The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the examination schedule for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Naval Academy (NA), and Combined
Defence Services 1 2026. As per the official calendar, the exams will be held on April 12, 2026. UPSC will conduct the NDA and NA 2026 Mathematics paper from 10 am to 12:30 pm and the General Ability Test from 2 pm to 4:30 pm. Whereas, CDS 1 English will be held from 9 am to 11 am, General Knowledge from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and the Elementary Mathematics exam from 4 pm to 6 pm. This recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 391 vacancies for NDA and 451 vacancies for CDS. How to Download UPSC NDA/NA Exam 2026 Schedule Refer to the table below to check the important schedule:
- Visit the official website: upsc.gov.in.
- On the homepage, click on the 'Examination Timetable for National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026' link available under the 'What's New' section.
- A PDF will be displayed on the screen.
- Download and save it for future reference.
On exam day, candidates are required to reach their examination hall at least 30 minutes before the reporting time, as no late entries will be allowed. For entry purposes, an e-admit card will be issued to the candidates on the last working day of the week before the scheduled exam. Applicants can download it through upsc.gov.in, using their login credentials.
UPSC NDA, CDS Exam Pattern 2026
Refer to the table below to check NDA and CDS paper patterns:
| Exam | Number of Papers | Subjects | Marks per Paper | Total Marks | Medium | Notes |
| NDA & NA (Written) | 2 | Mathematics; General Ability Test | Mathematics: 300GAT: 600 | 900 | English & Hindi | Objective-type papers |
| CDS (Written) | 3 | English; General Knowledge; Elementary Mathematics | 100 each | 300 | English | OTA candidates do not appear for Mathematics; followed by SSB interview |
Yes, candidates will face negative marking for incorrect responses in both NDA and CDS. The deduction will be based on the provisions outlined in the question paper.
For additional information on UPSC NDA, NA or CDS, please visit the official website of UPSC.
