UPSC NDA 2 Admit Card 2026 Out: Download Link, Exam Date September 13, Pattern & Last-Minute Tips
The UPSC NDA 2 2026 e-Admit Card has been officially released on September 3, 2026 at upsc.gov.in. The NDA & NA (II) 2026 written examination is scheduled for September 13, 2026 (Sunday) with 394 total vacancies across Army, Navy, and Air Force wings. This guide covers everything — admit card download steps, exam pattern, marking scheme, vacancy breakdown, day-of-exam checklist, and last-minute preparation tips.
How to Download UPSC NDA 2 Admit Card 2026 — Step-by-Step
UPSC releases the NDA admit card as an e-Admit Card on its official website. No physical admit card is sent by post. Follow these steps to download:
- Visit the official UPSC website — upsc.gov.in
- Click on the "e-Admit Card" section on the homepage
- Select "National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026"
- Enter your Registration ID / Roll Number and Date of Birth
- Click "Submit" — your admit card will appear on screen
- Verify all details — name, photo, exam centre, date, timing
- Download the PDF and take 2–3 clear printouts
NDA 2 2026 Admit Card — Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| NDA Course | 158th NDA Course & 120th INAC |
| Admit Card Released | September 3, 2026 |
| Exam Date | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Total Vacancies | 394 |
| Admit Card Mode | Online (e-Admit Card only) |
| Download Website | upsc.gov.in |
| Documents Required | Printed Admit Card + Valid Photo ID |
| Notification Date | May 20, 2026 |
| Course Commencement | July 1, 2027 |
NDA 2 2026 Exam Schedule — September 13
The written examination will be conducted in two sessions on September 13, 2026:
| Session | Paper | Timing | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forenoon | Paper I — Mathematics | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 2.5 Hours |
| Afternoon | Paper II — General Ability Test (GAT) | 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM | 2.5 Hours |
NDA 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Marking Scheme — Negative Marking Details
| Paper | Marks per Correct | Negative Marking | Total Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 2.5 marks | −0.83 marks (1/3rd) | 120 | 300 |
| GAT | 4 marks | −1.33 marks (1/3rd) | 150 | 600 |
NDA 2 2026 — Vacancy Breakdown (394 Posts)
UPSC has notified a total of 394 vacancies for NDA 2 2026. Here is the wing-wise and gender-wise distribution:
| Wing / Service | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 198 | 10 | 208 |
| Navy | 37 | 05 | 42 |
| Air Force — Flying | 90 | 02 | 92 |
| Air Force — Ground Duties (Tech) | 16 | 02 | 18 |
| Air Force — Ground Duties (Non-Tech) | 08 | 02 | 10 |
| Naval Academy (INAC) | 21 | 03 | 24 |
| Total | 370 | 24 | 394 |
NDA 2 2026 — Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen |
| Gender | Male & Female (unmarried) |
| Age Limit | Born between January 1, 2008 – January 1, 2011 |
| Education — Army Wing | Class 12 pass from recognized board |
| Education — Navy / Air Force | Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics (PCM) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried only |
| Physical Fitness | Must meet prescribed medical & physical standards |
NDA 2 2026 — Expected Cutoff & Previous Year Trends
Based on previous years' official cutoff marks released by UPSC, here are the trends:
| Exam | Written Cutoff (out of 900) | Final Cutoff (Written + SSB out of 1800) |
|---|---|---|
| NDA 2 2026 (Expected) | 300–320 | 690–720 |
| NDA 1 2025 | 334 | — |
| NDA 2 2024 | 305 | — |
| NDA 1 2024 | 291 | — |
| NDA 2 2023 | 292 | — |
| NDA 1 2023 | 301 | — |
Exam Day Checklist — What to Carry
- Printed e-Admit Card — 2 copies (one for each session)
- Valid Photo ID — Aadhaar Card / Passport / Voter ID / School ID with photo
- Passport-size photographs — 2 recent photos (same as on application)
- Black ballpoint pen — for filling OMR sheet
- Transparent water bottle — no labels
- Analog watch — digital watches and smartwatches are NOT allowed
Last-Minute Preparation Tips — 8 Days to Go
With the exam on September 13, here are focused strategies for the final week:
📐 Mathematics (Paper I)
- Revise formulas daily — Trigonometry, Matrices, Probability, Calculus
- Practice previous year papers — at least NDA 1 2026 and NDA 2 2025
- Focus on high-weightage topics — Integration, Matrices & Determinants, Complex Numbers
- Time yourself — practice completing 120 questions in 2.5 hours
📚 GAT (Paper II)
- Current Affairs — focus on last 6 months (March 2026 – August 2026)
- English section — grammar, comprehension, vocabulary (scoring and easy)
- Geography & History — maps, important battles, freedom movement
- General Science — Physics basics, Biology, Chemistry fundamentals
<div class="ms-highlight-box green">
<span class="hl-icon">🎯</span>
<div class="hl-text"><strong>Strategy:</strong> In GAT, attempt <strong>English section first</strong> — it's the easiest and most scoring. Then move to <strong>General Knowledge</strong>, and finally <strong>Science</strong>. <strong>Don't spend more than 1 minute per question.</strong></div>
</div>
After Written Exam — SSB Interview Process
Candidates who clear the written cutoff will be called for the SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview — a 5-day assessment:
| Day | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Screening Test | OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating) + PPDT |
| Day 2 | Psychology Tests | TAT, WAT, SRT, Self Description |
| Day 3 | GTO — Part 1 | Group Discussion, GPE, PGT, HGT |
| Day 4 | GTO — Part 2 + Interview | Individual Obstacles, Command Task, FGT + Personal Interview |
| Day 5 | Conference | Final Board Conference — results announced same day |
Selected candidates undergo medical examination. Final merit is prepared based on Written (900) + SSB (900) = 1800 marks. Selected candidates join NDA Khadakwasla (Pune) for 3-year training from July 2027.
Related Articles on MeriShiksha
- 📄 UPSC NDA 1 Result 2026: Written Exam Result, Cutoff & SSB Guide
- 🎖️ National Defence Academy (NDA) — Complete Information
</ul>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
UPSC NDA 2 2026 ka admit card kaise download karein?
upsc.gov.in par jaayein → e-Admit Card section mein click karein → NDA & NA (II) 2026 select karein → Registration ID/Roll Number aur Date of Birth enter karein → Download aur print karein. UPSC physical admit card post se nahi bhejta.
NDA 2 2026 exam date kya hai?
UPSC NDA 2 2026 written exam 13 September 2026 (Sunday) ko hoga. Mathematics 10:00 AM–12:30 PM aur GAT 2:00 PM–4:30 PM.
NDA 2 2026 mein kitni vacancies hain?
NDA 2 2026 mein total 394 vacancies hain — Army 208, Navy 42, Air Force 120 (Flying + Ground Duties), aur Naval Academy (INAC) 24. 24 seats female candidates ke liye reserved hain.
NDA admit card mein kya details check karni chahiye?
Apna naam, photograph, roll number, exam centre address, exam date & timing verify karein. Koi bhi discrepancy ho toh turant UPSC se contact karein official email ke through.
Kya UPSC physical admit card bhejta hai?
Nahi. UPSC sirf e-Admit Card online release karta hai upsc.gov.in par. Koi physical admit card post se nahi aata. Aapko khud download aur print karna hoga.
NDA 2 2026 ka expected cutoff kitna hai?
Previous years ke trend ke basis par, NDA 2 2026 ka expected written cutoff approximately 300–320 marks (out of 900) ho sakta hai. Note: Har paper mein minimum 25% marks zaroori hain. Final cutoff UPSC dwara result ke baad declare hoga.
NDA exam mein negative marking hai kya?
Haan. Har galat answer ke liye 1/3rd marks deducted hote hain — Mathematics mein −0.83 marks aur GAT mein −1.33 marks. Unanswered questions mein koi deduction nahi hoti.
NDA written exam ke baad kya hota hai?
Written cutoff clear karne waale candidates ko SSB Interview (5-day assessment) ke liye bulaya jaata hai. SSB clear karne ke baad medical examination hota hai. Final merit Written + SSB marks (1800 total) ke basis par banti hai. Selected candidates NDA Khadakwasla join karte hain.
Kya female candidates NDA de sakti hain?
Haan. Supreme Court ke 2022 ke landmark decision ke baad se female candidates eligible hain NDA exam ke liye. NDA 2 2026 mein 24 seats women ke liye reserved hain across all wings.
NDA 2 2026 ke liye age limit kya hai?
Candidates ka janam 1 January 2008 se 1 January 2011 ke beech hona chahiye. Approximately 16.5 se 19.5 saal ki age. Candidate unmarried hona chahiye.
📅 Last Updated: September 5, 2026
📌 Source: UPSC Official Website — upsc.gov.in
📌 NDA Complete Guide: National Defence Academy on MeriShiksha — merishiksha.org/national-defence-academy
