UPSC NDA-NA & CDS II 2026: An Excellent Opportunity to Become an Army Officer
For young individuals driven by a passion to serve the nation and aspiring to build a career as an officer in the Indian Armed Forces, the UPSC has released the notification for the NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026. Learn more in detail about the number of vacancies and the application process…
UPSC NDA-NA & CDS (II) 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination (II), 2026. This presents an excellent opportunity for unmarried male and female candidates—who dream of serving the country and becoming officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force—to take a significant step forward in their careers.
Opportunity to Apply for a Total of 394 Posts
Army: 208 Posts (including 10 posts for women)
Navy: 42 Posts (including 5 posts for women)
Air Force: 92 Posts for Flying Branch (including 2 for women)
18 Posts for Ground Duty (Tech) (including 2 for women)
10 Posts for Ground Duty (Non-Tech) (including 2 for women)
Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme): 24 Posts (including 3 for women)
Eligibility Criteria for Application
For posts in the Army Wing, candidates must have passed Class 12th or an equivalent examination from a recognized board. For the Air Force, Navy, and the NA (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme), it is mandatory to have passed Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as subjects from a recognized board.
Age Limit: Candidates must not have been born before January 1, 2008, or after January 1, 2011.
Selection Process
Candidates will be selected through a three-stage selection process. The first stage will consist of a written examination, to be conducted by the UPSC on September 13, 2026, featuring questions on Mathematics and the General Ability Test. The second stage will be the SSB Interview. Candidates who pass the written examination will be called to appear for the Intelligence and Personality Tests conducted by the SSB. Candidates who clear this stage will subsequently be required to pass a medical examination.
Applications Invited for 451 Posts under CDS
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated the application process for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS-II), 2026. Successful candidates in this examination will undergo training at the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), Indian Naval Academy (Ezhimala), Air Force Academy (Hyderabad), and Officers Training Academy (Chennai), following which they will be commissioned as officers in the Armed Forces.
Vacancy Details: There are 100 vacancies at the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun); 26 at the Indian Naval Academy (Ezhimala); 32 at the Air Force Academy (Hyderabad); and 275 vacancies for men (SSC) and 18 for women at the Officers Training Academy (Chennai/Madras).
Eligibility: For the Flying Branch, candidates must hold a three-year Bachelor’s degree (or a B.E./B.Tech degree) with a minimum of 60% marks, and must have secured a minimum of 50% marks in both Physics and Mathematics at the Class 12 level. For the Ground Duty (Technical) Branch, candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics (securing a minimum of 50% marks) and hold a four-year Bachelor’s degree or an Integrated Post-Graduate degree in Engineering/Technology in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% marks. For the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch—specifically Administration—candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks. Detailed information regarding age limits, marital status, physical standards, and the selection process—specific to each course—can be obtained from the notification available on the UPSC website.
How to Apply
To appear for the NDA-NA and CDS examinations, candidates must apply online by visiting the official UPSC website: https://upsconline.nic.in. One-time registration is mandatory for the application.
Last Date: June 9, 2026.
For details, visit: https://upsconline.nic.in/cetSchedule
