The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the examination schedule for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination (I) 2026. As per the released schedule, the examination will be conducted on 12 April 2026 in offline mode at examination centres across the country. The NDA and NA Examination (I) is a national-level competitive exam conducted for candidates seeking admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy.
NDA and Naval Academy Exam (I) 2026 Paper-Wise Schedule
UPSC has released the detailed shift-wise timetable for the NDA and NA Examination (I) 2026. The examination will be held in two sessions on the same day. The Mathematics paper will be conducted in the forenoon session from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The General Ability Test (GAT) will take place in the afternoon session from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Candidates must report to their respective examination centres as per the reporting time mentioned in the admit card to complete verification formalities.
CDS Exam 2026 to Be Held on the Same Day
UPSC has also scheduled the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 2026 on 12 April 2026. The CDS exam will be conducted in three shifts on the same day. The English paper will be held from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by the General Knowledge paper from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. The Elementary Mathematics paper will be conducted in the evening shift from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
About NDA and Naval Academy Examination
The NDA and NA examination is conducted twice every year by UPSC. It is open to candidates who have completed Class 12 or equivalent and aspire to join the defence services through the National Defence Academy or the Indian Naval Academy. Candidates are advised to regularly check official UPSC notifications for updates related to application forms, admit cards, and other important instructions ahead of the examination.