NDA Exam Dates 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the NDA 1 and NDA 2 exam dates for 2025. The NDA 1 exam was held on April 13, 2025, while NDA 2 is scheduled for September 14, 2025. Along with these dates, essential details about the application period, notification releases, and admit card timelines have also been shared.
Read on to stay up-to-date with all the crucial events related to the NDA 2025 exams.
By the end of this blog, you will know
The complete schedule for NDA exam dates in 2025, including application deadlines and notification dates.
Key steps involved in the NDA exam process, from applying to receiving your admit card.
How to plan your preparation and stay on top of crucial deadlines for a successful NDA attempt?
UPSC NDA NDA Exam Dates & Key Details
The UPSC conducts the NDA exam twice every year for candidates aiming to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force. The official notification for the NDA exam dates 2025 is out, announcing a total of 406 vacancies. Candidates who have passed Class 12 and are at least 16.5 years old are eligible to apply. Below is a detailed breakdown of the NDA exam dates 2025 and related information.
Here’s the full timeline for the NDA exam dates. Make sure to mark these dates on your calendar to stay prepared and ahead of the process.
Event
Date
Notification Release
May 28, 2025
Start of Online Applications
May 28, 2025
Final Date to Apply Online
June 17, 2025
NDA 2 Exam Date
September 14, 2025
Release of Admit Card
To be announced
Declaration of Result
To be announced
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NDA Exam Dates: Application Form 2025
The NDA 2025 application form will be available online on the official UPSC website. The application process consists of two parts: Part I and Part II. To successfully apply, candidates must pay an application fee of INR 100, which can be done either online or offline. The application form is released along with the official NDA notification, which also provides details about the available vacancies for the NDA. Here’s how you can fill out the NDA application form:
Visit the UPSC official website.
Register by completing Part I of the application form.
Log in with your registration number to access Part II of the form.
Fill in all the required details in Part II of the form.
Pay the application fee and print a copy of the completed form for future reference.
NDA Exam Dates: NDA Exam Eligibility
The NDA 2025 eligibility criteria outline the essential requirements that candidates must meet in terms of nationality, age, education, and physical fitness to appear for the exam. It's crucial to ensure you meet all these criteria before proceeding with your application.
Eligibility Criteria
Details
Nationality
Indian, Nepalese, Bhutanese, or Tibetan refugees who arrived before January 1, 1962.
NDA Exam Date 2025 Age Limit
Minimum age: 16.5 years.
Maximum age: 19.5 years.
Educational Qualifications
Army Wing: 12th pass or equivalent from a recognised board.
Air Force & Navy Wings: 12th pass with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Marital Status
Only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible.
Physical Fitness
Must meet the medical and physical standards set by the NDA, including vision, height, and overall health criteria.
NDA Admit Card Release Date 2025
The NDA 2025 admit card will be available for download approximately three weeks before the exam. Please note that no hard copies of the admit card will be sent by mail. It contains essential details such as your name, roll number, exam center, and exam day guidelines.
Step No.
Instruction
1
Visit the official UPSC website.
2
Locate the 'Admit Card' link in the ‘What’s New’ section.
3
Click the link to open the login page.
4
Log in using your registration number or roll number.
The NDA exam comprises two written sections: Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT), totaling 900 marks. Those who qualify in the written exam are invited to the SSB Interview, which also carries 900 marks.
Candidates who qualify in the written exam are invited to appear for the SSB Interview. The interview is divided into two stages and includes various tests to evaluate a candidate’s suitability for the armed forces.
Stage
Test Type
Details
Stage 1
Screening Test
Verbal and non-verbal tests, Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT)
Stage 2
Psychological Test
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), Self Description Test (SD)
Stage 2
Group Testing Officers Test
Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Individual Obstacle Task (IOT), Command Task, Snake Race/Group Obstacle Race, Individual Lecture, Final Group Task (FGT)
Once the full selection cycle concludes, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the official answer key for the NDA 2025 exam. Meanwhile, leading coaching centres usually publish unofficial answer keys within hours of the exam, allowing candidates to estimate their scores early on. Both the question paper and the corresponding answers are released together to help aspirants cross-check their responses.
Step No.
Action
1
Click on the subject-wise PDF link for the answer key.
2
A new page with the PDF will open.
3
Download and save the file for future use.
Where & How to Check the Result?
The NDA 2025 result will be made available online through the official UPSC website in PDF format. The result list contains the roll numbers of those who’ve cleared the written exam. Qualified candidates will proceed to the next stage — the SSB Interview. The final cutoff is published after the entire selection process is complete.
Step No.
Instruction
1
Visit the UPSC official website.
2
Click on the link titled ‘National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination result’.
3
A PDF file containing the roll numbers of selected candidates will open.
The NDA written examination is conducted in two sessions — one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Candidates should carefully note their shifts and report to the examination centre well in advance.
Shift
Time Slot
Morning
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Afternoon
2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
NDA 2025 Exam Centres (City-Wise List)
While the exam centres will be allocated later via the admit cards, this preliminary list helps aspirants plan their travel and arrangements. Here’s a list of complete city-wise list:
A–F
G–L
M–R
S–Z
Agartala
Ghaziabad
Madurai
Sambalpur
Agra
Gorakhpur
Mumbai
Shillong
Ajmer
Gurgaon
Mysore
Shimla
Ahmedabad
Gwalior
Nagpur
Siliguri
Aizawl
Gangtok
Navi Mumbai
Srinagar
Aligarh
Gaya
Panaji (Goa)
Srinagar (Uttarakhand)
Almora (Uttarakhand)
Gautam Buddh Nagar
Patna
Thane
Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh)
Guwahati
Port Blair
Thiruvananthapuram
Aurangabad
Hyderabad
Prayagraj (Allahabad)
Tiruchirapalli
Bareilly
Imphal
Puducherry
Tirupati
Bengaluru
Indore
Pune
Udaipur
Bhopal
Itanagar
Raipur
Varanasi
Bilaspur
Jabalpur
Rajkot
Vellore
Chandigarh
Jaipur
Ranchi
Vijayawada
Chennai
Jammu
Visakhapatnam
Coimbatore
Jodhpur
Warangal
Cuttack
Jorhat
Dehradun
Kochi
Delhi
Kohima
Dharwad
Kolkata
Dispur
Kozhikode (Calicut)
Faridabad
Leh
Lucknow
Ludhiana
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How Can You Effectively Prepare for NDA 2025 in Just 3 Months?
With limited time left for NDA 2025, now is the time to start preparing smartly. If you're aiming to crack the exam in a single attempt, follow this expert-approved study strategy:
1. Break Down the Syllabus:
Start by understanding the full NDA 2025 syllabus to identify priority topics in Mathematics and General Ability.
2. Understand the Exam Framework:
Familiarise yourself with the latest exam pattern—knowing the structure helps you plan better and reduce surprises on test day.
3. Refer to the Right Resources:
Stick to well-reviewed NDA preparation books that offer clarity and concise coverage of important concepts.
4. Practice with a Purpose:
Take full-length mock tests regularly and solve previous years' papers to enhance your problem-solving speed and time management.
5. Revise Smarter, Not Harder:
Make weekly revision schedules to revisit formulas, vocabulary, and key themes, ensuring long-term retention of what you’ve studied.
Cracking the NDA 2025 exam requires a mix of strategy, consistency, and smart preparation. With the exam dates and centres now confirmed, this is the right time to streamline your approach, stay updated on important deadlines, and focus on high-impact topics. Whether you're preparing on your own or seeking structured guidance through expert-led programs, make every day count.
A clear plan and disciplined effort over the next few months can significantly boost your chances of joining the National Defence Academy and taking the first step toward a career in the armed forces.
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What is the minimum height needed for NDA candidates, and does it differ based on the candidate’s region?
Yes, the minimum height requirement for NDA candidates is 157 cm. However, for candidates from specific regions like the North-Eastern states, Garhwal, and Gorkhas, the minimum height is relaxed to 152 cm. For candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum height is 155 cm.
Are spectacles or contact lenses permitted during the NDA medical examination?
Candidates are generally required to have unaided vision of 6/6 in both eyes. The use of spectacles or contact lenses is not permitted. However, minor refractive errors may be considered acceptable, subject to approval by the medical board.
Is there a provision for correcting an application form after it has been submitted?
No, the UPSC does not provide a correction window for the NDA application form. If a candidate makes an error, they must submit a new application with the correct details. The latest application will be considered, and the previous one will be disregarded.
Are there any restrictions on the number of attempts for the NDA exam?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the NDA exam.
What is the procedure if a candidate forgets their NDA application registration ID?
Candidates can retrieve their registration ID by visiting the UPSC website and using the "Forgot RID" option. They will need to provide details like their name, father's name, mother's name, and date of birth to retrieve the ID.
Can a candidate apply for both NDA and CDS exams simultaneously?
Yes, a candidate can apply for both NDA and CDS exams if they meet the eligibility criteria for both. However, they must ensure that the exam dates do not clash and prepare accordingly.
What documents are required during the SSB interview process?
Candidates must carry their original academic certificates, identity proof, NDA admit card, and passport-sized photographs during the SSB interview. It's advisable to also carry photocopies of these documents.
What is the training duration at the National Defence Academy?
The training at the NDA spans three years, divided into six terms. Post this, cadets undergo one year of pre-commission training at their respective service academies.
Is there any provision for candidates with NCC certificates in the NDA selection process?
While NCC certificates can be beneficial in the CDS exam, they do not provide any direct advantage in the NDA selection process. However, the discipline and training from NCC can aid in SSB interviews.
Can candidates from commerce or arts backgrounds apply for the NDA exam?
Yes, candidates from commerce or arts backgrounds can apply for the NDA exam. However, for the Air Force and Navy wings, candidates must have studied Physics and Mathematics in their 10+2.
What is the medium of the NDA written examination?
The NDA written examination is conducted in both English and Hindi, except for the English section, which is only in English.
What is the procedure if a candidate loses their NDA admit card before the exam?
Candidates can re-download their admit card from the UPSC website using their registration ID or roll number. It's advisable to keep multiple copies of the admit card to avoid such situations.
Is there any physical fitness test before the SSB interview?
While there isn't a separate physical fitness test before the SSB interview, candidates are expected to maintain good physical health. Physical tasks are part of the SSB process, and medical examinations assess fitness levels.
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