Complete guide for NDA II & CDS II 2026 — exam in September 2026, SSB Interview January–March 2027. Your path to becoming an officer in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force.
Two premier UPSC exams for officer-level entry into India's Armed Forces
| Feature | NDA | CDS |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | National Defence Academy & Naval Academy | Combined Defence Services |
| Conducted By | UPSC | UPSC |
| Eligibility | 10+2 passed / appearing | Graduate (degree holder) |
| Age Group | 16.5 – 19.5 years | 19 – 25 years (varies) |
| Gender | Male & Female (from 2022) | Male & Female |
| Frequency | Twice a year (Apr + Sep) | Twice a year (Feb + Sep) |
| Written Marks | 900 marks | 300 marks (IMA/INA/AFA) |
| SSB Marks | 900 marks | 300 marks (IMA/INA/AFA) |
| Total Marks | 1,800 marks | 600 marks (or 400 for OTA) |
| Commission Type | Permanent Commission | Permanent + Short Service |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
| NDA II 2026 Exam | September 14, 2026 (tentative) |
| CDS II 2026 Exam | September 14, 2026 (tentative — same day) |
| Application Mode | Online (upsconline.gov.in) |
| Exam Mode | OMR Sheet (offline, pen & paper) |
| NDA Fee | ₹100 (Gen/OBC) · Free (SC/ST/Female/JCO Sons) |
| CDS Fee | ₹200 (Gen/OBC) · Free (SC/ST/Female) |
| SSB Interview | January – March 2027 (5 days at Selection Centres) |
| After Selection | Medical Board → Training at Academy |
| Stipend During Training | ₹56,100/month (NDA cadet) |
Three forces, one mission — defence of the nation
World's 2nd Largest Standing Army
Guardian of India's 7,516 km Coastline
4th Largest Air Force in the World
Choose your path based on age, qualification, and career goal
| Parameter | NDA (National Defence Academy) | CDS — IMA/INA/AFA | CDS — OTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Qualification | 10+2 (PCM for AF/Navy; any stream for Army) | Bachelor's Degree (any stream) | Bachelor's Degree (any stream) |
| Age Range | 16.5 – 19.5 years | 19 – 24/25 years (varies by wing) | 19 – 25 years |
| Gender | Male & Female | Male & Female | Male & Female |
| Written Exam | Maths (300) + GAT (600) = 900 marks | English + GK + Maths = 300 marks | English + GK = 200 marks |
| SSB Interview | 900 marks | 300 marks | 200 marks |
| Total Marks | 1,800 | 600 | 400 |
| Commission Type | Permanent Commission | Permanent Commission | Short Service Commission (10+4 yrs) |
| Training Duration | 3 yrs at NDA + Academy training | 1–2 years at respective academy | 11 months at OTA Chennai/Gaya |
| Stipend During Training | ₹56,100/month | ₹56,100/month | ₹56,100/month |
| Forces Available | Army, Navy, Air Force | Army (IMA), Navy (INA), Air Force (AFA) | Army only (OTA) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (Gen/OBC) | ₹200 (Gen/OBC) | ₹200 (Gen/OBC) |
| Vacancies (II 2026) | ~495 total (Army 370 + Navy 55 + AF 70) | ~154 (IMA 100 + INA 22 + AFA 32) | ~287 (Men 275 + Women 12) |
For 10+2 students — exam September 2026, SSB January–March 2027
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NDA & NA Examination II, 2026 |
| Conducted By | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification | June / July 2026 |
| Registration Window | July – August 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (Gen/OBC) · Free (SC/ST/Female/JCO Sons) |
| Exam Date | September 14, 2026 (tentative) |
| Exam Time | Paper 1 (Maths): 10 AM – 12:30 PM Paper 2 (GAT): 2 PM – 4:30 PM |
| Mode | Offline — OMR Sheet (Pen & Paper) |
| Written Result | November 2026 |
| SSB Interview | January – March 2027 |
| Final Merit | April – May 2027 |
| Training Commencement | July 2027 (NDA, Khadakwasla, Pune) |
| Wing | Vacancies | Academy After NDA | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 370 | IMA, Dehradun (1 yr) | Lieutenant |
| Navy | 55 | INA, Ezhimala (2 yrs) | Sub Lieutenant |
| Air Force | 70 | AFA, Dundigal (1.5 yrs) | Flying Officer |
| Total | ~495 | Subject to change as per UPSC notification | |
For graduates — direct officer entry into Army, Navy, or Air Force
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CDS Examination II, 2026 |
| Conducted By | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification | June / July 2026 |
| Registration Window | July – August 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (Gen/OBC) · Free (SC/ST/Female) |
| Exam Date | September 14, 2026 (tentative — same as NDA) |
| Exam Papers | English + GK + Maths (IMA/INA/AFA) · English + GK only (OTA) |
| Exam Time | Morning, Afternoon & Evening sessions (3 papers) |
| Mode | Offline — OMR Sheet (Pen & Paper) |
| Written Result | November 2026 |
| SSB Interview | January – March 2027 |
| Final Merit | April – May 2027 |
| Training Commencement | June – July 2027 |
| Academy | Force | Vacancies | Commission Type | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMA (Indian Military Academy) | Army | ~100 | Permanent | 19–24 yrs |
| INA (Indian Naval Academy) | Navy | ~22 | Permanent | 19–22 yrs |
| AFA (Air Force Academy) | Air Force | ~32 | Permanent | 20–24 yrs |
| OTA Chennai | Army (Men) | ~275 | Short Service (10+4 yr) | 19–25 yrs |
| OTA Gaya | Army (Women) | ~12 | Short Service (10+4 yr) | 19–25 yrs |
| Total | ~441 vacancies (subject to official UPSC notification) | |||
Age, qualification, and physical requirements for NDA & CDS
| Criteria | NDA — Army Wing | NDA — Navy / AF Wing | CDS — IMA / OTA | CDS — INA / AFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualification | 10+2 any stream | 10+2 with PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) | Any Bachelor's Degree | B.Sc/B.Tech (specific branches for AFA) |
| Min. Marks | No minimum % | No minimum % | No minimum % | No minimum % |
| Age (born between) | July 2, 2007 – July 1, 2010 (for NDA II 2026) | IMA: 19–24 yrs OTA: 19–25 yrs | INA: 19–22 yrs AFA: 20–24 yrs | |
| Gender | Male & Female (since 2022) | Male & Female | ||
| Marital Status | Unmarried at time of joining NDA | Unmarried (for most courses); check notification | ||
| Nationality | Indian Citizen (or Nepal/Bhutan subject / Tibetan refugee settled before 1962) | |||
| Appearing Students | 10+2 appearing students CAN apply for NDA | PCM in 10+2 (appearing) CAN apply | Final year graduates CAN apply provisionally | Final year degree students CAN apply |
Paper-wise breakdown of marks, questions, and time
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 hrs | Algebra, Matrices, Calculus, Vectors, Statistics, Probability, Analytical Geometry |
| Paper 2 — GAT (Part A: English) | 50 | 200 | 2.5 hrs | Grammar, Comprehension, Vocabulary, Spotting Errors |
| Paper 2 — GAT (Part B: General Knowledge) | 100 | 400 | Physics, Chemistry, GS, History, Geography, Current Affairs | |
| Total | 270 Qs | 900 | 5 hrs total | Written stage |
| GAT Part B — GK Syllabus | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Physics | ~25 questions |
| Chemistry | ~15 questions |
| General Science (Biology) | ~10 questions |
| History (Freedom Struggle + World) | ~15 questions |
| Geography (India + World) | ~15 questions |
| Current Events (National + International) | ~20 questions |
| Paper | For | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | IMA / INA / AFA / OTA | 120 | 100 | 2 hrs |
| General Knowledge | IMA / INA / AFA / OTA | 120 | 100 | 2 hrs |
| Elementary Mathematics | IMA / INA / AFA only (NOT OTA) | 100 | 100 | 2 hrs |
| Total (IMA/INA/AFA) | 340 Qs | 300 | 6 hrs | |
| Total (OTA only) | 240 Qs | 200 | 4 hrs | |
CDS GK Syllabus Topics:
| Topic | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|
| Current Events (National + Defence + Sports) | ~25–30 Qs |
| Indian History & Freedom Movement | ~15–20 Qs |
| Indian Polity & Constitution | ~10–15 Qs |
| Indian Economy | ~8–10 Qs |
| Geography (India + World) | ~15–20 Qs |
| Science & Technology (Defence focus) | ~15–20 Qs |
Know the negative marking rules before you attempt
| Exam / Paper | Marks/Question | Correct | Wrong (Negative) | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA — Mathematics (Paper 1) | 2.5 marks each | +2.5 | –0.83 (–⅓ of 2.5) | 0 |
| NDA — GAT English (Paper 2, Part A) | 4 marks each | +4 | –1.33 (–⅓ of 4) | 0 |
| NDA — GAT GK (Paper 2, Part B) | 4 marks each | +4 | –1.33 (–⅓ of 4) | 0 |
| CDS — English | ~0.83 marks each | +0.83 | –0.27 (–⅓) | 0 |
| CDS — General Knowledge | ~0.83 marks each | +0.83 | –0.27 (–⅓) | 0 |
| CDS — Elementary Mathematics | 1 mark each | +1 | –0.33 (–⅓) | 0 |
The most critical stage — tests 15 Officer Like Qualities over 5 days (January–March 2027)
| Day | Tests / Activities | What is Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 (Reporting) | Reporting, document verification, chest number allotment, briefing | First impressions, body language, grooming |
| Day 1 — Stage 1 | OIR Test (Officer Intelligence Rating — verbal + non-verbal reasoning) PPDT (Picture Perception & Discussion Test) | Intelligence level; storytelling, leadership in group discussion |
| Screening Cutoff | ~50% eliminated after Stage 1 (OIR + PPDT). Only screened-in candidates continue to Day 2. | |
| Day 2 — Psychology | TAT (Thematic Apperception Test — 11 pictures + 1 blank) WAT (Word Association Test — 60 words, 15 sec each) SRT (Situation Reaction Test — 60 situations) SDT (Self Description Test) | Personality traits, subconscious reactions, self-awareness, Officer Like Qualities |
| Day 3 — GTO Part 1 | Group Discussion (2 topics — GD1 & GD2) Group Planning Exercise (Model) Progressive Group Task (PGT) Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race) | Leadership, cooperation, communication, physical coordination |
| Day 4 — GTO Part 2 + PI | Half Group Task (HGT) Lecturette (3-minute talk on a topic) Command Task (lead a group as commander) Final Group Task (FGT) Personal Interview (30–45 min with Interviewing Officer) | Individual leadership, knowledge, motivation, composure under pressure |
| Day 5 — Conference | Entire board (President + GTO + IO + Psychologist) meets the candidate for 10–15 minutes. Board discusses and takes final decision. | Final holistic assessment — recommended or not recommended |
Every test in SSB — TAT, WAT, SRT, GTO, and Interview — is designed to assess these 15 OLQs. A candidate must demonstrate a majority of these qualities consistently across all 5 days.
NDA first, then service academies — the journey to commission
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra |
| Duration | 3 years (6 terms) |
| Degree Awarded | B.Sc / B.Sc (Computer Science) / B.Tech (from JNU) |
| Stipend | ₹56,100/month during training |
| Wings Trained | Army, Naval, Air Force (separate squadrons) |
| Life | Residential, highly disciplined — physical + academic + military training |
| Activities | Parade, Horse Riding, Sailing, Gliding, Swimming, Team Sports |
After NDA — Service Academy Training:
| Force | Academy | Location | Duration | Rank on Passing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | IMA — Indian Military Academy | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | 1 year | Lieutenant |
| Navy | INA — Indian Naval Academy | Ezhimala, Kerala | 2 years | Sub Lieutenant |
| Air Force | AFA — Air Force Academy | Dundigal, Hyderabad | 1.5 years | Flying Officer |
Dehradun, Uttarakhand — Army Officers
Ezhimala, Kerala — Naval Officers
Dundigal, Hyderabad — Air Force Officers
Chennai (Men) & Gaya (Women) — SSC
Step-by-step timeline for NDA II & CDS II 2026
From Second Lieutenant to General — a lifetime career with full benefits
| Rank | Pay Level | Approx. Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | ₹56,100 – ₹1.77 L |
| Captain | Level 10B | ₹61,300 – ₹1.93 L |
| Major | Level 11 | ₹69,400 – ₹2.07 L |
| Lt. Colonel | Level 12A | ₹1.21 L – ₹2.12 L |
| Colonel | Level 13 | ₹1.30 L – ₹2.15 L |
| Brigadier | Level 13A | ₹1.39 L – ₹2.17 L |
| Major General | Level 14 | ₹1.44 L – ₹2.18 L |
| Lt. General | Level 15–17 | ₹1.82 L – ₹2.24 L |
| General (COAS) | Apex | ₹2.50 L (fixed) |
| Rank | Equivalent Army | Approx. Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Lieutenant | Lieutenant | ₹56,100 – ₹1.77 L |
| Lieutenant | Captain | ₹61,300 – ₹1.93 L |
| Lt. Commander | Major | ₹69,400 – ₹2.07 L |
| Commander | Lt. Colonel | ₹1.21 L – ₹2.12 L |
| Captain | Colonel | ₹1.30 L – ₹2.15 L |
| Commodore | Brigadier | ₹1.39 L – ₹2.17 L |
| Rear Admiral | Major General | ₹1.44 L – ₹2.18 L |
| Vice Admiral | Lt. General | ₹1.82 L – ₹2.24 L |
| Admiral (CNS) | General | ₹2.50 L (fixed) |
| Rank | Equivalent Army | Approx. Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer | Lieutenant | ₹56,100 – ₹1.77 L |
| Flight Lieutenant | Captain | ₹61,300 – ₹1.93 L |
| Squadron Leader | Major | ₹69,400 – ₹2.07 L |
| Wing Commander | Lt. Colonel | ₹1.21 L – ₹2.12 L |
| Group Captain | Colonel | ₹1.30 L – ₹2.15 L |
| Air Commodore | Brigadier | ₹1.39 L – ₹2.17 L |
| Air Vice Marshal | Major General | ₹1.44 L – ₹2.18 L |
| Air Marshal | Lt. General | ₹1.82 L – ₹2.24 L |
| Air Chief Marshal | General | ₹2.50 L (fixed) |
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Housing | Government accommodation (free) or HRA allowance |
| Transport | Official vehicle for field / transport allowance |
| Medical | Free medical for officer + family (ECHS/AFMSD) |
| Leave | 60 days annual leave + casual leave + sick leave |
| Canteen | CSD (Canteen Stores Dept.) — heavily subsidised goods |
| Allowance / Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Flying Allowance | ₹25,000/month for flying branch (IAF) |
| Field Area Allowance | ₹6,300–₹16,900/month depending on area |
| Pension | Pension after 20 years service (OROP — One Rank One Pension) |
| Education | Children's education allowance + Army schools |
| AGIF / Insurance | Army Group Insurance — life cover up to ₹75 lakh |
Minimum physical requirements for NDA & CDS — checked at Medical Board
| Standard | Indian Army | Indian Navy | Indian Air Force (Pilot) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Height | 157.5 cm (male) · 152 cm (female) | 157 cm (male) · 152 cm (female) | 162.5 cm (male) · 152 cm (female) |
| Weight | Proportionate to height and age | Proportionate to height | Proportionate to height |
| Eye Sight (Distant) | 6/6 (corrected) — glasses permitted for non-flying | 6/6 uncorrected or with correction | 6/6 uncorrected (both eyes for pilot) |
| Colour Vision | Normal (CP-III acceptable for Army) | CP-I (Normal colour vision) | CP-I (Strictly Normal) |
| Hearing | Normal — no hearing aids allowed | Normal | Normal — audiometry test |
| Flat Feet / Knock Knees | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Disqualifying |
| Tattoos | Allowed — not on face/neck/hands | Allowed within limits | Allowed within limits |
| Spectacles | Permitted for Army (certain branches) | Permitted (certain branches) | NOT allowed for flying branch |
Keep these ready for NDA/CDS application and SSB reporting
Smart approach to crack the written exam and SSB interview
NDA Maths (300 marks) covers Class 11–12 level — Algebra, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus, Probability, and Statistics. Start with NCERT Class 11 & 12 Maths. Then practice NDA PYQs (Previous Year Questions) — last 10 years are crucial. Target 80+ marks in Maths for safe selection. Speed and accuracy both matter.
GAT Part B (GK) has 400 marks — the highest in NDA written. Focus: Physics (wave optics, thermodynamics), History (freedom struggle, world wars), Geography (India's rivers, climate, states), Current Affairs (defence news, government schemes, sports). For CDS GK — similar syllabus but more focus on Indian & world current events. Read The Hindu or PIB daily for current affairs.
SSB is NOT last-minute preparation. Start building OLQs from Day 1. Develop leadership in daily life — join NCC, school student council, debate teams, sports. Read books: "On the Psychology of Military Incompetence" (Norman Dixon), "To Serve with Honour" (former IMA commandant). Practice TAT stories — 3-minute stories with a positive, constructive hero. Do mock SSBs or join SSB coaching 2–3 months before your interview.
Physical fitness matters at SSB (GTO tasks require stamina) and at Academy training. Start running 5 km daily, do push-ups (min. 20), pull-ups (min. 6–8), sit-ups, and swimming. For Air Force — no spectacles means eye health matters. Ensure you meet height/weight standards early — correction takes months. Visit a Military Hospital for a pre-SSB medical check if possible.
Army, Navy, or Air Force — India's most honourable career awaits. Register now for NDA II & CDS II 2026 while the notification is live.