For a Class 12 student who wants to wear the uniform of the Army, Navy or Air Force, the NDA online form is the very first official step. Once submitted, it cannot be withdrawn, and in the latest cycle it could not be corrected either. This guide explains how to apply online for NDA 1 2027, the fee and the step-by-step process, based on the official NDA & NA (I) 2026 notice.
Status as on 12 November 2026: The NDA & NA (I) 2027 notification has not been released, so the online application for NDA 1 2027 is not open yet. As per the UPSC Programme of Examinations 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. The process below is the official process of the NDA (I) 2026 cycle (Notice No. 3/2026-NDA-I dated 10 December 2025). 2027 details such as the fee and closing time are marked expected until the NDA (I) 2027 notice is out; this article will then be updated.
NDA 1 Apply Online 2027: Key Details
| Particular | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) | Official |
| Mode of application | Online only | Official (NDA I 2026 notice) |
| Official application portal | upsconline.nic.in | Official (NDA I 2026 notice) |
| Application window | 2 December to 22 December 2026 | Scheduled in UPSC 2027 calendar |
| Closing time on the last day | 6:00 PM | Expected (6:00 PM in NDA I 2026) |
| Application fee | Rs 100 | Expected (Rs 100 in NDA I 2026) |
| Fee exemption | SC, ST and female candidates, and specified wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs | Expected (as per NDA I 2026 notice) |
| Withdrawal of application | Not allowed after submission | Expected (as per NDA I 2026 notice) |
| Correction after the window closes | Not allowed | Expected (as per NDA I 2026 notice) |
| NDA (I) 2027 written exam | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | Scheduled |
Only the window and the exam date come from the UPSC calendar for 2027. The other rows reflect the NDA (I) 2026 notice, which the 2027 notice will confirm or change.
Is the NDA 1 2027 Registration Link Active?
No. As on 12 November 2026, there is no NDA (I) 2027 application link because the examination notice has not been issued. UPSC opens the examination-specific application only when the notice is published, which is scheduled for 2 December 2026. Any site claiming to accept NDA 1 2027 forms before that date is not genuine.
When the window opens, the form will be available only on UPSC’s online application portal, upsconline.nic.in. No other mode of submission is allowed. Notices and results are published on the main UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.
How the UPSC Online Application Portal Works
According to the NDA (I) 2026 notice, UPSC’s application portal has four cards or modules. The first three are common to all UPSC examinations and can be filled at any time, while the fourth is specific to the examination and can be filled only while that examination’s window is open.
| Module | What You Do | When You Can Do It |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Account creation | Create your login using an email ID and mobile number | Any time |
| 2. Universal Registration | Fill basic personal details and Photo ID details; a Universal Registration Number (URN) is generated | Any time |
| 3. Common Application Form (CAF) | Fill educational and other details, upload photograph and signature, and capture a live photograph | Any time |
| 4. Examination specific module | Give service preferences, choose the exam centre, pay the fee and submit | Only during the NDA (I) 2027 window |
The URN is unique and stays the same for every UPSC examination, while a separate Application Number is generated for each examination you apply for. Finish the first three modules before 2 December 2026.
NDA 1 Apply Online 2027: Step-by-Step Process
The steps below follow the official NDA (I) 2026 process. Screens and wording may differ slightly in 2027.
Step 1: Read the Notice and Check Your Eligibility
Before you open the portal, read the NDA (I) 2027 notice once it is released and confirm that you meet the conditions on age, marital status and education. NDA is open only to unmarried candidates, and the date-of-birth window shifts by six months every cycle. The official 2026 window and the expected window for this cycle are explained in our guide to the NDA 1 age limit 2027, so they are not repeated here.
Step 2: Create Your Account
On upsconline.nic.in, create an account using an email ID and mobile number that you will keep active for at least the next year. If you clear the written test, you must register on joinindianarmy.nic.in with the same email ID that you gave to UPSC.
Step 3: Complete Universal Registration (URN)
Fill your name, date of birth, parents’ names, gender and the details of one Photo ID. The notice strongly advises using Aadhaar. Enter your name and date of birth exactly as they appear in your Class 10 (Matriculation or Secondary School) certificate, because UPSC accepts only that date of birth and does not allow any later change.
Step 4: Fill the Common Application Form
Enter your educational details, upload your photograph and signature, and capture a live photograph through your webcam or phone camera. The notice warns that both the uploaded photograph and the live photograph must be clear, as per the photo and signature instructions on the portal.
Step 5: Open the NDA (I) 2027 Examination Module
Once the window opens on the scheduled date, select the NDA & NA (I) 2027 examination and fill the examination specific details.
Step 6: Give Your Service Preferences
Indicate the services for which you want to be considered in order of preference, from 1 to 4. The options are the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of NDA and the Naval Academy’s 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme.
Step 7: Select the Examination Centre
Choose your exam centre carefully. The NDA (I) 2026 notice listed 81 centres across the country. Every centre except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur had a ceiling on the number of candidates, and centres were allotted on a first-apply, first-allot basis. Change of centre is not allowed later.
Step 8: Pay the Fee or Claim Exemption
Pay the fee online unless you are exempt (see the fee section below).
Step 9: Review, Submit and Save
Check every field and submit. Save the final application as a PDF, note your Application Number along with your URN, and keep a printout for your records.
NDA 1 2027 Application Fee
In the NDA (I) 2026 cycle, the fee was Rs 100. The same amount is expected for NDA 1 2027, but it will be confirmed only in the 2027 notice.
| Category | Fee (NDA I 2026, official) | NDA 1 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| General, OBC and EWS male candidates | Rs 100 | Expected: Rs 100 |
| Female candidates | Nil (exempted) | Expected: Nil |
| SC and ST candidates | Nil (exempted) | Expected: Nil |
| Wards of serving or ex-JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military Schools or Sainik Schools run by the Sainik Schools Society | Nil (exempted) | Expected: Nil |
A few fee rules from the NDA (I) 2026 notice are worth knowing before you pay:
- The notice specifically states that no fee exemption is available to OBC candidates; they must pay the full fee.
- The exemption for wards of Junior Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks (and equivalent ranks of the Navy and Air Force) applies only if the candidate is studying in a Military School (formerly King George’s School) or a Sainik School run by the Sainik Schools Society. A certificate from the Principal is checked at the SSB.
- Payment is accepted only through Visa, MasterCard or RuPay credit or debit cards, UPI, or internet banking of any bank. Applications without the prescribed fee are summarily rejected, unless a fee exemption has been claimed.
- If the bank does not send your payment details to UPSC, your application is first treated as a ‘fictitious payment’ case and rejected. UPSC publishes a list of such cases within two weeks of the closing date, and you then have 10 days to submit proof of payment so that a genuine application can be revived.
Documents and Details to Keep Ready
UPSC does not ask NDA applicants to upload certificates of age, education or category with the online form; only the Photo ID details are required at this stage. Keep the following ready before 2 December 2026:
| Item | Why It Is Needed |
|---|---|
| Class 10 certificate | Name and date of birth must match it exactly |
| One Photo ID (preferably Aadhaar) | Entered in the URN profile; the same ID is to be carried to the exam and the SSB |
| Recent photograph and signature (scanned) | Uploaded in the Common Application Form, along with a live photograph |
| Category certificate (if applicable) | To claim SC or ST status and fee exemption; produced later when asked |
| Active email ID and mobile number | Used for OTPs, UPSC communication and the later Army website registration |
Class 12 appearing candidates can apply but must submit proof of passing by the notified date. For NDA (I) 2026, which leads to the course starting in January 2027, that date was 10 December 2026, and the notice made it clear that no extension would be given on any ground. Candidates appearing in Class 11 are not eligible.
Service Preferences: Rules to Follow While Filling the Form
The preference section decides which service you can be allotted, so fill it with care. As per the NDA (I) 2026 notice:
- You must indicate the services in your order of preference, numbered 1 to 4, and UPSC advises giving as many preferences as you are willing to accept.
- You are considered only for the services you choose, and for no other service.
- At least one preference is mandatory for service allocation.
- No addition or change in preferences is accepted after the application is submitted.
The notice also states that candidates with the Air Force as first choice must register on joinindianarmy.nic.in for AFSB and date selection after the written result.
No Withdrawal and No Correction: Why You Must Check Twice
Two rules in the NDA (I) 2026 notice make accuracy more important than speed:
- No withdrawal: Candidates are not allowed to withdraw their application after submitting it.
- No correction window: Citing the multiple reconfirmations already built into the application process, UPSC decided not to allow any correction in any field of the form after its submission and the closing of the application window.
UPSC does offer a one-time facility to update the URN profile, but any change applies only to applications submitted after the profile is updated and locked again. It does not change an application you have already submitted.
After You Apply
After the window closes, the next step is the e-admit card. As per the 2026 notice, it is issued on the UPSC website on the last working day of the week before the examination and is not sent by post or email. For NDA (I) 2026, the e-admit card was released on 2 April 2026 for the 12 April exam. For the complete timeline, including the expected admit card, written result, SSB and course start for this cycle, see our article on the NDA 1 exam date 2027.
For application issues, UPSC ran a helpline (011-24041001, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days) during the NDA (I) 2026 window; a similar facility is expected for 2027.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for the last day. Popular centres fill up early, and an extension is never guaranteed.
- Entering a name or date of birth that differs from the Class 10 certificate.
- Choosing the Air Force or Navy without Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12, or leaving out a service you would actually accept.
- Using a temporary email ID. You will need the same email ID for the Army recruiting website if you clear the written exam.
- Applying without checking the cycle-wise NDA age limit for your date of birth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When will NDA 1 2027 apply online start?
As per the UPSC calendar for 2027, the online application is scheduled to open with the notification on 2 December 2026 and close on 22 December 2026. As on 12 November 2026, the application has not started.
2. What is the application fee for NDA 1 2027?
The fee is expected to be Rs 100, as in the NDA (I) 2026 cycle. SC, ST and female candidates and the specified wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs were exempted, while OBC candidates had to pay the full fee. The 2027 fee will be confirmed in the notice.
3. Can I fill the NDA form before the notification?
You can complete account creation, Universal Registration and the Common Application Form at any time. Only the NDA examination module opens with the notice.
4. Can Class 12 students apply for NDA 1 2027?
Yes. Candidates appearing in Class 12 can apply, but must submit proof of passing by the date fixed in the notice.
5. Can I correct my NDA 1 2027 form after submitting it?
Based on the NDA (I) 2026 notice, no. UPSC did not allow any correction after submission and the closing of the window, and applications cannot be withdrawn after submission. Check every detail before you submit.
Conclusion
The NDA 1 2027 application window is scheduled to run from 2 December to 22 December 2026, and the registration link will appear only on upsconline.nic.in once the official notice is out. If the 2026 rules continue, you will pay Rs 100 (nil for SC, ST and female candidates and the specified wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs), give your service preferences and centre in the examination module, and have no chance to withdraw or correct the form afterwards.
Complete your account, URN and Common Application Form now, decide your service preferences with care, and apply in the first few days of the window to secure your preferred centre. This page will be updated with the official NDA (I) 2027 details as soon as UPSC releases the notice.
