For students who want to wear the uniform straight after school, the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination is the most direct route. Clear it, and you train at the NDA in Khadakwasla to become an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force. The first NDA exam of 2027 is now on the calendar, so this is the right time to start.
NDA 1 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification release | 2 December 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 22 December 2026 |
| Written exam | 11 April 2027 |
| Application website | upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in |
These dates come from the UPSC calendar for 2027. Calendars can be revised, so keep checking the official website.
Who Can Apply?
Age
Candidates must fall in a window of roughly 16.5 to 19.5 years on the date fixed in the notification. The exact birth-date range is printed in every notification, so check it carefully.
Marital status and gender
Only unmarried candidates can apply. Both men and women are eligible.
Education
- Army Wing: Class 12 pass, in any stream.
- Air Force, Navy and Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry): Class 12 pass with Physics and Mathematics.
- Students currently in Class 12 can also apply and submit proof of passing later as per the notification.
Physical standards
Candidates must meet the medical and physical standards of the service they choose. Begin running and basic fitness training now; it also helps you at the SSB.
NDA Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | Mathematics | 300 | 2.5 hours |
| Paper II | General Ability Test (English + General Knowledge) | 600 | 2.5 hours |
| Total | 900 |
- Wrong answers carry a penalty of one-third of the marks for that question.
- Those who qualify the written exam face the SSB interview, which carries another 900 marks.
- The final merit list combines written exam and SSB marks.
NDA Syllabus at a Glance
Mathematics
Algebra, matrices and determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry of two and three dimensions, differential calculus, integral calculus and differential equations, vector algebra, statistics and probability.
General Ability Test – English (200 marks)
Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion in extended text.
General Ability Test – General Knowledge (400 marks)
Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History and the Freedom Movement, Geography, and current events.
How to Use the Next Five Months?
November 2026: Build the base
Complete the basic concepts of trigonometry, algebra and matrices. For English, revise the parts of speech, tenses and subject-verb agreement. Start reading one newspaper every day.
December 2026: Apply and expand
Fill the form as soon as the notification is out. Start calculus. In General Knowledge, finish Physics and Chemistry at Class 10 level first, since these questions are often direct.
January 2027: Previous years’ papers
Solve at least five years of NDA papers, topic by topic. You will notice that many concepts repeat.
February 2027: Full mocks
Take one full Maths paper and one full GAT paper every week. Note silly mistakes separately; they cost more marks than difficult questions.
March to April 2027: Revise and rehearse
Revise formulas daily, read your current affairs notes, and take mocks in the same time slot as the real exam.
Balancing NDA with Class 12 Boards
Many NDA 1 candidates are also appearing for their board exams in February and March. The good news is that NDA Maths and Physics overlap with your board syllabus. Study the overlapping chapters with NDA-style multiple-choice practice, and keep GK and English to an hour a day during board months.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the NDA 1 2027 exam?
The NDA & NA (I) 2027 exam is scheduled for 11 April 2027, as per the UPSC calendar.
Can Class 12 students apply for NDA 1 2027?
Yes. Students appearing in Class 12 can apply, provided they submit proof of passing within the time allowed in the notification.
Is there negative marking in NDA?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every wrong answer.
How many marks are needed to clear the NDA written exam?
UPSC sets a minimum qualifying mark in each paper and an overall cut-off that changes every year. A safe target is to aim well above the previous year’s cut-off in your mocks.
Prepare for NDA with Chanakya’s Coaching Centre
Our NDA batch in Sector 34-A, Chandigarh, offers separate faculty for Mathematics, English and General Studies, weekly tests in the NDA format, and printed study material. Visit us for a free demo class and start your preparation this November.