Introduction to UPSC NDA & NA (II) Examination 2025
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination (II), 2025. This presents a golden opportunity for young and dynamic individuals aspiring to join the prestigious armed forces of India. A total of 406 vacancies have been announced for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 156th Course and for the 118th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from 1st July, 2026. The online application process has commenced, and the last date for submission of applications is 17th June 2025.
UPSC NDA II 2025: Organization Details
- Hiring Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Examination Name: National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (II), 2025
- Number of Posts: 406
- Course Commencement: 1st July, 2026
- Location: Admission to National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune and Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Examination centres are spread across India.
UPSC NDA II 2025 Vacancy Breakdown
The approximate number of vacancies to be filled based on the results of this examination is as follows:
| Academy/Wing | Vacancies |
| National Defence Academy | |
| Army | 208 (including 10 for female candidates) |
| Navy | 42 (including 05 for female candidates) |
| Air Force | |
| (i) Flying | 92 (including 02 for female candidates) |
| (ii) Ground Duties (Tech) | 18 (including 02 for female candidates) |
| (iii) Ground Duties (Non Tech) | 10 (including 02 for female candidates) |
| Naval Academy | |
| (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) | 36 (including 04 for female candidates) |
| Total | 406 |
UPSC NDA II 2025: Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must ensure they fulfill all eligibility conditions before applying. Admission is purely provisional until verification of original documents.
Nationality
A candidate must be an unmarried male/female and must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
- Candidates belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) require a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India, except for Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
Age Limits, Sex, and Marital Status
- Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 01st January, 2007 and not later than 1st January, 2010 are eligible.
- The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or equivalent. No changes to the claimed date of birth will be allowed later.
- Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries subsequent to the application or during training will not be selected or will be discharged.
Educational Qualifications
- For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
- For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
- Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern or equivalent examination can also apply. Such candidates who qualify the SSB interview must submit proof of passing by 10th June, 2026.
- Candidates appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible.
Physical Standards
Candidates must be physically fit according to the prescribed physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2025, as per guidelines in Appendix-III of the notification. Candidates are advised to get themselves medically examined before applying to avoid disappointment.
UPSC NDA II 2025: Important Dates
- Date of Notification: 28.05.2025
- Start Date for Online Applications: 28.05.2025
- Last Date for Submission of Online Applications: 17.06.2025 (till 11:59 PM)
- Date of Examination: 14th September, 2025
- Declaration of Written Exam Result (Likely): October 2025
- SSB Interview (Likely): December 2025 to January 2026
- Course Commencing From: 1st July, 2026
UPSC NDA II 2025: Salary & Benefits
Stipend During Training
- Selected candidates will receive a fixed stipend of Rs 56,100/- per month (Starting pay in Level 10) during the entire duration of training in Service academies.
- On successful commissioning, the pay in the Pay matrix of the Officer commissioned shall be fixed in the first Cell of Level 10. The training period is not treated as commissioned service, but arrears on account of admissible allowances for the training period will be paid.
Allowances and Perks
- Military Service Pay (MSP): Rs 15,500/- p.m. fixed for officers from Lt to Brig.
- Field Area Allowances: Vary depending on rank and area of posting (e.g., High Altitude Allowance, Siachen Allowance).
- Other Allowances:
- Dearness Allowance (DA): Admissible at the same rates as civilian personnel.
- Para Allowance: Rs 13,125/- pm.
- Special Forces Allowance: Rs 31,250/- pm.
- Technical Allowance (Tier-I): Rs 3,000/- pm; (Tier-II): Rs 4,500/- pm.
- Dress Allowance: Rs 25,000/- per year.
- Ration in Kind: In peace and field areas.
- Transport Allowance (TPTA): Higher TPTA Cities: Rs. 7200+DA; Other Places: Rs. 3600+DA for officers.
- Children Education Allowance (CEA): Rs. 2,812.50/- per month per child for two eldest surviving children (Nursery to 12th Class).
- Hostel Subsidy: Rs. 8438/- per month per child for two eldest surviving children (Nursery to 12th Class).
- Insurance: Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF) provides insurance cover of Rs. 15 lakh for cadets during pre-commission training on payment of a one-time premium. For Gentlemen/Lady Cadets during pre-commission training, insurance cover is Rs. One Crore. Specific benefits in case of disability or death during training are also applicable.
- Retirement Benefits: Pension, gratuity, and casualty pensionary awards are admissible as per rules.
- Leave: Admissible as per rules in force [Page 103 of PDF, Point 15].
UPSC NDA II 2025: Selection Process
The selection process consists of two main stages:
- Written Examination: Conducted by UPSC.Two Papers (One for General Ability Test of 600 Marks and One of Mathematics of 300 Marks)
- The papers in all subjects will consist of Objective Type Questions only.The question papers (Test Booklets) of Mathematics and Part “B” of General Ability Test will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English.Penalty for Wrong Answers (Negative Marking): One third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer marked by a candidate.Candidates must use a black ball pen only for both writing and marking answers on the OMR sheet.Calculators or Mathematical/logarithmic tables are not permitted.
- Paper-I: Mathematics (300 Marks): Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability.
- Paper-II: General Ability Test (600 Marks)
- Part A: English (200 Marks): Testing understanding of English and workmanlike use of words, covering grammar, usage, vocabulary, comprehension, and cohesion.
- Part B: General Knowledge (400 Marks): Broadly covers Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies (History, Freedom Movement, etc.), Geography, and Current Events. Approximate weightage for sections: Physics (25%), Chemistry (15%), General Science (10%), History/Freedom Movement (20%), Geography (20%), Current Events (10%).
- Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview):
- Candidates who qualify in the written examination will appear before a Services Selection Board (SSB) for Intelligence and Personality Tests.
- The SSB procedure consists of a two-stage selection process.
- Stage I: Comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). Candidates shortlisted based on performance in OIR and PP&DT will proceed to Stage II.
- Stage II: Comprises Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference, conducted over 4 days.
- Candidates for the Air Force will also have to qualify the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS). Candidates with Air Force as one of the choices would undergo CPSS if they qualify SSB and are willing.
- The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors: the Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and the Psychologist.
The final allocation to the Army, Navy, Air Force of the NDA and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of INA will be made up to the number of vacancies available, subject to eligibility, medical fitness, and merit-cum-preference of the candidates.
How to Apply for UPSC NDA II 2025
Candidates are required to apply online using the website. No other mode of application is allowed.
- The Union Public Service Commission has introduced a new Online Application Portal. Applicants are required to fill up the application and upload their documents afresh in this new portal. The old One Time Registration (OTR) module is no longer applicable.
- Candidates should first go through the detailed instructions available on the portal’s home page and within all profiles/modules.
- Photo ID Requirement: Candidates must have details of one photo ID such as Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, School Photo ID, or any other photo ID Card issued by the State/Central Government. The details of this photo ID will be required during registration and the ID must be carried while appearing for the examination/SSB. Aadhaar Card is strongly advised for easy verification.
- Candidates must provide requisite information and supporting documents for claims like date of birth, educational qualification, etc. Failure to do so will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Applications once submitted cannot be withdrawn. No corrections in any field of the application form will be allowed after submission and closure of the application window.
- Candidates should carefully decide their choice for the examination centre while filling the form. Allotment of Centres (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur) will be on a ‘first-apply-first-allot’ basis.
UPSC NDA II 2025: Application Fees
- Candidates (excepting SC/ST candidates, female candidates, and Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs specified in Note 2 of Para 4 of the notification, who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only).
- Payment Modes: The fee can be paid by using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking of any Bank. Payment through any other mode is not acceptable.
- Applications submitted without the prescribed fee/mode (unless fee remission is claimed) shall be summarily rejected.
- Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances.
- OBC candidates are required to pay the full prescribed fee; no fee exemption is available for them.
Official Notification & Apply Links for UPSC NDA II 2025
- Official Notification PDF: Download Now
- Online Application Link: Apply Now
- Official UPSC Website: Visit Now
Stay Updated with the Latest Government Job Alerts: