In the UPSC notice for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II) 2026, 24 of the 394 vacancies are for women. They are for the 158th NDA course and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course, which begin on 1 July 2027. The Army has 10 of those vacancies, the Navy 5, the Air Force 6 and the Naval Academy’s 10+2 cadet entry 3. The earlier 2026 exam, NDA (I), carried the same split.
Women are about 6 per cent of the total, so the women’s list is small and every seat matters. The figures below come straight from the two UPSC examination notices for 2026 and the Commission’s 2027 calendar, checked on 12 October 2026. We do not use unverified figures. For eligibility and life at the academy, our live guide on NDA for girls: eligibility covers the rest and we do not repeat it here.
How many NDA vacancies are there for girls?
| Academy and service | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA: Army | 198 | 10 | 208 |
| NDA: Navy (all Executive branch) | 37 | 5 | 42 |
| NDA: Air Force, Flying | 90 | 2 | 92 |
| NDA: Air Force, Ground Duties (Technical) | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| NDA: Air Force, Ground Duties (Non-Technical) | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Naval Academy, 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme (all Executive branch) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Total | 370 | 24 | 394 |
The notice calls these the approximate number of vacancies and says they are provisional and may change with training capacity. The same table appears in the NDA (I) 2026 notice, for the 157th course and the 119th Indian Naval Academy Course starting 1 January 2027. Vacancies for later exams will be set by their own notices, so do not assume the 2026 split will repeat.
How are women selected for the NDA?
Women take the same written exam as men, but the notice states that NDA and Naval Academy men and women are separate entries. Selection for the two is done separately, in a gender-pure manner, against the vacancies notified. UPSC also prepares the written results and the final merit lists for men and women separately. A girl therefore competes only against other women for the women’s seats.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Written exam | Mathematics 300 marks and General Ability Test 600 marks, objective type, 2½ hours each; one third of the marks is deducted for a wrong answer |
| SSB | Stage I has the Officer Intelligence Rating test and the Picture Perception and Description Test. Stage II, over four days, has the interview, group tasks, psychology tests and the conference. The SSB carries 900 marks |
| Air Force flying branch | Candidates who opt for the flying branch also take the computerised pilot selection system |
| Medical | A board of Service medical officers examines those recommended by the SSB, under the Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces |
| Final merit | Written and SSB marks are combined into one list for each category, and allocation follows merit, medical fitness and the candidate’s service preferences |
A candidate must give at least one preference, and she is considered only for the services she has listed. For preparation, see how to prepare for NDA after 10th. The written syllabus and more are in NDA eligibility criteria.
What is the NDA cut-off for girls?
The notice publishes no cut-off. It says UPSC fixes the minimum qualifying marks in the written exam at its own discretion, and the Services Selection Board fixes its own qualifying marks, so a candidate must clear both. Because men’s and women’s lists are separate, there is no single cut-off. Pages that print a girls’ cut-off number without citing a UPSC document are estimates, and we do not repeat them.
How many girls are finally selected is also not stated in the notices, which give vacancies only. The final result is published on upsc.gov.in. If you would like help understanding the stages and planning a first attempt, call or WhatsApp us on +91 70170 31757 for free counselling.
Who can apply?
- Marital status: unmarried women and men. Candidates must undertake not to marry until training is complete.
- Age: born between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2011 for the September 2026 exam. The window moves each year.
- Education: a Class 12 pass or a candidate appearing in Class 12 for the Army wing. For the Air Force and Naval wings and the 10+2 cadet entry, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are needed.
- Fee: female candidates are exempt from the examination fee of ₹100.
- Medical standards: governed by the Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces, published on the Army recruitment website.
Stream choices matter more for the Air Force and Navy, as our guide on which stream after 10th for NDA shows.
When are the application windows?
| Exam | Notification | Last date to apply | Exam date | Course starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA (I) 2026 | 10 December 2025 | 30 December 2025 | 12 April 2026 | 1 January 2027 (157th NDA, 119th INAC) |
| NDA (II) 2026 | 20 May 2026 | 9 June 2026 | 13 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 (158th NDA, 120th INAC) |
| NDA (I) 2027 | 2 December 2026 | 22 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 | Not yet notified |
| NDA (II) 2027 | 12 May 2027 | 1 June 2027 | 19 September 2027 | Not yet notified |
The 2027 rows come from UPSC’s annual calendar issued on 20 May 2026, which warns that dates may change. UPSC’s site currently lists NDA (I) 2027 under forthcoming examinations and has posted the written result of NDA (II) 2026. For that exam, the notice expected SSB interviews between December 2026 and January 2027. All applications are online at upsconline.nic.in only.
What happens after selection?
Selected candidates train for three years at the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune, where the first two and a half years are common to all three wings. Cadets then move on: Army cadets to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, where women are known as Lady Cadets, Naval cadets to the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, and Air Force cadets to the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad or the Air Force Technical College in Bengaluru. The Government bears the cost of training, and the notice lists a fixed stipend for male and female cadets during training. Naval Academy 10+2 cadet entry candidates complete a four-year B.Tech.
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
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Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppHow many seats do girls get in NDA?
In the UPSC notices for NDA (I) 2026 and NDA (II) 2026, 24 of 394 vacancies are for women: Army 10, Navy 5, Air Force 6 and Naval Academy 10+2 cadet entry 3.
How many girls are selected in NDA?
The notices state vacancies, not the number selected. The final result is published by UPSC. Selection is separate for men and women against the notified vacancies.
What is the NDA cut-off for girls?
No cut-off is published in the notice. UPSC fixes qualifying marks at its discretion, and merit lists for men and women are prepared separately.
Can girls join the Air Force through NDA?
Yes. The 2026 notices list 2 women's vacancies in the Air Force Flying branch, 2 in Ground Duties (Technical) and 2 in Ground Duties (Non-Technical), and Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are needed in Class 12.
Do girls pay a fee for the NDA exam?
No. The UPSC notice exempts female candidates from the ₹100 examination fee.
Is the NDA exam different for girls?
No. Women take the same written exam and SSB stages, but their selection and merit list are separate.
When will NDA vacancies for 2027 be announced?
Each notice lists its own vacancies. UPSC's calendar shows the NDA (I) 2027 notification on 2 December 2026, subject to change.
Sources
Aiming for the NDA from Dehradun, home of the Indian Military Academy? GS India Defence Academy offers NDA coaching for girls in Dehradun in the classroom, with a separate girls’ hostel and a mess. See also our main NDA coaching in Dehradun page, or call or WhatsApp +91 70170 31757 to ask about batches.
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