Selection Process

NDA Selection Process 2026: Written Exam, SSB, Medical and Final Merit

Understand the official NDA selection sequence from written examination to SSB, medical fitness, merit and service allocation.

Exam
NDA & NA (II) 2026
Last verified
12 September 2026
  • Official-source checked
  • Human review pending

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In short

NDA selection is not completed by clearing the written examination. The official route is a sequence: written examination -> SSB -> medical / physical fitness verification -> final merit and service allocation. Each gate has a different purpose, and a candidate must satisfy the applicable eligibility and service requirements throughout the process.

Stage 1: Written examination

Stage 1: Written examination

  • Mathematics: 300 marks.
  • GAT: 600 marks.
  • Objective type.
  • One-third negative marking for wrong answers.
  • UPSC fixes written qualifying standards at its discretion.

Stage 2: SSB Stage I

Stage 2: SSB Stage I

Stage I includes:

  • Officer Intelligence Rating tests.
  • Picture Perception and Description Test.

Only candidates who clear Stage I proceed to Stage II.

Stage 3: SSB Stage II

Stage 3: SSB Stage II

Stage II includes:

  • Interview.
  • Group Testing Officer tasks.
  • Psychology Tests.
  • Conference.

The SSB is an intelligence and personality assessment process. Do not present coaching interpretations as hidden official scoring rules.

Stage 4: Medical and physical verification

Stage 4: Medical and physical verification

SSB recommendation alone does not create final admission. Candidates must meet the notified medical and physical standards applicable to the service / course for which they are being considered. Detailed standards belong on /nda/physical-standards; this page should not compress medical rules into a simplistic pass/fail checklist.

Stage 5: Final merit and allocation

Stage 5: Final merit and allocation

The official notice places qualified candidates in a combined merit process based on written and SSB marks, subject to:

  • eligibility;
  • medical fitness;
  • available vacancies;
  • service / course preferences;
  • any additional service-specific requirement, including CPSS where applicable for Air Force flying consideration.

Important interpretation

Important interpretation

  • Written qualified does not mean SSB recommended.
  • SSB recommended does not mean medically fit.
  • Medically fit does not by itself guarantee allocation.
  • Final selection depends on merit, eligibility, preference and vacancies.

FAQ

NDA & NA (II) 2026 questions students ask here

Straight answers about how Rank Sarthi fits into serious exam preparation.

No. Written qualification is only the first gate. Candidates must progress through SSB, meet medical and physical standards, and then fall within final merit and allocation rules.

Checked against official NDA & NA (II) 2026 sources

Official UPSC and Armed Forces sources are the authority for every exam fact on this page. Rank Sarthi explanation is kept separate from official wording.

Last updated
12 September 2026

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  • Written by: UNASSIGNED
  • Academically reviewed by: UNASSIGNED
  • Last reviewed: pending human review
  • Reviewer requirement: SSB or defence-selection subject expert
  • Sources checked: visible