UPSC NDA and NA (I) 2027 – Exam Dates, Notification Dates & How To Prepare

Many students looking to join the army, navy or Air Force straight after their class 12 are looking for the next NDA exam. UPSC have released their official exam calendar which includes the planned dates for the NDA and NA (I) 2027 exam. This article covers what the dates mean, and how we can best use our time before the notification.

Please note – The detailed notification has not been released as of the 7th of November 2026. These dates have been taken from UPSC’s calendar. These dates are subject to change. Please always check UPSC.gov.in.

Key Dates From Official UPSC Calendar

According to the UPSC’s Programme of Examinations/Recruitment Tests 2027, (As on: 20.05.2026). The NDA and NA Examination (I) 2027 dates are:

Notification: 2nd December 2026 Last date to apply: 22nd December 2026 Exam date: 11th April 2027 (Sunday) Duration: 1 day

NDA and NA (II) 2027 dates:

Notification: 12th May 2027 Last date to apply: 1st June 2027 Exam date: 19th September 2027 (Sunday)

CDS (I) 2027 dates are the same as NDA (I).

Please note that all dates are subject to change, and are planned.

How To Use The Calendar

These dates give us a short window to apply for the exam – around 20 days. This means that if you leave it until the last week you could have issues with the sites running slowly, issues paying and issues uploading photos. Try to apply in the first week.

We also have around 4 months between the last date and the exam date. This is enough time to complete the syllabus and revise.

General Info About The Exam

The following information has been taken from the last official notice for NDA and NA (II) 2026. (Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II dated 20th May 2026). Please note that UPSC can change these details, so please be sure to read the 2027 notification carefully.

Written exam consists of two papers – Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). In this notice, Mathematics is worth 300 marks and the GAT is worth 600 marks. Both papers are 2.5 hours long. The GAT contains English (200 marks) and General Knowledge (400 marks).

All questions are objective with 4 choices. You lose a third of the marks per question for each incorrect answer. There is no penalty for leaving it blank.

Those who pass the written exam will go to the Services Selection Board (SSB) for an Intelligence and Personality Test worth 900 marks. Stage I will consist of OIR tests and a picture perception test. Those who pass Stage I will move onto stage 2. This lasts 4 days and involves an interview, group tasks, psychology tests and conference.

Those recommended by the SSB will then attend a medical exam by a panel of service doctors. For Air Force candidates they must also pass the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) for the flying branch.

Your final merit will be based on your written and SSB score. Just having a high written score won’t be enough. So be sure to prepare for the SSB.

Who Applies?

The NDA (II) 2026 notice shows us clearly who applies. Unmarried male and female candidates born between 1st January 2008 and 1st January 2011 could apply. For the Army wing you need to have passed Class 12. For the Air Force and Navy you need to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Those currently in Class 12 could apply but would need to provide proof they had passed. Those in Class 11 could not apply.

Every cycle the birth dates increase. So we will have different dates in 2027. Other rules can also vary. Be sure to check the age requirements, educational requirements and physical standards in the 2027 notification.

Simple Study Plan Until April 2027

November & December 2026 – Build Up Your Foundation

• Download the NDA syllabus from the last official notification on UPSC.gov.in. Print off and tick off topics as you complete them.
• Maths – Start with the NCERT books for class 11 and 12. Focus on algebra, trignometry, calculus, matrices, vectors and stats.
• GAT – Start a short routine each day. Learn 1 piece of English grammar, 10 new words and 1 current affairs summary.
• Keep a simple revision book with formulas and facts. Spend 10 minutes each night reading this.

December 2026 – Apply Carefully

• Once the notification has been released, read it thoroughly.
• Have a recent passport sized photo and signature scanned in the correct size.
• Use your own email and phone number so you receive important messages.
• Double check your name and date of birth match your class 10 certificate. Small spelling mistakes can cause issues later.
• Save a copy of your completed application and fee receipt.

January – March 2027 – Practice

• Complete past papers from the UPSC site. Time yourself to 2.5 hours.
• After completing each test make a list of your mistakes. The next day focus on improving those specific topics.
• Learn when to leave questions out due to the negative marking. Don’t guess!
• Make sure you don’t leave out Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography and General Science in the GAT as they are worth lots of marks.

Early April 2027 – Final Days

• Don’t learn any new topics. Just revise your revision book and past mistakes.
• Once the admit card has been released by UPSC download it. Make sure you know where you are going and when.
• Get a good nights sleep. A fresh mind will perform better.

Start SSB Revision Early

Many students forget about the SSB until they have their written results. However it is important to start preparing as the SSB looks at how you think, talk and work with others. These take time to develop.

• Read a newspaper everyday and have your own opinion on key topics.
• Practice talking about simple topics for 2 minutes.
• Play a team sport or group activity to help with teamwork.
• Stay fit – Running, push ups and basic exercise will help with the medical and boost your confidence.
• Be genuine – The SSB value genuine people with a balanced personality.

Common Mistakes

• Don’t rely on social media for dates. Only follow UPSC.gov.in and the official application site.
• Don’t pay someone to fill out your application. You can do it yourself to keep your details safe.
• Don’t just focus on Maths. The GAT is worth 600 of the 900 written marks (Latest official scheme).
• Don’t neglect your health. Your eyesight, weight and fitness will be tested in the medical.
• Don’t leave your application until the last day.

FAQ

Is the NDA (I) 2027 notification out?

No. It is planned for the 2nd of December 2026 according to the UPSC calendar.

When is the NDA (I) 2027 exam?

According to the UPSC calendar it is the 11th April 2027. However it can be changed. Please check the notification.

Can I apply if I’m in class 12?

Yes. According to the NDA (II) 2026 notice those in class 12 could apply. Please check the 2027 notice.

Are NDA and CDS the same exam?

No. They are completely different exams for different ages and education. They only have the same dates in the 2027 calendar.

How many times a year is NDA?

Twice. According to the 2027 calendar NDA (I) is in April and NDA (II) is in September.

Conclusion

You now have a clear advantage. The planned dates are known and you have time to prepare properly. Use November to build your foundation, apply early in December and use the months after to practice. Keep checking UPSC.gov.in for the official notification.

Disclaimer – Fizoic is an independant education website and we are not affiliated with UPSC, Ministry of Defence or the armed forces. Always check UPSC.gov.in for details.