If you are reading this in November 2026, the date that decides your next chapter is already fixed. UPSC has put the NDA & NA Examination (I), 2027 on Sunday, 11 April 2027. That is roughly 22 weeks away. It sounds like plenty, until you remember that December goes in filling the form and January goes in board practicals.
This guide puts every official date in one place, tells you what is confirmed and what is still only expected, and gives you a week-by-week plan you can start on Monday. We have kept it honest: where UPSC has not said something yet, we say so.
These dates come from the UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027, published as on 20 May 2026 (UPSC calendar PDF).
| 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 |
| Exam date | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) |
| Exam duration | 1 day | 1 day |
CDS (I) 2027 shares the same notification and exam dates as NDA (I) 2027. UPSC’s own note says these dates are “liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant”, so recheck upsc.gov.in on 2 December.
Counting from 6 November 2026:
Twenty-two weeks is enough to cover the syllabus, finish one full round of previous papers and still have a calm last month. It is not enough if you wait for the notification before starting.
The NDA 1 2027 notice is not out yet, so the rules below come from the latest official notice, NDA & NA (II) 2026, dated 20 May 2026 (UPSC notice PDF). These rules have stayed the same across recent notices, but confirm them on 2 December.
Age window – expected, not yet confirmed: NDA (I) 2026 accepted candidates born between 1 July 2007 and 1 July 2010 (NDA I 2026 notice), and NDA (II) 2026 accepted those born between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2011. If UPSC follows the same six-month step, NDA (I) 2027 should accept candidates born between 1 July 2008 and 1 July 2011. Treat this as our expectation until the notice confirms it. You can check your own case with our NDA age calculator, and read about category rules in NDA category-wise age relaxation.
As per the NDA (II) 2026 notice, the written exam has two objective papers, set in both Hindi and English:
| Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 2½ hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test (English + GK) | 2½ hours | 600 |
| Written total | 900 | |
| SSB Test/Interview | 900 |
Every wrong answer costs one-third (0.33) of that question’s marks, and marking two options counts as wrong. That one rule changes how you should practise. Our guide on avoiding negative marking in NDA explains how to decide when to skip.
Both NDA notices of 2026 listed 394 approximate vacancies (370 for men and 24 for women) across the Army, Navy and Air Force wings and the Naval Academy. The NDA (I) 2027 numbers will only be known when the notice comes out on 2 December, so please do not plan around a figure until then.
This is the plan we would give a younger brother or sister. It assumes about 6 hours of study a day on top of school.
If you prefer a shorter, stricter version, our 90-day NDA study plan picks up from January.
Our NDA 1 2027 batch in Dehradun began on 1 November 2026, covering written exam preparation, SSB interview preparation, physical training, spoken English sessions, study material and mock tests. See the upcoming batches page for current timings, or register online. If you are in or have finished Class 12, our NDA coaching after 12th page explains the course.
Every officer you have ever admired once sat in an exam hall with a pencil and a racing heart. The difference was rarely talent. It was the months before, when nobody was watching. You have 22 weeks. Start this one well.
And once the written result comes, read what happens after clearing the NDA written exam so the SSB does not catch you unprepared.
Sources (checked 6 November 2026): UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027, as on 20.05.2026; UPSC NDA & NA (II) 2026 notice, 20.05.2026; UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2026 notice. The NDA (I) 2027 age window, seats and course details are expected values until UPSC publishes the notice on 2 December 2026.
UPSC has scheduled the NDA & NA Examination (I), 2027 for Sunday, 11 April 2027, as per its 2027 calendar dated 20 May 2026. UPSC says dates can change if circumstances require.
The UPSC calendar lists 2 December 2026 as the notification date, with 22 December 2026 as the last date to apply.
It will be confirmed in the notice. Based on the six-month step between the 2026 notices, we expect candidates born between 1 July 2008 and 1 July 2011 to be eligible, but treat this as an estimate until 2 December 2026.
Going by the 2026 notices, no. UPSC stated it will not allow corrections in any field after submission and closure of the application window, so check every detail before submitting.
Yes. As per the latest notice, one-third (0.33) of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer, and marking more than one option is treated as wrong.
UPSC has fixed the NDA 1 2027 exam for 11 April 2027, with the notification on 2 December 2026. Official dates, expected eligibility, exam pattern and a 22-week plan.
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