Where NDA leads: posts, seats, training, pay and cut-offs
Last checked 30 Oct 2026
One written exam leads to six entries: the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy, and the Naval Academy 10+2 cadet entry. UPSC publishes one cut-off for the whole exam (with separate men and women figures from NDA (II) 2025), not one per wing: which wing you join depends on your choice, the medical board and your rank in the final merit list.
The six entries
Army wing (NDA, then IMA)
- Service
- Indian Army
- Seats
- 208 (198 men, 10 women)
- Training
- 3 years at NDA Khadakwasla, then 1 year at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
- Joins as
- Lieutenant
- Degree
- B.Sc / B.Sc (Computer) / BA / B.Tech
- Needs
- Class 12 pass, any stream
Navy wing (NDA, then INA)
- Service
- Indian Navy
- Seats
- 42 (37 men, 5 women)
- Training
- 3 years at NDA Khadakwasla, then 1 year at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
- Joins as
- Sub Lieutenant
- Degree
- B.Tech
- Needs
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths
Air Force wing: Flying branch
- Service
- Indian Air Force
- Seats
- 92 (90 men, 2 women)
- Training
- 3 years at NDA Khadakwasla, then 1.5 years at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad)
- Joins as
- Flying Officer
- Degree
- B.Tech
- Needs
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths
Air Force wing: Ground Duties (Technical)
- Service
- Indian Air Force
- Seats
- 18 (16 men, 2 women)
- Training
- 3 years at NDA Khadakwasla, then further training at Air Force training establishments
- Joins as
- Flying Officer
- Degree
- B.Tech
- Needs
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths
Air Force wing: Ground Duties (Non-Technical)
- Service
- Indian Air Force
- Seats
- 10 (8 men, 2 women)
- Training
- 3 years at NDA Khadakwasla, then further training at Air Force training establishments
- Joins as
- Flying Officer
- Degree
- B.Tech
- Needs
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths
Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)
- Service
- Indian Navy
- Seats
- 24 (21 men, 3 women)
- Training
- Trains at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala (not at NDA)
- Joins as
- Sub Lieutenant
- Degree
- B.Tech
- Needs
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths
Seats are from the NDA & NA (I) 2026 notice (copy hosted by SSBCrackExams; we could not open upsc.gov.in). The total was 394: 370 for NDA and 24 for the Naval Academy. All Navy and Naval Academy seats are in the Executive branch.
Training lengths and degrees are from the Tamil Nadu Government career guidance portal, not the UPSC notice. Ground-duty and Naval Academy training lengths were not stated there, so we do not give them.
Sources: SSBCrack · Tamil Nadu Govt career portal
Cut-off marks by cycle
Written stage: minimum qualifying marks (out of 900)
| Cycle | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| NDA (II) 2025 | 304.90 | 358.84 |
| NDA (I) 2025 | 334 | same figure for all |
| NDA (II) 2024 | 305 | same figure for all |
| NDA (I) 2024 | 291 | same figure for all |
| NDA (II) 2023 | 292 | same figure for all |
| NDA (I) 2023 | 301 | same figure for all |
NDA (I) 2024 also required at least 20% per paper, not 25%, as reported. NDA (II) 2024 figures come from one aggregator only.
Not yet confirmed on the official website. UPSC publishes cut-offs at upsc.gov.in, which our tools could not open; these figures are as reproduced by the sites below.
Source: IAS Exam Portal · SSBCrack · Careers360 · Physics Wallah · IAS Exam Portal · IAS Exam Portal
Final stage: marks of last recommended candidate (out of 1800)
| Cycle | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| NDA (II) 2025 | 666.01 | 737.40 |
| NDA (I) 2025 | 699 | same figure for all |
| NDA (II) 2024 | 673 | same figure for all |
| NDA (I) 2024 | 654 | same figure for all |
| NDA (II) 2023 | 656 | same figure for all |
| NDA (I) 2023 | 664 | same figure for all |
For NDA (I) 2025, Careers360 lists 669; SSBCrack and IASExamPortal (which reproduce the UPSC notice) give 699, which we use. NDA (II) 2024 comes from one aggregator only.
Not yet confirmed on the official website. UPSC publishes cut-offs at upsc.gov.in, which our tools could not open; these figures are as reproduced by the sites below.
Source: SSBCrack · IAS Exam Portal · Careers360 · Physics Wallah
Pay during training and after
- During training: Rs 56,100 a month (fixed) during pre-commission training at the service academy.
- On commission: Pay Level 10: basic Rs 56,100 (scale Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500) + Military Service Pay Rs 15,500 + DA and allowances.
| Rank | Pay level | Basic | In hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet stipend (pre-commission training at the service academy) | Fixed (equal to start of Level 10) | Rs 56,100 per month | Fixed stipend; no MSP or DA |
| Lieutenant / Sub Lieutenant / Flying Officer | Level 10 (Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500) | Rs 56,100 + MSP Rs 15,500 | approx Rs 90,000 to Rs 1,00,000 gross with DA and HRA; varies with DA rate and posting |
| Captain / Lieutenant (Navy) / Flight Lieutenant | Level 10B (Rs 61,300 to Rs 1,93,900) | Rs 61,300 + MSP Rs 15,500 | Higher than Lieutenant; depends on DA and posting |
| Major / Lieutenant Commander / Squadron Leader | Level 11 (Rs 69,400 to Rs 2,07,200) | Rs 69,400 + MSP Rs 15,500 | Depends on DA and posting |
Not yet confirmed on the official website. Pay levels follow the 7th Pay Commission; in-hand figures depend on DA and posting.
Source: Physics Wallah
Questions
What is the NDA final cut-off?
The last candidate recommended in NDA (II) 2025 scored 666.01 out of 1800 (men) and 737.40 (women). In NDA (I) 2025 it was 699. UPSC gives one cut-off for all wings.
How many seats are there in NDA?
The NDA & NA (I) 2026 notice had 394 seats: Army 208, Navy 42, Air Force 120 and Naval Academy 24. 24 of them were for women.
What is the salary after NDA?
Rs 56,100 a month (fixed) during pre-commission training at the service academy. Pay Level 10: basic Rs 56,100 (scale Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500) + Military Service Pay Rs 15,500 + DA and allowances.
More detail: NDA salary guide · NDA cut-off guide · NDA eligibility
UPSC conducts the written exam and the Services run SSB and training. PrepRung is independent and not affiliated with them. Always confirm on the official website.