UPSC NDA 1 Final Result 2026: 617 Qualify for 157th Course

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the final result of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026 on 5 November 2026. The merit list has 617 candidates for the 157th Course of the NDA (Army, Navy and Air Force wings) and the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC).

The result combines the written exam of 12 April 2026 with the SSB interviews held by the Ministry of Defence. Your place on the list is provisional until your medical and certificates are cleared.

What was released

UPSC posted a 15-page PDF under What's New on upsc.gov.in. It begins with a press note and then lists the 617 candidates in order of merit, with roll number and name. There are no marks in this PDF.

The press note makes three points:

• The list is based on the written exam and the SSB interviews.
• Medical examination results were not taken into account while preparing the list.
• The candidature of everyone on the list is provisional.

Key facts

How to check the result

1. Go to upsc.gov.in and open What's New.
2. Click Final Result: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026.
3. Download the PDF.
4. Search for your 7-digit roll number with Ctrl+F (or Find in page on a phone).
5. Note your serial number. A lower serial number means a higher merit position.

No login is needed. Save the PDF and take a printout for your records.

617 names against 394 seats

The examination notice for NDA 1 2026 advertised 394 vacancies, as per published reports: 208 for the Army wing, 42 for the Navy wing, 120 for the Air Force wing and 24 for the Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme).

The merit list is longer than the seat count for a reason. Some recommended candidates fail the medical board, some do not send their certificates, and some choose another course or college. The services fill seats from the list in merit order, so candidates lower down can still get a call. A lower rank is not a rejection, but it does mean you should keep your options open until you receive a joining letter.

The press note also mentions that candidates who chose the Air Force as first choice should follow updates at careerindianairforce.cdac.in.

What happens next

Medical board. If your medical board result is pending or you are under appeal, follow up with the board. A candidate who is medically unfit cannot join, whatever the merit rank.

Certificate check. Send your date of birth and educational certificates to the Army HQ address below if you have not already done so.

Joining instructions. UPSC does not announce joining dates. For the start date of the 157th Course and the 119th INAC, check:

• joinindianarmy.nic.in for the Army
• joinindiannavy.gov.in for the Navy
• careerindianairforce.cdac.in for the Air Force

Change of address. If your address has changed since you applied, tell Army HQ in writing at once. Joining letters are sent to the address on record.

Documents to send

If you have not already submitted them, send self-attested copies of:

1. Date of birth proof: Class 10 certificate or matriculation certificate
2. Educational qualification: Class 12 certificate and marksheet. Candidates who appeared for Class 12 at the time of the exam must now show proof of passing.
3. Any other certificate that supports a claim made in your application

Send them to:

Additional Directorate General of Recruiting, Adjutant General's Branch, Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Army), West Block No. III, Wing-I, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110066.

Do not send these documents to UPSC. Use speed post or registered post and keep the receipt.

When will marks be released?

UPSC says the marks of candidates will be on its website 15 days after the final result. Counting from 5 November 2026, that is around 20 November 2026. You will see your written and SSB marks.

If you did not make the list, these marks show where you lost ground. Many candidates clear the written exam but fall short in the SSB. If that is you, focus on the psychology tests, group tasks and the personal interview for your next attempt.

How the merit list is prepared

UPSC sets the written exam, which carries 900 marks: Mathematics (300) and the General Ability Test (600). Candidates who cross the written cut-off go to the Services Selection Board (SSB), a five-day process of screening, psychology tests, group tasks and a personal interview, which carries another 900 marks. The final order of merit is based on the total of 1,800 marks.

The SSB stage removes most candidates. Each NDA cycle, several thousand candidates clear the written exam, but only a few hundred make the final list. That is why the 617 names here are a strong achievement, even before the medical board.

What life at NDA looks like

Selected cadets train for three years at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, and earn a degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Army cadets then go to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, for one year; Navy cadets to the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala; and Air Force cadets to the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. Cadets receive a stipend during the final phase of training, and are commissioned as officers when training ends.

Helplines

• UPSC Facilitation Counter: at the UPSC campus, working days, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• UPSC Candidate's Helpdesk: 011-24041001 and 011-40303444, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days
• SSB and interview matters: 011-23010097, officer-navy@nic.in

What if your name is not on the list?

You can try again. UPSC has already listed the NDA and NA Examination (I), 2027 under Examinations on its website. Check the age band carefully, as only unmarried candidates born in the specified window can apply. Use your marks, when released, to plan your preparation.

Sources

• UPSC, Final Result: NDA and NA Examination (I), 2026, press note and merit list dated 5 November 2026, upsc.gov.in