The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the notification for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination (I) 2026 tomorrow, **December 10, 2025**. This exam is a key opportunity for students aiming to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as officers after completing their schooling. Along with the official notification, the online application link will also become active on the UPSC website. Students interested in applying must make sure to submit their forms by **December 30**.
The NDA 1 2026 exam is set to take place on **April 12**. This article provides all important dates, eligibility rules, application fees, and steps to apply for this national-level examination.
Key Dates for NDA 1 2026
Here are the important dates for the upcoming NDA 1 2026 examination:
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release | **December 10, 2025** |
| Application Start Date | **December 10, 2025** |
| Last Date to Apply | **December 30** |
| Application Form Correction Window | After **December 30** |
| Exam Date | **April 12** |
Who Can Apply? Check Eligibility
To apply for the NDA 1 2026 exam, candidates must meet specific education and age requirements. Students must be either studying in Class 12 or have already passed Class 12 from a recognized board. For those applying to the Army wing, candidates can be appearing for their Class 12 exams. However, for the Air Force and Naval wings, candidates must have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as subjects in Class 12.
Regarding age, only candidates born between **July 2, 2007, and July 1, 2010**, are eligible to apply. This means applicants must be between **16.5 and 19.5 years** of age at the time of joining the respective training academies. It is very important for all interested students to check these age and education rules carefully before applying.
Application Fees and Exemptions
The application fee for the NDA 1 2026 exam is **INR 100**. This fee must be paid online during the application process. However, UPSC provides fee exemptions for certain groups of candidates. Students belonging to the **Scheduled Caste (SC)** and **Scheduled Tribe (ST)** categories do not need to pay any application fee.
Additionally, **all female candidates** are fully exempted from paying the application fee. Wards of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), and Other Ranks (ORs) are also exempt from paying the fee. Candidates must choose the correct option while filling out the form to avail these exemptions.
Expected Vacancies
For the NDA 1 2026 examination, candidates can expect around **400 vacancies**. Last year, the UPSC announced a total of 406 vacancies for the NDA 1 exam. These vacancies are usually distributed across the different wings: Army, Navy, and Air Force. The exact number of vacancies for each wing will be detailed in the full notification released tomorrow.
How to Fill the NDA 1 Application Form
The application process for the UPSC NDA & NA 1 exam is entirely online. Students must follow these steps carefully to ensure their application is submitted correctly:
- Click on the 'NDA 1 apply online' link on the UPSC official website once it is active.
- Create a One Time Registration (OTR) ID by providing your basic details. If you already have an OTR ID, you can use that.
- Log in to the application portal using your OTR ID and password.
- Fill out the detailed application form with all required personal, educational, and contact information.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature as per the specifications.
- Pay the application fees, if applicable, using online payment methods like debit card, credit card, or net banking.
- Review all entered details carefully before final submission.
- Submit the completed application form.
- Take a printout of the submitted application form for future reference.
After the application window closes on **December 30**, UPSC will open a correction window. This window allows candidates to make any necessary changes to their application form if they find any errors. It is important to check the official UPSC website regularly for updates on this correction window.
The NDA exam is a two-stage process. First is the written examination, followed by an interview by the Services Selection Board (SSB) for selected candidates. Success in both stages is needed to join the prestigious National Defence Academy.
