The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination, better known as NDA, is the entry point for Class 12 students who want to become officers in the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force straight after school. One missed deadline can cost you a full six-month cycle. This guide covers the NDA 1 exam date 2027, the dates UPSC has already scheduled, the official timeline of both NDA cycles held in 2026, and a stage-wise view of what to expect from the notification to the start of training at Khadakwasla.
Status as on 11 November 2026: The NDA & NA (I) 2027 notification has not been released yet. The UPSC website lists the examination under Forthcoming Examinations. As per the UPSC Programme of Examinations (annual calendar) for 2027, the notification is scheduled for 2 December 2026, the last date to apply is 22 December 2026 and the written exam is scheduled for 11 April 2027. These are scheduled dates, and UPSC states that its calendar may change if circumstances warrant. All other dates in this article, including the admit card, result, SSB interviews and course start, are marked as expected and are based on the official dates of recent cycles. This page will be updated once the official notice is out.
NDA 1 Exam Date 2027 at a Glance
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NDA & NA (I) 2027 notification | 2 December 2026 (Wednesday) | Scheduled in UPSC 2027 calendar |
| Online application window | 2 December to 22 December 2026 | Scheduled |
| Last date to apply | 22 December 2026 (Tuesday) | Scheduled |
| NDA 1 2027 written exam | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | Scheduled |
| Exam time table | Around January 2027 | Expected |
| e-Admit card | Around 1 April 2027, about ten days before the exam | Expected |
| Written result | Around early May 2027 | Expected |
| SSB interviews | In the months after the written result | Expected |
| Final result | Around October to November 2027 | Expected |
| Course commencement | January 2028 (159th NDA Course and 121st INAC) | Expected, to be confirmed in the notice |
Only the notification date, the last date to apply and the exam date come from the official UPSC calendar. Everything else is a planning estimate drawn from the 2026 cycles, not an announcement.
Has the NDA 1 2027 Notification Been Released?
No. As on 11 November 2026, the NDA & NA (I) 2027 notice has not been published. UPSC shows the examination under its Forthcoming Examinations list, and the calendar date for the notification is 2 December 2026. The notice will confirm the application window, vacancies, course numbers, eligibility rules and fee.
Until then, no admit card date, vacancy figure or result date for NDA 1 2027 is official.
Official Dates of the NDA 2026 Cycles
The most reliable guide to the NDA 1 2027 schedule is how UPSC ran the two cycles held in 2026. The dates below are taken from the official UPSC examination pages for NDA & NA (I) 2026 and NDA & NA (II) 2026.
| Stage | NDA & NA (I) 2026 (official) | NDA & NA (II) 2026 (official) | NDA & NA (I) 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notification | 10 December 2025 | 20 May 2026 | 2 December 2026 (scheduled) |
| Last date to apply | 30 December 2025, 6:00 PM | 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM | 22 December 2026 (scheduled) |
| Time table uploaded | 9 January 2026 | 12 August 2026 | Expected: January 2027 |
| e-Admit card | 2 April 2026 | 3 September 2026 | Expected: around 1 April 2027 |
| Written exam | 12 April 2026 (Sunday) | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) | 11 April 2027 (Sunday, scheduled) |
| Written result (roll list) | 8 May 2026 | 9 October 2026 | Expected: early May 2027 |
| Written result (with names) | 13 May 2026 | 13 October 2026 | Expected: May 2027 |
| Final result | 5 November 2026 | Awaited | Expected: late 2027 |
| Course | 157th NDA and 119th INAC, from 1 January 2027 | 158th NDA and 120th INAC, from 1 July 2027 | Expected: 159th NDA and 121st INAC, January 2028 |
The patterns are clear. The exam is held on a Sunday. In both 2026 cycles, the e-admit card was uploaded ten days before the exam. The written result also arrived 26 days after the exam in both cycles, from 12 April to 8 May and from 13 September to 9 October. The NDA (I) 2026 final result came on 5 November 2026, a little under seven months after the written exam. If UPSC keeps a similar rhythm, the NDA 1 2027 admit card can be expected around 1 April 2027 and the written result in the first week of May 2027.
NDA 1 2027 Application Process and Key Dates
Application Window
The application window for NDA & NA (I) 2027 is scheduled to run from 2 December 2026 to 22 December 2026, which gives you exactly three weeks. In the NDA (I) 2026 cycle, the window ran from 10 December to 30 December 2025, and forms could be submitted up to 6:00 PM on the last day. Do not plan around an extension; apply in the first week if you can.
Where to Apply
Applications are accepted only online through UPSC’s official application portal. In recent cycles, candidates first created a one-time registration profile and then filled the exam form, chose wing preferences and a centre, and uploaded their photograph, signature and photo ID details.
Eligibility Check Before You Apply
Before 2 December 2026, confirm that your date of birth falls inside the window for this cycle, because UPSC does not allow any later change to the date of birth you claim. The expected DOB range, the Class 12 rule and the marital status condition are covered in detail in our guide to the NDA 1 age limit 2027. For the educational part, the Army wing accepts Class 12 in any stream, while the Air Force wing, the Naval wing and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy require Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
NDA 1 2027 Admit Card: Expected Timeline
UPSC does not send paper admit cards for NDA. The e-admit card is uploaded on the official website, and the commission advises candidates to download and print it as soon as it is available. In 2026, it was uploaded on 2 April for the 12 April exam and on 3 September for the 13 September exam. For NDA 1 2027, with the exam scheduled on 11 April 2027, the e-admit card is expected around 1 April 2027.
The official press notes issued with the 2026 admit cards also carried a few practical rules worth knowing in advance:
- The printout of the e-admit card must be produced at the venue, along with the photo ID card whose number is printed on it, in each session.
- Entry to the venue closes 30 minutes before each session begins, and late arrivals are not allowed to sit for the paper.
- Candidates can write the exam only at the venue printed on their e-admit card.
- The e-admit card must be kept safely until the final result is declared.
NDA 1 2027 Exam Day: Papers and Pattern
The NDA written exam is held on a single day in two sessions, Mathematics in the forenoon and the General Ability Test in the afternoon. The pattern below is the one followed in the latest official notices and will be confirmed for 2027 in the NDA & NA (I) 2027 notification.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematics | 2½ hours | 300 |
| Paper II | General Ability Test (English and General Knowledge) | 2½ hours | 600 |
| Total (written) | 900 | ||
| SSB Test/Interview | Intelligence and Personality Test | 900 |
Both papers are objective type, and wrong answers carry a penalty of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. In the General Ability Test, the English section carries 200 marks and General Knowledge carries 400 marks. The written exam and the SSB carry equal weight in the final merit list.
What Happens After the NDA 1 2027 Exam
Written Result and Registration
UPSC first releases a roll-number list of candidates who have qualified the written exam, followed a few days later by a list with names. The official press note for the NDA (I) 2026 written result asked qualified candidates to register on the Indian Army recruiting website within two weeks of the result, after which SSB centres and dates are communicated on the registered email ID. The NDA 1 2027 written result is expected in early May 2027, and the same registration step is expected to apply.
SSB Interview
Qualified candidates are called for a five-day Services Selection Board interview, covering screening, psychological tests, group tasks and a personal interview, followed by a conference. Candidates who opt for the Air Force also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS). You must carry your original certificates of age and educational qualification to the SSB, not send them to UPSC.
Medical Examination and Final Merit List
Candidates recommended by the SSB go through a medical examination. The final merit list is then drawn up on the combined marks of the written exam and the SSB, wing-wise and separately for male and female candidates as per the vacancies. For NDA (I) 2026, the final result was declared on 5 November 2026, and the cut-off marks were uploaded on 6 November 2026. On that basis, the NDA 1 2027 final result can be expected around October to November 2027.
Course Commencement
NDA (I) 2026 selected candidates for the 157th NDA Course and the 119th INAC starting on 1 January 2027, and NDA (II) 2026 is for the 158th NDA Course and 120th INAC starting on 1 July 2027. Following this sequence, NDA 1 2027 is expected to be for the 159th NDA Course and the 121st INAC, commencing in January 2028. The exact course numbers and date will be confirmed in the 2027 notice.
NDA 2027: Both Cycles in One View
UPSC’s 2027 calendar has also fixed the second NDA cycle of the year. This matters if you are close to the edge of the age window or if you want to plan a second attempt in the same year.
| Event | NDA & NA (I) 2027 | NDA & NA (II) 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 2 December 2026 | 12 May 2027 |
| Last date to apply | 22 December 2026 | 1 June 2027 |
| Written exam | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) |
| Expected course start | January 2028 | July 2028 |
Your eligibility for each cycle depends on your exact date of birth and your Class 12 status. Before choosing which attempts to target, check how the window moves between cycles in our NDA age limit guide.
NDA 1 2027 Preparation Plan Around the Scheduled Dates
| Period | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Now to 1 December 2026 | Keep your Class 10 certificate, photo ID, photograph and signature ready; fix a daily study routine. |
| 2 to 22 December 2026 | Apply early; check your date of birth and wing preferences before submitting. |
| January to February 2027 | Finish the Mathematics syllabus and core English and GK topics alongside Class 12 board preparation. |
| March 2027 | Take full-length mocks in the two-session format and revise current affairs of the last 12 months. |
| Around 1 to 10 April 2027 | Download the e-admit card, confirm the venue and only revise. |
| After 11 April 2027 | Start SSB preparation straight away. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the NDA 1 exam date 2027?
As per the UPSC calendar for 2027, the NDA & NA (I) 2027 written exam is scheduled for 11 April 2027, a Sunday. The date will be confirmed in the official notification, and UPSC may revise its calendar if circumstances warrant.
2. When will the NDA 1 2027 notification be released?
The UPSC calendar schedules the NDA & NA (I) 2027 notification for 2 December 2026. As on 11 November 2026, it has not been released, and the exam is listed under Forthcoming Examinations on the UPSC website.
3. What is the last date to apply for NDA 1 2027?
The last date to apply is scheduled for 22 December 2026. In the NDA (I) 2026 cycle, the deadline was 6:00 PM on the last day.
4. When will the NDA 1 2027 admit card be released?
It is expected around 1 April 2027. In both 2026 cycles, UPSC uploaded the e-admit card ten days before the exam, only on its official website.
5. When will the NDA 1 2027 result be declared?
The written result is expected in early May 2027. In both 2026 cycles, it came 26 days after the exam. The final result, after the SSB and medicals, is expected around October to November 2027.
6. When is the NDA 2 2027 exam?
As per the UPSC 2027 calendar, the NDA & NA (II) 2027 exam is scheduled for 19 September 2027, with the notification on 12 May 2027 and the last date to apply on 1 June 2027.
Conclusion
The NDA 1 2027 cycle is only a few weeks away. UPSC has scheduled the notification for 2 December 2026, the last date to apply for 22 December 2026 and the written exam for 11 April 2027. Going by the official NDA (I) 2026 and NDA (II) 2026 timelines, you can expect the e-admit card around 1 April 2027, the written result in early May 2027, SSB interviews in the months that follow and the final result towards the end of 2027, with training expected to begin in January 2028.
This page will be updated with the confirmed NDA 1 2027 schedule, vacancies and other details as soon as UPSC publishes the official notice.
