The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC NDA, NA & CDS II 2025 exam notification. This year, a total of 453 vacancies have been announced for recruitment across the various academies— NDA (National Defence Academy), NA (Naval Academy), and CDS (Combined Defence Services). The exams are scheduled to be conducted on September 14, 2025, and the online application portal is now live on upsconline.nic.in.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Names | NDA II, NA II & CDS II |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Date | September 14, 2025 |
| Application Start Date | May 15, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | June 4, 2025 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Official Websites | upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | May 15, 2025 |
| Application Window | May 15 – June 4, 2025 |
| Exam Date (NDA, NA, CDS II) | September 14, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | Likely in August 2025 |
| Result Declaration | Around November 2025 |
- Visit https://upsconline.nic.in to complete the one-time registration (OTR)
- Click on “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC”
- Select the relevant exam: NDA & NA II or CDS II
- Complete Part I Registration:
- Fill in personal, educational, and contact details
- Choose preferences
- Proceed to Part II Registration:
- Upload a photograph and a signature
- Pay exam fee:
- ₹100 for General/OBC
- No fee for SC/ST/Female candidates
- Select exam center preferences
- Submit and download the application with fee payment status form for reference
Once the application is complete, eligible candidates will get their e-Admit Card on the last working day before the exam week. All details regarding eligibility, medical requirements, and educational qualifications are clearly stated in the official notification on the UPSC website.
Documents Required for Application
- Scanned passport-sized photograph (20-300 KB)
- Scanned signature (20-300 KB)
- Valid photo ID (Aadhar, PAN, Driving License)
- Educational certificates
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- NCC ‘C’ Certificate (if applicable)
NDA & NA II 2025
- Visit https://upsconline.nic.in to complete the one-time registration (OTR)
- Click on “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC”
- Select the relevant exam: NDA & NA II or CDS II
- Complete Part I Registration:
- Fill in personal, educational, and contact details
- Choose preferences
- Proceed to Part II Registration:
- Upload a photograph and a signature
- Pay exam fee:
- ₹100 for General/OBC
- No fee for SC/ST/Female candidates
- Select exam center preferences
- Submit and download the application with fee payment status form for reference
| Wing | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Army Wing (NDA) | 12th pass (10+2 pattern) |
| Air Force & Naval Wings | 12th pass with Physics & Mathematics |
| Naval Academy (NA) | 12th pass with Physics & Mathematics |
- Nationality
- Same as NDA eligibility
- Age Limit & Marital Status
| Academy | Age Limit | Marital Status |
|---|---|---|
| IMA (Indian Military Academy) | 19–24 years | Unmarried males |
| INA (Indian Naval Academy) | 19–24 years | Unmarried males |
| AFA (Air Force Academy) | 20–24 years | Unmarried or married men* |
| OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) | 19–25 years | Unmarried women/married or unmarried men |
*Married candidates above 25 years can apply for AFA only if they don’t have children or obligations.
- Educational Qualification
| Academy | Qualification |
|---|---|
| IMA/OTA | Bachelor’s Degree (any stream) |
| INA | Degree in Engineering |
| AFA | Degree + Physics & Math at 10+2 or B.E. |
- Selection Process (MECE Breakdown)
- Written Examination (900 marks)
- SSB Interview (900 marks)
- Stage I: Screening (OIR + PP&DT)
- Stage II: Psychology Tests, GTO Tasks, Personal Interview
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List (based on written + SSB)
- Written Test (300–600 marks depending on the academy)
- SSB Interview (200–300 marks)
- Medical Exam
- Final Merit List
| Subject | Marks | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 300 | 2.5 hours | Offline (OMR) |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 600 | 2.5 hours | Offline (OMR) |
| Total | 900 |
- SSB Interview carries an additional 900 marks.
CDS II 2025 Exam Pattern
| Academy | Subjects | Marks/Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA, INA, AFA | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours | |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours | |
| OTA | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
- SSB Interview: .
- MA, INA, AFA: 300 marks
- OTA: 200 marks
- UPSC offers examination centers in all major cities, including:
- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru
- Lucknow, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Chandigarh
- Jaipur, Jammu, Nagpur, Patna, Dehradun, etc.
- Ensure eligibility before applying.
- Carefully fill subject preferences and training academy.
- Use the official notification PDF for complete syllabus details.
- Stay updated through the UPSC website for admit card and result links.
Q1. What is the last date to apply for NDA/NA & CDS II 2025?
June 4, 2025 (till 6:00 PM)
Q2. Can female candidates apply for NDA II 2025?
Yes, unmarried female candidates born between Jan 2, 2007, and Jan 1, 2010, can apply.
Q3. How many vacancies are there in NDA, NA, and CDS II 2025?
Yes. 1/3rd marks are deducted for each wrong answer in both NDA and CDS exams.
Q4. Is there any negative marking in NDA/CDS exam?
Vacancy details are listed in the official notification and vary by year, often exceeding 300+ combined seats.
Q5. Can engineering students apply for CDS?
Yes, engineering graduates are eligible for all CDS academies, especially INA and AFA.
Q6. What is the mode of examination?
Both the NDA and CDS exams are offline (pen & paper-based) using OMR sheets.
Q7. When will the admit cards be released?
Typically, 3 weeks before the exam, i.e., by August 2025.
Q8. How to check the result of NDA/CDS II 2025?
Visit upsc.gov.in and click on the “Written Results” section under “Examination”
Know More about OTR registration for UPSC exams here – UPSC The new OTR portal.docx (Link Article)
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