NDA 2027 — How Many Days Left

The NDA examination is the entrance test for the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla and the Naval Academy, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission twice a year — NDA I and NDA II.

Straight from school. NDA is one of very few routes into the officer cadre that a candidate can take before any university degree: eligibility is Class 12, and applicants are typically between 16½ and 19½. Army candidates may have any stream; Air Force and Navy candidates need Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at Class 12.

The written paper, 900 marks.

• Mathematics — 300 marks, 2½ hours
• General Ability Test — 600 marks, 2½ hours, split between English and a general knowledge section covering physics, chemistry, general science, history, geography and current events

Negative marking applies to both papers, at one third of the marks for the question.

The SSB interview is the real filter, and it carries another 900 marks — as much as the entire written examination. It runs over five days: screening on day one, then psychological tests, group tasks and a personal interview. The failure rate at this stage is far higher than on the written paper, and it cannot be crammed for.

Open to women since 2021, following a Supreme Court order; the first women cadets joined the Academy the following year.

Only the UPSC notification settles eligibility, age limits and the medical standards.