How much does the SSB interview count in NDA?
Nine hundred marks — exactly as much as both written papers combined. It runs over five days and covers screening, psychological testing, group testing officer tasks and a personal interview. Because it assesses officer-like qualities such as initiative, cooperation, resilience and clarity of thought, it rewards years of activity, responsibility and reading rather than weeks of coaching. Candidates who spend a year on the written papers and a fortnight on the SSB are preparing for half the examination.
Which is more important in NDA, Mathematics or General Ability?
The General Ability Test, by mark weight — 600 marks against 300 for mathematics. Within it, General Knowledge alone carries 400 marks, more than the entire mathematics paper, and it draws on class 11 and 12 physics and chemistry more heavily than the label suggests. Candidates who are strong in mathematics but casual about general knowledge are optimising the smaller half of the written examination.
How should I prepare for the NDA SSB?
Over months, not weeks, and through activity rather than study. The board assesses initiative, cooperation, decisiveness, physical robustness and the ability to think and speak clearly under pressure. Building those means taking responsibility in group settings, maintaining genuine physical fitness, reading widely enough to hold views, and practising expressing them. Format familiarisation and mock interviews are useful in the final weeks, but they refine what is already there rather than creating it.
What are the NDA 2026 exam dates?
NDA I 2026 was held on 12 April 2026 with the written result on 8 May; NDA II 2026 was notified on 20 May with applications to 9 June and was held on 13 September 2026, with the written result due about eight weeks later. NDA I 2027 is on the UPSC calendar for 11 April 2027, with the notification on 2 December 2026 and applications to 22 December.
What is the NDA exam pattern?
A written examination of two objective papers on one day — Mathematics, 120 questions for 300 marks in two and a half hours, and the General Ability Test, 150 questions for 600 marks in two and a half hours, of which English is 200 and General Knowledge 400 — with one third of the marks of a question deducted per wrong answer; then an SSB interview of 900 marks over five days. The final merit is out of 1,800.
How many vacancies are there in NDA 2026?
394 in each cycle: Army 208, Navy 42, Air Force 120 (Flying 92, Ground Duty Technical 18, Ground Duty Non-Technical 10) and the Naval Academy 10+2 cadet entry 24, of which 24 across the wings are for women and are filled through a separate merit list.
Who is eligible for NDA, and what is the age limit?
Unmarried men and women who have passed class 12 — with physics, chemistry and mathematics for the Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy — and were born between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2011 for NDA II 2026 (2 July 2007 to 1 July 2010 for NDA I 2026). Class-12 candidates awaiting results may apply. Physical and vision standards apply by service.
Is there negative marking in NDA?
Yes — one third of the marks of the question for every wrong answer: 0.83 marks in Mathematics (2.5 per question) and 1.33 in the General Ability Test (4 per question). Unanswered questions are not penalised.
Are there free NDA mock tests?
Yes. The free NDA mock tests here follow the 2026 pattern — 120 mathematics questions and 150 GAT questions on the two-and-a-half-hour clocks, with the one-third deduction applied and section-wise scores for the GAT weights — so you can see where you stand against the written cut-off.
What is the NDA SSB interview?
A five-day assessment at a Services Selection Board worth 900 marks, equal to the written examination. Stage I on the first day is an Officer Intelligence Rating test and a Picture Perception and Description Test that screens candidates out; stage II over the next four days is psychology tests, Group Testing Officer tasks and a personal interview, followed by the conference. Air Force flying-branch candidates who are recommended also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System, which can be attempted only once.
