The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the National Defence Academy (NDA) 1 Exam 2026 on April 12, 2026 . This exam is the first of two NDA examinations scheduled for 2026. The registration period for this exam took place from December 10 to December 30, 2025. The examination will be administered in offline format.
Exam Schedule and Timings
The NDA 1 Exam 2026 is divided into two shifts. Mathematics will be tested in the first shift, followed by the General Ability Test (GAT) in the second shift. Candidates must report to the examination center at least 60 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Exam Shifts and Times
| Paper | Shift Timings |
| Mathematics | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 02:00 PM - 04:30 PM |
Reporting Times
| Paper | Reporting Time |
| Mathematics | 09:50 AM |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 01:50 PM |
Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
The NDA selection process involves a written examination followed by an SSB Interview. The written exam consists of two papers: Mathematics and the General Ability Test. Each paper has a duration of 2.5 hours. The total marks for the written exam are 900.
Paper Details
| Paper | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Ability Test (GAT) | 150 | 600 | 2.5 hours |
| Total | 270 | 900 | 5 hours |
For each correct answer, candidates receive 2.5 marks. Incorrect answers incur a penalty. The penalty for an incorrect answer in the GAT paper is -1.33 marks. The penalty for an incorrect answer in the Mathematics paper is -0.83 marks.
Admit Card Information
Candidates must download their NDA 1 Admit Card 2026 from the official UPSC website, upsconline.nic.in. The admit card will contain specific reporting times and other essential examination details.
