The UPSC NDA 2026 vacancies announcement is one of the most anticipated notifications for defence aspirants across India. Every year, thousands of candidates apply for the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as officers.
The NDA exam is considered one of the most prestigious entry points for young students who want to build a career in the Indian Armed Forces immediately after completing their 12th standard. The selection process includes a written examination followed by the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which evaluates leadership skills, personality traits, and officer-like qualities.
For candidates planning to apply for the UPSC NDA vacancy 2026, understanding the complete details about vacancies, eligibility, reservation, state wise representation, and category wise distribution is extremely important. This helps aspirants estimate competition levels and prepare strategically.
According to previous recruitment trends, UPSC releases two NDA examinations each year – NDA I and NDA II. Each exam has a different number of vacancies for the three defence wings.
If you want complete details about UPSC NDA 2026 Notification: Eligibility, Age Limit, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Salary, Dates & 394 Vacancies, Read our full guide: UPSC NDA 2026 Notification
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC NDA Examination |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Recruitment For | Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Exam Frequency | Twice per year |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Written Test) |
| Selection Process | Written Exam + SSB Interview |
| Training Academy | National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla |
Candidates preparing for UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 should also track the official UPSC website.
Total UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies for Army, Navy and Air Force
The UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 will determine how many candidates will be selected for training at the National Defence Academy. Although the official notification is usually released several months before the exam, analyzing previous years’ trends gives a good estimate of the expected vacancy numbers.
Generally, the vacancies are distributed among three branches:
- Indian Army
- Indian Navy
- Indian Air Force
Each branch has a limited number of seats and candidates compete nationwide for these positions.
Expected UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancy Distribution
| Wing | Expected Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Army | 208 |
| Navy | 42 |
| Air Force | 120 |
| Total | 370 |
These numbers may change slightly depending on defence requirements and government decisions.
The Army wing typically has the highest number of vacancies, making it comparatively more accessible than Navy and Air Force branches. However, competition remains extremely high because lakhs of candidates apply for the NDA exam every year.
Another important factor in UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 recruitment is the SSB selection rate. Even after clearing the written exam, candidates must perform well in the SSB interview to secure a final seat.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies Competition Level
| Stage | Approx Candidates |
|---|---|
| Apply for NDA | 6–8 lakh |
| Written exam qualified | ~8,000 |
| SSB recommended | ~800 |
| Final selected | ~350–400 |
This clearly shows why serious preparation is necessary for NDA aspirants.
Candidates interested in the UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 should begin preparation early, focusing on Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT), which are the two written exam papers.
UPSC NDA Vacancy 2026 Last Date
One of the most searched queries by aspirants is “UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 last date.” Missing the application deadline means waiting another six months for the next NDA exam cycle.
UPSC typically releases the notification about 3–4 months before the exam.
Expected Important Dates for NDA 2026
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | December 2025 |
| Application Start | December 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | January 2026 |
| NDA 1 Exam | April 2026 |
| NDA 2 Notification | May 2026 |
| NDA 2 Exam | September 2026 |
Candidates must ensure that they submit their application before the UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 last date to avoid last-minute technical issues.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies Application Steps
- Visit UPSC official website
- Register through One Time Registration
- Fill NDA application form
- Upload documents
- Pay exam fee
- Submit final application
Applying early is recommended because the website sometimes experiences heavy traffic near the closing date.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies 2025
Understanding the UPSC NDA vacancy 2025 is important because it helps candidates estimate the vacancy trends for upcoming exams.
In 2025, UPSC released vacancies for both NDA I and NDA II examinations.
UPSC NDA 2025 Vacancies Details
| Wing | NDA 1 2025 | NDA 2 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 208 | 208 |
| Navy | 42 | 42 |
| Air Force | 120 | 120 |
| Total | 370 | 370 |
These numbers indicate that UPSC has maintained a consistent vacancy level in recent years.
Vacancy Trends (Last 5 Years)
| Year | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 400 |
| 2023 | 395 |
| 2024 | 395 |
| 2025 | 370 |
| 2026 (Expected) | 370–395 |
From this trend, aspirants can understand that UPSC maintains a relatively stable NDA vacancy count.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies Caste Wise
Reservation policies also apply to UPSC NDA vacancy caste wise distribution. The Government of India provides reservation benefits to candidates belonging to SC, ST, and OBC categories.
However, unlike some other recruitment exams, NDA training seats themselves are not strictly divided in advance by caste. Reservation primarily affects selection and recommendation lists.
Reservation Percentage
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| General | 50% |
| OBC | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| EWS | 10% |
Candidates must submit valid caste certificates during the application and SSB process.
Benefits of Reservation
- Relaxation in cut-off marks
- Increased chances in merit list
- Reserved seats in final selection
Understanding UPSC NDA vacancy caste wise distribution helps aspirants plan their preparation and estimate cut-off scores.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies Category Wise
The UPSC NDA vacancy category wise distribution helps candidates understand how seats are divided among different categories including General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS.
Category Wise Expected Distribution (Example)
| Category | Estimated Seats |
|---|---|
| General | 180 |
| OBC | 100 |
| SC | 55 |
| ST | 25 |
| EWS | 40 |
This distribution can change depending on government policies and UPSC notifications.
Category wise vacancy information becomes especially useful when analyzing previous year cut-offs.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies Category Wise Cut-off (Example)
| Category | Written Cut-off |
|---|---|
| General | 355 |
| OBC | 340 |
| SC | 315 |
| ST | 300 |
Candidates targeting UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 should aim for scores significantly higher than these values to ensure selection.
UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies State Wise
Many candidates search for UPSC NDA vacancy state wise distribution, but it is important to understand that UPSC does not allocate vacancies based on states.
The NDA exam is a national level recruitment, meaning candidates from any state can compete equally for all seats.
However, representation statistics show how many candidates from different states are selected each year.
Approx State Representation
| State | Average Selection |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | High |
| Rajasthan | High |
| Haryana | High |
| Maharashtra | Moderate |
| Punjab | Moderate |
| South Indian States | Growing |
Northern states traditionally produce a large number of NDA candidates because of strong military traditions.
However, recent years show increasing participation from southern and northeastern states, making the exam more competitive nationwide.
FAQs – UPSC NDA 2026 Vacancies
Q1.How many vacancies are in NDA?
total vacancies in NDA 812 posts
Q2.Is NDA better or IAS?
Neither NDA (National Defence Academy) nor IAS (Indian Administrative Service) is inherently “better”
Q3.What is the last date to apply for UPSC NDA 2026?
The UPSC NDA vacancy 2026 last date is expected to fall in January 2026 for NDA 1 examination.
Q4.Is there state wise reservation in NDA?
No, UPSC NDA vacancy state wise reservation does not exist. All candidates compete at the national level.
Q5.Is there caste wise reservation in NDA?
Yes, UPSC NDA vacancy caste wise reservation exists for SC, ST, OBC and EWS categories as per Government of India rules.
Q6.Can girls apply for NDA 2026?
Yes. Female candidates are now eligible to apply for NDA and join training at the academy.
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