UPSC NDA and NA-I 2026 Exam Date Announced, Exam to be Held in Two Shifts on April 12

The UPSC has announced the date for the NDA and NA-I 2026 examination. The exam will be held on April 12, 2026, in two shifts. Here's how you can check the schedule.

Big news has emerged regarding the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) examination, one of the country's top examinations. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the date for the NDA and NA-I, 2026 examination. Candidates who have applied for this exam can now finalize their preparations, as the exam will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

According to the information released by the UPSC, the NDA and NA-I examinations will be conducted in two shifts. The complete timetable for the examination is available on the commission's official website, upsc.gov.in, which candidates can view and download online.

Exam to be Held in Two Shifts

The UPSC NDA and NA-I, 2026 examination will be conducted on the same day for two different subjects. The first shift will be for the Mathematics exam, while the second shift will be for the General Ability Test.

The Mathematics exam will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Following this, the General Ability Test will be conducted from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Both exams will be objective type.

When will Admit Cards be Issued?

The UPSC has also clarified that the admit cards for the NDA and NA-I examination 2026 will be issued a few days before the exam. Candidates will be able to download their admit cards only from the official website. The commission will not send admit cards by post, so candidates are advised to regularly check the website.

Recruitment for a Total of 394 Posts

Through this recruitment process, a total of 394 candidates will be selected for positions in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. A significant aspect is that seats have also been reserved for female candidates in these positions, which is continuously increasing women's participation in the defense sector.

Complete details of NDA and NA vacancies

According to the data released by UPSC, a total of 208 posts have been allocated for the Indian Army, including 10 posts for women. 42 posts have been allocated for the Indian Navy, including 5 posts for women. There are 92 posts for the Air Force Flying Branch, with 2 posts reserved for women. For Air Force Ground Duty (Technical), there are 18 posts, including 2 posts for women. For Ground Duty (Non-Technical), there are 10 posts, including 2 posts for women. In addition, 24 posts have been allocated under the Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme), with 3 posts reserved for women.

How to check the exam schedule

• First, candidates should visit the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.
• Then, go to the ‘What’s New’ section on the homepage.
• Here, click on the ‘Examination Time Table: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026’ link.
• Upon clicking the link, the complete exam timetable will open on the screen.
• Candidates can now carefully review it and download it if they wish.