NDA Cutoff 2026: Written & Final Merit List Analysis

The NDA cutoff 2026 determines which candidates clear the written exam and make it to the SSB interview, two separate bars that eliminate the majority of aspirants. This article breaks down expected and historical cutoffs, scoring patterns, and what you need to target in both NDA I and NDA II 2026 to make the final merit list.

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What Is the NDA Cutoff and How Is It Calculated?

The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year. The selection process has two distinct cutoff stages:

Stage 1, Written Exam Cutoff: Based on the combined score in Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test or GAT (600 marks). Total written = 900 marks. UPSC releases this cutoff after the written exam to shortlist candidates for SSB.

Stage 2, Final Merit Cutoff: Based on written score + SSB interview score. SSB is also 900 marks. Total marks = 1800. The final merit list cutoff varies by service (Army, Navy, Air Force) and is significantly higher than the written cutoff alone.

There is no category-based reservation in the traditional sense for NDA written cutoffs, a single merit list is maintained. However, the final merit cutoffs differ across the three services due to varying vacancies each year.

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NDA Cutoff Trend 2022–2026 (Written Exam)

The table below shows written exam cutoffs for NDA I and NDA II across recent years. Figures for 2022–2025 are based on verified candidate reports and UPSC notices; 2026 values are projected estimates.

Exam Cycle	Written Cutoff (out of 900)	Final Cutoff (out of 1800)	Vacancies (approx)
NDA I 2022	360	700	400
NDA II 2022	346	682	370
NDA I 2023	362	706	395
NDA II 2023	344	673	360
NDA I 2024	371	714	404
NDA II 2024	352	689	375
NDA I 2025	368 (estimated range)	710 (estimated range)	400
NDA II 2025	349 (estimated range)	684 (estimated range)	370
NDA I 2026	370–380 (projected)	710–720 (projected)	~400
NDA II 2026	348–358 (projected)	682–695 (projected)	~375

Note: All 2025 and 2026 figures are estimated ranges based on verified candidate reports and historical trends. Official cutoffs are released by UPSC post-result.

Key observation: NDA I consistently carries a higher written cutoff than NDA II by 15–25 marks, likely reflecting the larger candidate pool appearing in April. The final merit cutoff has trended upward by 5–10 marks per cycle since 2022.

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Service-Wise Final Cutoff Breakdown (NDA I 2024, for reference)

The final merit list separates candidates by service. Cutoffs below are based on candidate community data for NDA I 2024:

Service	Final Cutoff (out of 1800)	SSB Minimum (out of 900)
Army	714	275
Navy	732	285
Air Force (Flying)	758	300
Air Force (Ground Duties)	720	278

Air Force Flying Branch consistently has the highest cutoff due to a combination of fewer vacancies and the most competitive applicant pool among all three services.

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NDA 2026 Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution

Understanding the exam structure is essential before targeting any specific cutoff score.

Paper	Subject	Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I	Mathematics	120	300	2.5 hrs
Paper II	General Ability Test (GAT)	150	600	2.5 hrs
,	Total Written	270	900	5 hrs
,	SSB Interview	,	900	5 days
,	Grand Total	,	1800	,

Negative marking: Each correct answer in Mathematics = +2.5 marks; incorrect = −0.83 marks. In GAT, correct = +4 marks; incorrect = −1.33 marks.

The GAT paper is subdivided into English (200 marks) and General Knowledge (400 marks). GK covers Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.

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Subject-Wise Scoring Strategy to Clear the 2026 Cutoff

To target a written score of 370+ in NDA I 2026, here is a practical marks split across both papers:

Mathematics (target: 140–160 out of 300)

Mathematics at NDA level covers topics up to Class 12. The highest-frequency chapters based on previous papers are:

Topic	Approx. Weight in Paper (2021–2025 analysis)
Matrices & Determinants	10–12%
Trigonometry	12–15%
Integral Calculus	8–10%
Differential Equations	6–8%
Vector Algebra	6–8%
Statistics & Probability	8–10%
Sets, Relations & Functions	5–7%
Analytical Geometry (2D & 3D)	10–12%

Target 56–64 correct answers in Maths with minimal wrong attempts to land 140–160 marks.

GAT (target: 230–260 out of 600)

English section (50 questions, 200 marks) is highly scorable. A candidate targeting 35+ correct in English alone adds 140 marks. GK requires consistency across Physics (20 marks), Chemistry (16 marks), and Current Affairs / Geography (80+ marks combined).

For reference, you can also review UPSC NDA Math Papers 2026 for topic-specific question sets and NDA Papers 2026 for full-length previous year papers.

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NDA 2026 Preparation Strategy: 90-Day Plan

Month 1, Foundation (Weeks 1–4)

• Complete NCERT Mathematics Class 11 and 12. Do not skip Matrices, Calculus, or Coordinate Geometry.
• Finish NCERT Physics (Class 11–12) and Chemistry (Class 11) for GAT Science.
• Begin standard English grammar: sentence correction, comprehension, synonyms/antonyms.
• Start one current affairs source and stick to it, scattered reading hurts more than it helps.

Month 2, Practice (Weeks 5–8)

• Solve 10 previous year NDA papers, timed. Focus on paper I first since Mathematics errors cost more marks.
• Track your subject-wise accuracy weekly. If Maths accuracy drops below 55%, drill weak chapters before adding new material.
• For History and Geography, use NCERT summaries rather than full textbooks.
• Target 2 full mock tests per week from Week 6 onward.

Month 3, Revision + SSB Awareness (Weeks 9–12)

• Revise formula sheets and error logs from Month 2 mocks.
• Solve the last 3 years' papers in strict exam conditions (no phone, no breaks between Paper I and Paper II).
• Begin basic SSB awareness: OIR test pattern, PPDT, interview structure. Clearing the written cutoff without SSB preparation leads to wastage of board attempts.

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Practice Questions: NDA 2026 Mathematics & GAT

Common Mistakes That Push Candidates Below the NDA Cutoff

1. Attempting too many Maths questions with guesses The negative marking ratio in Mathematics is relatively severe (−0.83 per wrong answer). Candidates who attempt 100+ questions in Paper I with 60% accuracy will score lower than those attempting 75 questions at 80% accuracy. Calculate your expected score before entering the exam hall.

2. Ignoring English in GAT English (200 marks, 50 questions) is the most consistently high-scoring section across all candidate backgrounds. Many aspirants over-invest in GK and under-prepare English. Comprehension passages and cloze tests are predictable in format, missing these is a strategic error.

3. Not tracking the NDA I vs NDA II cutoff difference Both exams have the same syllabus but different cutoffs. If you appeared in NDA I 2025 and narrowly missed, calibrate your NDA II 2026 target to a slightly lower written score, you have margin to work with.

4. Confusing written cutoff with final cutoff Clearing the written cutoff (370 out of 900) gets you an SSB call letter. It does not guarantee selection. The final merit cutoff at 710+ out of 1800 means you still need 340+ in SSB. Candidates who coast after clearing written frequently fall short.

5. Relying solely on mock scores from a single source Different test series have different difficulty calibrations. Validate your preparation using official UPSC previous year question papers, not just coaching institute mocks. Cross-check with NDA Papers 2026 for authentic difficulty benchmarking.

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Related Resources

For candidates building a broader competitive exam preparation strategy alongside NDA 2026:

• Understand how UPSC NDA Math Papers 2026 are structured, chapter-wise distribution with solved sets.
• Review NDA Papers 2026 for full-length previous year papers with answer keys.
• If you're also targeting government job cutoffs, check UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2026 Analysis for a comparative view of UPSC-conducted exams.
• For SSC-track candidates, SSC CGL Tier 1 Cutoff 2026 and SSC CGL Tier 2 Cutoff 2026 show how government exam cutoff trends differ from defence exams.
• Banking aspirants balancing NDA with other options can compare IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff 2026 and SBI PO Prelims Cutoff 2026.
• For railway exam cutoffs in the same competitive calendar, RRB NTPC Cutoff 2026 provides a useful reference.

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FAQs: NDA Cutoff 2026

Q: What is the expected NDA written cutoff for 2026?

Based on trends from 2022 to 2025, the NDA I 2026 written cutoff is projected between 370–380 marks out of 900. NDA II 2026 written cutoff is projected between 348–358 marks out of 900. These are estimated ranges, the official cutoff depends on paper difficulty and the number of qualified candidates that year.

Q: Is there a separate cutoff for each service (Army, Navy, Air Force)?

The written exam has a single combined cutoff. After clearing the written exam, candidates are called for SSB based on their service preference and availability. The final merit cutoff differs by service, Air Force Flying Branch typically has the highest final cutoff, followed by Navy and Army.

Q: What happens if I clear the written cutoff but fail SSB?

Clearing the written exam qualifies you for an SSB call. If you fail SSB (score below the minimum threshold or do not get recommended), you are not selected that cycle. However, your written score is valid only for that cycle's SSB. You must clear the written exam again in a future cycle to attempt SSB again.

Q: How many attempts are allowed for NDA?

You can attempt NDA until the age limit. For NDA, candidates must be between 16.5 to 19.5 years. This effectively limits most candidates to 4–6 attempts across NDA I and NDA II cycles. There is no fixed attempt cap beyond the age restriction.

Q: Does negative marking apply in both papers?

Yes. In Paper I (Mathematics): +2.5 for correct, −0.83 for incorrect. In Paper II (GAT): +4 for correct, −1.33 for incorrect. Unattempted questions carry zero marks. Do not mark answers randomly in GAT, each wrong answer costs 1.33 marks.

Q: When does UPSC release the NDA 2026 cutoff officially?

UPSC typically releases the written exam cutoff 3–4 months after the exam date, along with the written result. The final cutoff (written + SSB) is released at the time of the final merit list, usually 6–8 months after the written exam. For NDA I 2026 (exam in April), expect the final cutoff by November–December 2026.

Q: Can I calculate my score before the official result?

Yes. UPSC releases the official answer key after the exam. Using the marking scheme (+2.5/−0.83 for Maths, +4/−1.33 for GAT), you can calculate your expected score. Cross-reference with the projected cutoff range in this article to assess your SSB call probability. The calculation is straightforward but requires honest counting of incorrect attempts.