UPSC NDA Exam 2025 – Application Dates, Exam Date & Details

 

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (II), 2025, offering a prestigious opportunity to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy. This blog provides a comprehensive guide to the recruitment process, eligibility criteria, application process, important dates, and more, based on the official UPSC notice.

Name of the Post

• National Defence Academy (NDA)
  • Army Wing
  • Navy Wing
  • Air Force Wing (Flying, Ground Duties - Tech, Ground Duties - Non Tech)
• Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)

Number of Posts

The approximate number of vacancies to be filled through the NDA & NA Examination (II), 2025 is as follows:

Institution	Service	Vacancies
National Defence Academy	Army	208 (including 10 for females)
	Navy	42 (including 5 for females)
	Air Force (Flying)	92 (including 2 for females)
	Air Force (Ground Duties - Tech)	18 (including 2 for females)
	Air Force (Ground Duties - Non Tech)	10 (including 2 for females)
Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)	-	36 (including 4 for females)
Total		406

Note: Vacancies are provisional and may change based on the training capacity of the academies. Separate merit lists for men and women will be prepared as per the notified vacancies.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must be unmarried and belong to one of the following categories:

• Citizen of India, or
• Subject of Nepal, or
• Person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or specified East African countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Note: Candidates under categories other than Indian citizens require a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India (except Gorkha subjects of Nepal).

Age Limits, Sex, and Marital Status

• Age: Candidates must be born between January 2, 2007, and January 1, 2010.
• Sex: Both male and female candidates are eligible.
• Marital Status: Only unmarried candidates are eligible. Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training.

Educational Qualifications

Course	Educational Qualification
Army Wing (NDA)	12th Class pass (10+2 pattern) or equivalent from a recognized State Education Board/University.
Air Force & Naval Wings (NDA)	12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (10+2 pattern) or equivalent.
Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry)	12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (10+2 pattern) or equivalent.

Note:

• Candidates appearing in the 12th class under the 10+2 pattern are also eligible but must submit proof of passing by June 10, 2026.
• Candidates in the 11th class are not eligible.
• Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence or who have resigned/withdrawn from training academies on disciplinary grounds are ineligible.

Physical Standards

• Candidates must meet the physical standards outlined in Appendix-III of the notice, including specific visual, dental, and medical fitness requirements.
• Visual Standards (Appendix D):
  • Flying Branch (Air Force): Hypermetropia: +1.5D Sph, No Myopia, Astigmatism: +0.75D Cyl, Visual Acuity: 6/6 (one eye), 6/9 (other), correctable to 6/6.
  • Ground Duties (Air Force): Hypermetropia: +2.5D Sph, Myopia: -2.5D Sph, Astigmatism: +/- 2.0D Cyl, Visual Acuity: 6/36 (uncorrected), 6/6 (corrected).
• Dental Standards: Minimum 14 dental points, with specific requirements for anterior and posterior teeth in functional opposition.
• Medical Fitness: Candidates must be free from conditions like anaemia, hereditary haemolytic anaemias, and specific gynaecological conditions (for women).
• Refractive Surgeries: Acceptable under specific conditions (e.g., post-Keratorefractive surgery with stable vision, corneal thickness ≥ 450 microns).

Other Conditions

• Candidates who failed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) are ineligible for the Air Force Flying Branch but may apply for Ground Duty branches.
• Candidates must not have withdrawn or resigned from previous training academies on disciplinary grounds.

How to Apply

• Application Mode: Online only via the UPSC website: https://upsconline.nic.in.
• Steps:
  1. Visit the UPSC online portal and complete Account Creation, Universal Registration, and Common Application Form anytime.
  2. Fill the examination-specific module during the application window (May 28, 2025, to June 17, 2025).
  3. Upload required documents (e.g., Matriculation/10+2 certificates, photo ID).
  4. Use Aadhaar Card for seamless verification (other IDs like Voter Card, PAN, Passport, etc., are also acceptable).
  5. Pay the application fee of Rs. 100/- (exempt for SC/ST, female candidates, and wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs) via Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI, or internet banking.
• Important Notes:
  • Applications cannot be withdrawn or modified after submission.
  • Incomplete applications or those without the prescribed fee (unless exempted) will be rejected.
  • Candidates must carry their photo ID to the examination and SSB interview.
  • Candidates in government service or armed forces must inform their respective authorities in writing.

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Important Dates

Event	Date
Release of Notification	May 28, 2025
Start of Online Application	May 28, 2025
Last Date for Application Submission	June 17, 2025 (11:59 PM)
e-Admit Card Availability	One week before the exam
Examination Date	September 14, 2025
Written Result Declaration	October 2025 (Tentative)
SSB Interview	December 2025 - January 2026
Submission of 10+2 Proof (if applicable)	June 10, 2026

Note: The examination date is subject to change at the discretion of the Commission.

Selection Process

The selection process involves two stages:

1. Written Examination:

   • Subjects:

     Subject	Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
     Mathematics	01	2.5 Hours	300
     berries Ability Test	02	2.5 Hours	600
     Total			900

   • Objective-type questions, bilingual (Hindi and English).
   • Negative marking for incorrect answers.
   • Calculators and mathematical tables are not allowed.
   • Syllabus includes Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, and more (see Appendix-I for details).

2. SSB Test/Interview (900 Marks):

   • Two-stage process: Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test.
   • Candidates qualifying Stage I proceed to Stage II.
   • Air Force candidates (Flying Branch) must also pass the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS).
   • Candidates must submit original certificates (Matriculation, 10+2) during the SSB interview.
   • Final selection is based on combined marks from the written exam and SSB, subject to eligibility, medical fitness, and merit-cum-preference.

Examination Centres

The examination will be held at the following centres (subject to availability):

Centres (Alphabetical Order)

Agartala, Agra, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Aligarh, Almora (Uttarakhand), Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad, Maharashtra), Bengaluru, Bareilly, Bhopal, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharamshala, Dharwad, Dispur, Faridabad, Gangtok, Gaya, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Gurgaon, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kargil, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Kozhikode (Calicut), Leh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mandi, Mumbai, Mysore, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Panaji (Goa), Patna, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Prayagraj (Allahabad), Puducherry, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Siligudi, Srinagar, Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Thane, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tirupati, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vellore, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Hanumakonda (Warangal Urban)

Note: Centres are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis, with a ceiling on capacity (except for Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur). Candidates should apply early to secure their preferred centre.

Application Fee

• Fee: Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred Only).
• Exemptions:
  • SC/ST candidates.
  • Female candidates.
  • Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military/Sainik Schools (certificate required for verification).
• Payment Modes: Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI, or Internet Banking.
• Note: Fee is non-refundable, and applications without the prescribed fee (unless exempted) will be rejected.

Resource	Link
Application Form	Click Here
Advertisement Details	Click Here
Official Website	Click Here

Training and Career Prospects

• Training:
  • NDA: 3 years of academic and physical training at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune. Degrees awarded: B.Sc, B.Sc (Computer), B.A, or B.Tech (for Naval/Air Force cadets).
  • Naval Academy: 4 years of training at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, with a B.Tech degree awarded upon completion.
  • Post-NDA training at respective academies (IMA, INA, AFA) for 1-1.5 years.
• Stipend: Rs. 56,100/- per month during training.
• Career Progression:
  • Commissioned as Lieutenant (Army), Sub Lieutenant (Navy), or Flying Officer (Air Force).
  • Pay scales range from Rs. 56,100/- (Level 10) to Rs. 2,50,000/- (Level 18).
  • Additional allowances: Military Service Pay (Rs. 15,500/-), Field Area Allowances, Dearness Allowance, Transport Allowance, etc.
  • Promotional avenues up to General/Admiral/Air Chief Marshal.

Financial Assistance and Scholarships

• Financial Assistance: Available for cadets with parental income below Rs. 45,000/- per month (Rs. 2,500/- per month).
• Scholarships:
  • Parashuram Bhau Patwardhan Scholarship: Rs. 5,000/- (one-time) for the top academic performer.
  • Colonel Kendal Frank Memorial Scholarship: Rs. 4,800/- per annum for a Maratha cadet (son of an ex-serviceman).
  • State-specific scholarships (e.g., Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, etc.) with varying amounts and eligibility criteria.

Important Instructions

• e-Admit Card: Available for download one week before the exam at https://upsconline.nic.in. No physical admit cards will be sent.
• Prohibited Items: Mobile phones, calculators, smartwatches, or any electronic devices are strictly banned during the exam.
• OMR Sheet: Use only a black ball pen for marking answers. Incorrect encoding may lead to rejection.
• Helpline: Contact 011-24041001 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, working days) for application-related queries.
• Post-Exam Representations: Submit representations on question papers within 7 days via the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) at https://upsconline.nic.in/miscellaneous/QPRep/.