference.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for NDA, candidates must meet specific criteria that ensure they are physically and mentally fit for military training.

• Nationality:
  • Must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan. Candidates from other countries are not eligible.
  •  A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, to permanently settle in India or
  • A person originally Indian 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 intending to permanently settle in India.
• Age Limit: Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old at the time of joining. For instance, if the course begins in July, candidates must be born between July of the previous year and January of the current year.

• Marital status: Unmarried
• Educational Qualifications:
  • For Army Wing: A candidate must have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board or university.
  • For Air Force and Naval Wings: Candidates must have completed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as subjects.
• Physical Standards:
  • Height: Minimum height is 157 cm for boys and varies slightly for girls (minimum 152 cm). For detailed standards check Appendix IV in the official notification.
  • Weight: Must be proportionate to height and age.
  • Vision Standards: Candidates must meet the eyesight requirements set by the Armed Forces, including normal colour vision and corrected visual acuity within prescribed limits.
  • Class 1: Best eyesight; eligible for all branches of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • Class 2: Slight visual impairment; eligible for some specific branches.
  • Class 3: Weaker eyesight; eligible only for non-combat roles.

For complete details regarding the physical and medical requirements for NDA, please refer to the latest official notification.

Admission Process

The admission process to NDA is competitive and consists of several crucial steps.

• Written Examination (Total Marks: 900) :Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year.

• Exam Structure:
  • Mathematics: 300 marks covering topics like Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, and Statistics.
  • General Ability Test: 600 marks, divided into:
    • English: 200 marks (grammar, comprehension, vocabulary).
    • General Knowledge: 400 marks (Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Current Events).

Note: To qualify, candidates must score at least 25% marks in both Mathematics and the GAT paper.

Syllabus 

• English: Reading Comprehension, Synonyms, Antonyms, Spotting errors, Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases, etc.
• NDA Maths Syllabus: Matrices and Determinants, Sets, Venn Diagram, Trigonometry, 2D and 3D Geometry, Differential Calculus, etc.
• General Knowledge: History, Chemistry, Current Affairs, Art and Culture, Physics, Chemistry, Basic Science, etc.
• For detailed syllabus : NDA NA Exam 2 Notice 2025

SSB Interview:

• Candidates who clear the written examination will be called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.
• The SSB Interview is conducted in two phases over a period of 5 days.
  • Phase I- Screening
  • Phase 2- Psychological Tests, Group Tests, Interviews, and board conference

• Day-wise
  • Day 1: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PPDT).
  • Days 2-5: Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officers (GTO) tasks, and Personal Interview.
  • Candidates are evaluated on their psychological attributes, leadership potential, and ability to work in teams.

• Final Selection:
  • Final Selection: Candidates are selected based on their performance in the written examination and the SSB interview, followed by medical examinations to ensure fitness for service. A final merit list is then released on the basis of the total marks obtained in the written exam and SSB.

How to Prepare

Effective preparation for the NDA involves a multi-faceted approach, combining academic study, practical exercises, and mental conditioning.

• Study Material:
  • Mathematics:
    • NCERT Textbooks: Start with NCERT textbooks for a solid foundation in Mathematics.
    • Reference Books: Use reference books like “Objective Mathematics” by R.D. Sharma for practice and “Mathematics for Class 11 & 12” by R.D. Sharma for advanced topics. 
• General Ability:
  • General Knowledge: Use relevant guides and sources.
  • Current Affairs: Subscribe to monthly magazines and read up newspapers daily for updates on national and international events.
  • Reading Comprehension: Practise comprehension passages from various sources to improve reading speed and comprehension skills.
• Practice Papers:
  • Previous Years’ Papers: Regularly solve previous years’ NDA question papers. This familiarises you with the exam pattern and question types. Previous Year Question Papers Archives | UPSC
  • Mock Tests: Use online platforms that offer mock tests for the NDA. Simulate the exam environment to build stamina and time management skills. Some sites where you can access mock tests are:
  • Error Analysis: After each mock test, analyse your performance. Identify mistakes and focus on understanding the underlying concepts.