Article Summary:
- The NDA Exam 2026 is conducted by UPSC for students who want to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force through the National Defence Academy. The exam is conducted twice every year as NDA 1 and NDA 2, giving candidates two opportunities to begin their defence careers.
- As per the official UPSC calendar, the NDA 1 application process will begin on 10 December 2025, and the exam will be held on 12 April 2026. For NDA 2, the registration process will start on 20 May 2026, while the exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
- In this article, students can check all the important NDA Exam 2026 dates, including notification dates, application dates, admit card updates, exam schedule, and result details.
Every year, UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts the NDA (National Defence Academy) Exam for students who wish to join the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and other defence services. The exam is conducted twice a year as NDA 1 and NDA 2, giving students multiple chances to achieve their dream of serving the nation.
According to the latest UPSC exam calendar, the NDA 1 application process will start on 10 December 2025 and continue till 30 December 2025. The NDA 1 Exam 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 12 April 2026. In this article, you will get complete details about the NDA exam dates 2026, including registration dates, admit card release dates, exam schedules, and result updates.
Contents
NDA Exam 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Full Form | National Defence Academy Exam |
| Exam Level | National |
| Conducted by | UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Frequency | Twice a year |
| Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
NDA Exam 2026 Dates
The UPSC has officially released the NDA Exam 2026 schedule on its official website. Candidates preparing for the exam can check the table below for important dates related to registration, admit card, exam, and result announcements.
| Particulars | NDA 1 Dates | NDA 2 Dates |
| Application Starts | 10th December 2025 | 20th May 2026 |
| Application Closes | 30th December 2025 | 9th June 2026 |
| Admit Card | To be notified | To be notified |
| Exam Date | 12th April 2026 | 13th September 2026 |
| Result Date | To be notified | To be notified |
Also Read: NDA Exam Pattern
NDA Exam 2026 Notification Dates
The official notification for the NDA exam 2026 is released by the UPSC before the examination. The notification contains important details such as exam dates, eligibility criteria, syllabus, application process, and exam instructions. Along with the notification, the online application form is also released. Students can check the NDA 2026 notification dates below:
| Event | Date |
| NDA 1 Notification | 11th December 2025 |
| NDA 2 Notification | 28th May 2026 |
NDA Exam 2026 Application Dates
As per the official UPSC calendar, the application process for NDA 1 2026 will begin on 10 December 2025. Candidates can complete the application form online, and the registration process will continue till 30 December 2025. Students are advised to complete the application before the last date to avoid technical issues at the final moment.
For NDA 2 2026, the application process will start on 20 May 2026 and remain open till 9 June 2026. Candidates who want to appear for the exam must submit their application form within the given timeline.
| Particulars | NDA 1 Dates | NDA 2 Dates |
| Application Starts | 10th December 2025 | 20th May 2026 |
| Application Closes | 30th December 2025 | 9th June 2026 |
Also Read: NDA Exam Result 2024 – Link to Download Scorecard – Leverage Edu
NDA Exam 2026 Admit Card Dates
The NDA admit card is released a few weeks before the examination date. It is one of the most important documents required to appear for the exam. Candidates must carry their admit card to the examination centre because entry without the admit card will not be allowed. The official admit card release dates for NDA 1 and NDA 2 2026 will be announced soon by UPSC.
| Particulars | NDA 1 Dates | NDA 2 Dates |
| Admit Card | To be notified | To be notified |
NDA Exam 2026 Exam Date
The NDA written examination is conducted after the release of the admit card. According to the official UPSC exam calendar, NDA 1 Exam 2026 will be conducted on 12 April 2026, while NDA 2 Exam 2026 is scheduled for 13 September 2026. Candidates should regularly check official updates and prepare their study plan according to the exam schedule.
| Particulars | NDA 1 Dates | NDA 2 Dates |
| Exam Date | 12th April 2026 | 13th September 2026 |
FAQs
NDA stands for National Defence Academy, which is one of the top training academies for candidates who want to join the Indian Armed Forces.
The official result dates for NDA 2026 have not been announced yet. Candidates should regularly visit the UPSC official website for updates.
The application process for NDA 1 2026 will begin on 10 December 2025 and continue till 30 December 2025. For NDA 2 2026, the registration process will start on 20 May 2026 and end on 9 June 2026.
The NDA exam is conducted twice every year as NDA 1 and NDA 2 by UPSC.
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