The National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam is one of the most prestigious exams for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. Conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), it offers entry into the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of National Defense Academy as well as the Indian Naval Academy Courses (INAC). For the upcoming year, the exam will be held for the 155th Course and the 117th INAC Course, which are set to commence on 1st January 2026.

This year, the National defense academy 1 Notification 2025 was released on 11th December 2024, announcing 406 officer vacancies across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The selection process involves a written examination followed by SSB interviews, open to both male and female candidates. The article provides complete details about the exam pattern, eligibility criteria, and other essential information to help candidates prepare effectively. To enhance your preparation, exploring nda coaching near me can help you find specialized guidance and resources to achieve success in the exam.

UPSC NDA & NA Exam 2025 Overview

The National Defense Academy & Naval Academy Exam is a comprehensive process designed to assess candidates for officer-level roles in the Indian Armed Forces. The table below provides detailed insights into key aspects of the exam, such as its structure, eligibility, stages, and other essential parameters. Understanding these details is crucial for aspirants to effectively plan their preparation and meet the required criteria for success.

Parameter	Details
Organisation	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
Total Vacancies	406
Frequency of Exam	Twice a year
Exam Stages	Written Test and SSB Interview
Exam Level	National
Exam Mode	Offline
Exam Duration	Five hours (Mathematics: 2½ hours, General Ability Test (GAT): 2½ hours)
Exam Pattern	GAT: 150 Objective type questions; Mathematics: 120 Objective type questions
Mode of Application	Online
Eligibility	Unmarried Boys and Girls
Language of Exam	English and Hindi
Official Website	www.upsc.gov.in

NDA 1 Exam 2025 PDF Notification Out

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the National defense academy 1 2025 Notification PDF on 11th December 2024 at www.upsc.gov.in. This notification announces 406 vacancies for unmarried male and female candidates to be recruited for the National Defense Academy and Naval Academy for the 2025-26 session. The National Defense Academy Exam, conducted twice a year, is a prestigious opportunity for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as officers.

The National Defense Academy 1 2025 Exam serves as a gateway for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the Indian Defense Forces. The official notification 2025 PDF provides detailed information about the selection process, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and important dates. Aspiring candidates are encouraged to review the notification and begin their preparation. For those seeking guidance, searching for NDA coaching near me can be beneficial in ensuring effective preparation for the exam.

NDA & NA 2025 Important Dates

The NDA & NA Examination 2025 is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for officer-level positions in the Indian Armed Forces. Staying updated with important dates is crucial for effective preparation and timely submission of applications. Below is the revised schedule for 2025 Process:

Events	Exam-1 Dates	Exam-2 Dates
NDA Notification 2025	11th December 2024	28th May 2025
NDA Application Form 2025	11th December 2024	28th May 2025
Last Date to Apply	31st December 2024	17th June 2025
NDA Exam Date 2025	13th April 2025	14th September 2025
NDA Admit Card 2025	April 2025	September 2025
Application Withdrawal	To be notified	To be notified

This table provides a clear timeline for aspirants to plan their application process and exam preparation efficiently. Candidates are advised to complete the application process within the specified deadlines and regularly check for updates on admit card releases and other key events.

NDA & NA Examination Vacancy 2025

The exam will be conducted to fill 406 vacancies, as announced in the official UPSC NDA/NA 1 2025 notification released on 11th December 2024. This year’s recruitment will offer opportunities in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy. Below is the detailed distribution of vacancies for each department:

NDA 1 Vacancy 2025 Distribution:

Department	Vacancies (Male)	Vacancies (Female)	Total Vacancies
National Defence Academy (Army)	198	10	208
National Defence Academy (Navy)	36	06	42
Air Force (Flying)	90	02	92
Air Force (Ground Tech)	16	02	18
Air Force (Ground Non-Tech)	08	02	10
Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet)	31	05	36
Total	379	27	406

NDA 1 Exam 2025 Application Fee

The application fee details are as follows:

Application Fee Details:

Category	Fee Amount	Payment Method
General Category	Rs 100/-	Cash at SBI branches, Net banking (SBI), Visa/MasterCard/Rupay Credit/Debit Cards
SC/ST candidates / Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs	Exempted	Not applicable

UPSC NDA Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria is outlined below. Candidates must meet specific requirements regarding education, age limit, nationality, and physical standards to be eligible for the exam.

Education Qualification

For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: Candidates must have passed the 12th Class (HSC) or equivalent examination from a recognized State Education Board or University.
For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: Candidates should have completed the 12th Class (HSC) or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics from a recognized State Education Board or University.
Note: Candidates appearing for the 12th Class exam are also eligible to apply

Age Limit:

Only unmarried male and female candidates born between 2nd July 2006 and 1st July 2009 are eligible.

Nationality:

Candidates must be unmarried and meet the following nationality criteria:

A citizen of India, or
A subject of Bhutan, or
A subject of Nepal, or
A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 to permanently settle in India, or
A person of Indian origin who has migrated from countries such as Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and others to permanently settle in India.

Physical Standards:

Candidates must meet the physical fitness requirements as per the physical standards. They need to fulfill the following criteria:

Running: 2.4 km in 15 minutes
Skipping
Pushups & Sit-ups: Minimum 20 each
Chin-ups: Minimum 08
Rope Climbing: 3.4 meters

NDA Height Requirements:

Duty	Minimum Height	Maximum Height
Ground Duty
Except for specific states	157.5 cm	—
Gorkhas and candidates from North Eastern regions and Uttarakhand	152.5 cm	—
Candidates from Lakshadweep	155.5 cm	—
Flying Duty
Sitting Height	81.5 cm	96 cm
Leg Length	99 cm	120 cm
Thigh Length	—	64 cm

This information includes the necessary educational, age, and physical standards for candidates aspiring to join the National Defense Academy and Naval Academy in 2025. Be sure to meet the eligibility criteria to ensure your application is accepted.

NDA & NA Examination 2025 Selection Process

The UPSC NDA 2 exam is conducted in two stages:

Written Examination
Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB)

Candidates who qualify the written exam will be called for the SSB interview, where their intelligence, personality, and suitability for defense services are evaluated.
Both stages (written exam and SSB) must be cleared for inclusion in the final merit list.
The final selection is based on the combined score from the written exam and SSB interview.
Candidates can use resources like the nda age calculator and consider enrolling in nda coaching centers to strengthen their preparation.

NDA 1 Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates preparing for the Exam must be well-acquainted with the exam pattern followed by UPSC. Below are the key details about the exam:

The exam will be conducted offline.
The questions will be in the form of Multiple Choice Questions.
The question paper will be available in bilingual languages (English & Hindi).
There will be negative marking: 0.83 marks for Mathematics, 1.33 marks for English, and 1.33 marks for General Knowledge (GK).

NDA 1 2025 Exam Pattern

Code	Subject	Max. Marks	Duration
1	Mathematics	300	2.5 hours
2	General Ability Test	600	2.5 hours
	Total	900	5 hours

NDA & NA Examination 2025 Syllabus

To excel in the National defense academy Exam 2025, candidates must prepare thoroughly for two key subjects: Mathematics and the General Ability Test. A well-rounded preparation is crucial, and it is recommended that candidates follow the complete syllabus without skipping any topics. Below is a breakdown of the topics covered under both subjects:

Mathematics Syllabus:

Algebra
Calculus
Matrices and Determinants
Integral Calculus and Differential Equations
Trigonometry
Vector Algebra
Analytical Geometry (Two and Three Dimensions)
Statistics and Probability

General Ability Test (GAT) Syllabus:

The GAT paper consists of questions from English and General Knowledge sections. Candidates should focus on the following topics to boost their performance in this section.

English Syllabus:

Spotting Errors
Comprehension
Selecting Words
Ordering of Words in Sentences
Sentence Improvement
Antonyms
Synonyms

General Knowledge Syllabus:

Physics
Chemistry
General Science
History & Freedom Movement
Geography
Current Affairs/Events

To enhance their preparation, candidates are encouraged to take regular NDA mock tests, which will help in time management and improve their accuracy in solving questions.

NDA Admit Card

The UPSC will make the National defense Academy Admit Card available approximately two days before the exam. Candidates who have registered for the exam can download their Admit Card from the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in by using the necessary credentials.

NDA Exam Result

The results of the written exam will be published about a month after the exam, listing the candidates who have been shortlisted for the interview round. Following the SSB interview process, the UPSC will release the merit list of candidates selected for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA, as well as the Indian Naval Academy Courses (INAC) for the 155th Course and the 117th INAC.

NDA Answer Key

The official answer key for the UPSC NDA Exam will be released after the written test is conducted. Initially, a provisional answer key will be published, allowing candidates to raise objections. After reviewing the objections and the provisional key, the final answer key will be issued.

UPSC NDA Exam Cut off

The cutoff marks for the UPSC NDA Exam are released after the final result declaration. The written exam cutoff is based on a total of 900 marks, while the final cutoff is calculated from the combined marks of the written exam and the SSB Interview, with a maximum of 1800 marks (900 for each stage). A minimum of 25% marks in each subject is required to qualify.