NEW DELHI, October 14 — The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday announced the written examination results of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA Exam II 2026) on its portal (upsc.gov.in), shortlisting eligible candidates for Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews.
According to the Commission's examination communiqué, candidates who secured qualifying cut-off scores across Mathematics (300 marks) and the General Ability Test (GAT, 600 marks) administered in September 2026 must register on the Indian Army recruiting portal (joinindianarmy.nic.in) within two weeks to receive selection center allocations. The selection drives fill 404 notified vacancies for the 158th Course at the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla, Pune) across Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC, Ezhimala, Kerala).
The five-day residential SSB interview evaluates candidates across Stage-I (Intelligence and Picture Perception & Discussion Tests) and Stage-II (Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officer tasks, and Personal Interview). Final merit ranking is calculated on an aggregate 1,800 marks (900 written + 900 SSB), subject to passing stringent medical fitness boards.
The institutional legacy of the National Defence Academy (established as the world's first tri-service military academy at Khadakwasla), the historic Supreme Court ruling in 2021 ordering permanent induction of female cadets into the NDA, SSB evaluation methodologies, and the tri-service rank structures of the Indian Armed Forces are essential topics for NDA, CDS, and AFCAT aspirants.