NDA After Plus Two — NDA (I) 2027 Dates, Exam Pattern and How to Prepare

The National Defence Academy (NDA) trains officers for the Army, Navy and Air Force, and students join it straight after Plus Two through the NDA and Naval Academy Examination conducted by UPSC twice a year.

This guide gives the 2027 dates from the UPSC annual calendar, the paper pattern and a plan to prepare alongside the Plus Two exam. The NDA (I) 2027 notification is due on 2 December 2026; follow it for the final rules.

NDA 2027 dates (UPSC calendar)

NDA and NA (I) 2027: notification on 2 December 2026, applications until 22 December 2026, exam on Sunday, 11 April 2027.
NDA and NA (II) 2027: notification on 12 May 2027, applications until 1 June 2027, exam on 19 September 2027.
Calendar dates can change. Apply only on upsc.gov.in (or the UPSC online application portal) once the notification is out.

Who can apply

Students who have passed or are appearing in Plus Two (10+2) can apply, subject to the age limits in the notification.
The Army wing is open to Plus Two in any stream. The Air Force and Navy wings and the Naval Academy need Plus Two with Physics and Mathematics; check the exact subject rule in the notification.
Unmarried men and women can apply. Candidates must also meet the medical and physical standards.

The exam and selection

Written test: Mathematics (300 marks, 2½ hours) and the General Ability Test (600 marks, 2½ hours), which covers English and general knowledge, including Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and current events.
SSB interview: those who clear the written test go to the Services Selection Board for an intelligence and personality test of 900 marks, spread over several days.
The final merit list combines the written test and SSB marks, followed by the medical examination.

A plan alongside Plus Two

December–February: your Plus Two exams come first. Plus Two Maths and Physics overlap with NDA, so strong board preparation helps both.
After the board exams (March–April): switch to timed NDA practice: one Maths paper and one GAT paper a week, with daily English and current affairs.
Start running and basic fitness early; the SSB and the medical tests check it.
Read a newspaper daily and practise speaking about your views clearly; this helps in the SSB interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the NDA 1 2027 notification?

According to the UPSC annual calendar for 2027, the NDA and NA (I) 2027 notification is on 2 December 2026, with applications until 22 December 2026, and the exam on 11 April 2027. Calendar dates can change, so follow the notification.

What is the NDA exam pattern?

The written test has two papers: Mathematics (300 marks) and the General Ability Test (600 marks), each of 2½ hours. Those who qualify attend the SSB interview, which carries 900 marks.

Can I apply for NDA while in Plus Two?

Yes. Students who are appearing in Plus Two can apply, subject to the age limits and other conditions in the notification. The NDA (I) exam in April comes after the Kerala Plus Two exam in March.

Can Commerce or Humanities students join NDA?

Yes, for the Army wing, which is open to Plus Two in any stream. The Air Force and Navy wings need Plus Two with Physics and Mathematics.

Can girls apply for NDA?

Yes. Unmarried women can apply for NDA, subject to the eligibility and standards in the notification.

Does WonderZ help with NDA Maths and Plus Two?

Yes. WonderZ Learning offers online Plus Two Maths, Physics and English tuition, with 1-on-1, small batch and app classes, so board preparation and NDA Maths practice go together. Fees are flexible and negotiable, and you can book a free demo class.

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