NEW DELHI, September 13: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is conducting the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 and the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 at examination centres across India today.
Thousands of defence aspirants are appearing for the two examinations, which serve as major entry routes for candidates seeking officer-level careers in the Indian Armed Forces. UPSC had released the e-Admit Cards earlier this month.
NDA II Exam Being Held in Two Shifts
The NDA & NA Examination (II) consists of two papers today:
- Mathematics: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- General Ability Test: 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
The examination is used for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy.
CDS II Being Conducted in Three Sessions
The Combined Defence Services Examination (II) is being conducted in three sessions:
- English: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- General Knowledge: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
- Elementary Mathematics: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Candidates applying for courses where Elementary Mathematics is not required will appear only for the applicable papers under the CDS examination scheme.
Entry Closes 30 Minutes Before Each Paper
UPSC has instructed candidates to reach their allotted examination centres well before the scheduled start.
Entry to the examination venue closes 30 minutes before each paper begins, and candidates arriving after the gates close are not permitted to enter. Candidates must also appear only at the venue mentioned on their e-Admit Card.
Candidates have been advised to carry a printed copy of their e-Admit Card along with the required identification documents. UPSC has also asked aspirants to preserve their admit cards until the examination process is completed.
Delhi Metro Starts Services at 6 AM
Special travel arrangements have also been made in Delhi because the examinations coincide with traffic restrictions linked to the BRICS Summit.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) started Metro services at 6:00 AM across all lines today to help NDA and CDS candidates reach their examination centres on time. The arrangement was coordinated with Delhi Traffic Police after concerns were raised about early-morning transport availability.
Major Gateway to Defence Careers
Both NDA and CDS are among India’s most prominent defence entrance examinations.
While NDA primarily provides an opportunity for eligible candidates after the Class 12 level to enter officer training, CDS is conducted for graduates seeking admission to institutions including the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.
Candidates who clear the written examinations will move to subsequent stages of the selection process, including the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, subject to eligibility and examination rules.
source – UPSC / Times of India
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