NDA Defence Exam Official Guide

NDA Defence Exam Cut Off

NDA Defence Exam Counselling & Updates

PS

Updated on 04 Sept 2026 16:31 IST

By Pratishtha Sharma, Editor

The NDA Cut Off 2026 is the minimum qualifying benchmark candidates need to meet in the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination. UPSC determines the cut off based on factors such as examination difficulty, candidate performance and the number of available vacancies. The official cut-off marks are published by UPSC after the examination process.

Particular Details
Exam Name National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Level National Level Defence Entrance Exam
Purpose Admission to NDA and Indian Naval Academy
Services Army, Navy and Air Force Wings of NDA; Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme
Exam Frequency Twice a year
Application Mode Online
Exam Mode Offline (Pen and Paper Based Test)
Question Type Objective Type / Multiple Choice Questions
Written Exam Papers Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT)
Mathematics 120 Questions, 300 Marks
General Ability Test 150 Questions, 600 Marks
Total Written Exam Marks 900 Marks
Exam Duration 2½ hours for each paper
Negative Marking Yes
Eligibility Passed or appearing in Class 12/equivalent examination
Army Wing Class 12 pass/appearing from any stream
Navy & Air Force Wings Class 12 pass/appearing with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
Age Limit Generally 16½–19½ years; exact date-of-birth range is specified in each notification
Marital Status Unmarried candidates
Selection Process Written Examination → SSB Interview/Tests → Medical Examination → Final Merit
Training National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, followed by service-specific training
Official Website upsc.gov.in
Admission & Guidance

NDA Defence Exam Counselling & Updates

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NDA Cut Off 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the NDA cut off after the completion of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination. The cut off helps candidates understand the minimum marks required to qualify for the next stage.

UPSC generally publishes the cut off along with other examination-related information on its official website. Candidates should check the official notification and result-related updates for the applicable qualifying requirements.

NDA Written Exam Cut Off 2026

Candidates need to meet the prescribed standard in the written examination to qualify for the next stage of the selection process.

The written examination consists of two papers:

  • Mathematics
  • General Ability Test (GAT)

Candidates should also meet the minimum qualifying standard prescribed for each paper, wherever applicable.

NDA Final Cut Off 2026

The final cut off is determined after considering performance in the written examination and the SSB interview, along with the applicable selection rules.

Candidates must also satisfy the required eligibility and medical standards for final selection.

Factors Affecting NDA Cut Off

The NDA cut off can vary between examination cycles because of factors such as:

  • Difficulty level of the examination
  • Number of candidates appearing
  • Number of available vacancies
  • Overall candidate performance
  • Marks obtained by candidates
  • Selection rules applicable to the examination

How to Check NDA Cut Off 2026

Candidates can check the official cut off by following these steps:

  1. Visit the UPSC official website.
  2. Go to the examination or recruitment-related section.
  3. Find the NDA and NA Examination 2026 cut-off notice.
  4. Open the relevant PDF or document.
  5. Check the written and final cut-off marks.
  6. Download the document for future reference.

Previous Year NDA Cut Off

Previous-year cut-off marks can help candidates understand the level of competition. They should only be used as a reference because the cut off can change based on the examination and selection conditions in each cycle.

Candidates should focus on scoring well above the expected qualifying level rather than preparing only for the previous cut off.

Official Website

https://upsc.gov.in/

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QA

Commonly asked questions

Q: 1. What is the NDA Cut Off 2026?

The NDA cut off is the minimum qualifying benchmark used by UPSC for shortlisting candidates at the relevant stage of the selection process.

Q: 2. When will the NDA Cut Off 2026 be released?

UPSC generally publishes the official cut-off marks after the examination process. Candidates should check the official UPSC website for updates.

Q: 3. Is there a separate cut off for Mathematics and GAT?

UPSC can prescribe minimum qualifying standards for individual papers in addition to the overall written examination requirement.

Q: 4. Does the NDA cut off change every year?

Yes. The cut off can change based on examination difficulty, vacancies, candidate performance and other selection factors.

Q: 5. Does meeting the NDA written cut off guarantee final selection?

No. Candidates who qualify the written examination must also clear the SSB interview and meet the applicable eligibility and medical requirements for final selection.

Pratishtha Sharma

Editor

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