UPSC NDA 2 Exam 2026 Concludes: Official Answer Key Expected Soon

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially concluded the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Examination (II) for the year 2026. The examination, which serves as the gateway for candidates aspiring to join the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy, was held on September 13, 2026.

The test was administered in two distinct shifts, covering the Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT) papers. With the written examination now complete, candidates who appeared for the test are currently evaluating their performance. While various coaching institutes have already published unofficial answer keys and exam analyses, students are advised to wait for the official documentation from the commission for a reliable assessment.

Official Answer Key Release and Access Procedure

The UPSC is expected to release the official NDA 2 answer key in PDF format on its official website, upsc.gov.in, in the coming days. Unlike the unofficial versions provided by private platforms, the official answer key will contain the verified responses for the various sets of Mathematics and GAT question papers. This document is essential for candidates to accurately estimate their probable scores by comparing their marked responses against the commission's official keys.

Once the commission uploads the files, candidates will be able to access them by navigating to the official website and checking the 'Examinations' or 'What's New' sections. After locating the link for the NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026, users can download the PDF files for both Mathematics and GAT to review the correct answers. It is recommended that candidates keep these documents for their records to assist in gauging their performance against the expected cut-off criteria.

Next Steps in the Selection Process

The written examination is a critical component of the overall selection process for the National Defence Academy. Candidates who successfully clear the written stage by meeting the required cut-off marks will be shortlisted for the next phase, which is the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The SSB process is designed to evaluate the personality, intelligence, and leadership potential of the candidates.

In the interim, candidates may continue to use the question papers and unofficial answer keys to conduct an initial self-assessment of their performance. However, all applicants should remain vigilant for the official notification on the UPSC website, as only the commission's released keys will serve as the definitive reference for calculating final marks. Further updates regarding the selection timeline will be provided by the commission in due course.