UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) documents · last checked 18 October 2026

UPSC NDA 2026 Written Exam (UPSC) exam pattern

Offline, pen and paper (objective questions marked on an OMR answer sheet with a black ball pen) · 2 hours 30 minutes for each paper (2 papers)

SectionQuestionsMarks
Paper I: Mathematics (Code 01)120300
Paper II: General Ability Test (Code 02) - Part A English50200
Paper II: General Ability Test (Code 02) - Part B General Knowledge100400
Total270900

Marking: All questions in a paper carry equal marks: 2.5 marks each in Mathematics and 4 marks each in the General Ability Test. Each question has four options. For every wrong answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks for that question is cut: 0.83 in Mathematics and 1.33 in the General Ability Test. Marking more than one option counts as a wrong answer. A blank question gets no penalty.

  • Question counts come from the covers of the official NDA & NA (II) 2026 test booklets. The notification gives only the marks and time. In the GAT booklet, Part A (English) is items 1 to 50 and Part B (General Knowledge) is items 51 to 150.
  • The Mathematics paper and Part B of the GAT are printed in both Hindi and English. Part A (English) is in English only.
  • Calculators, mathematical tables and log tables are not allowed. Candidates must write the papers in their own hand; no scribe is allowed.
  • In Part B (General Knowledge), the approximate weightage is: Physics 25%, Chemistry 15%, General Science 10%, History and Freedom Movement 20%, Geography 20% and Current Events 10%.
  • UPSC can fix minimum qualifying marks in any or all subjects. In the NDA & NA (I) 2025, (II) 2025 and (II) 2024 cut-off notices this was at least 25% in each subject; for NDA & NA (I) 2024 it was 20%.
  • On 13 September 2026 the papers were held in two sessions: Mathematics 10:00 AM-12:30 PM and General Ability Test 2:00-4:30 PM. Entry closes 30 minutes before each session (9:30 AM and 1:30 PM).
  • After the exam, candidates can send representations on the questions and provisional answer keys online for 5 days: from the 3rd day of the exam date to 6:00 PM on the 7th day.

UPSC NDA 2026 SSB Interview (Intelligence and Personality Test) exam pattern

In person at a Services Selection Centre / Air Force Selection Board / Naval Selection Board · Stage I on the first day of reporting; Stage II tests run over 4 days

SectionQuestionsMarks
SSB Intelligence and Personality Test—900
Total—900

Marking: Candidates are judged by three assessors (Interviewing Officer, Group Testing Officer and Psychologist), plus the Conference. All of these carry equal weight. Candidates are either Recommended or Not Recommended, and must get the minimum qualifying marks set by the SSB.

  • Stage I has the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Only those who clear Stage I go on to Stage II.
  • Stage II has the Interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, Psychology tests and the Conference.
  • Final merit is based on written marks plus SSB marks, out of 1800. Candidates must clear the written exam and the SSB separately.
  • Ties are broken in this order: higher written total, then higher marks in Paper II (General Ability Test), then the older candidate.
  • Candidates who choose the Air Force also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) after clearing the SSB, if they are willing. Each flying-branch candidate is given the CPSS only once; the grade from the first test counts at every later Air Force Selection Board. A candidate who fails CPSS, or is not tested because they wear glasses regularly, can still be considered for Ground Duty branches if willing.
  • Candidates recommended by the SSB then have a medical exam by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Final selection depends on merit, preferences, medical fitness and the number of vacancies.
  • Candidates attending SSB for the first time for a type of commission get AC III tier train fare (or bus fare) both ways.

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