NDA Exam Centre 2026: 86 Cities, Centre Allotment & Exam-Day Rules

The NDA Exam Centre List 2026 for NDA 2 comprises 86 examination cities across India. The UPSC NDA 2 exam 2026 was conducted on September 13, 2026, at the designated centres. Candidates who appeared for the examination can refer to the centre list below to check the cities where the NDA 2 exam was conducted. The exact examination venue allotted to each candidate was mentioned on the NDA 2 Admit Card 2026.

While applying for NDA 2 2026, candidates were required to select their preferred examination centre from the cities notified by UPSC. Centre allotment was subject to availability and followed the first-apply-first-allot principle. Once a centre reached its capacity, it was no longer available for selection. After allotment, requests for a change of examination centre were generally not entertained, and candidates were required to appear at the venue specified on their admit card.

Important Details on NDA Exam Centre 2026

UPSC released the NDA 2 notification on May 20, 2026, with the application deadline initially scheduled for June 9 and subsequently extended to June 11, 2026, up to 6 PM. The examination was scheduled for September 13, 2026.

NDA Exam Centre 2026 List of 86 cities

UPSC has specified 86 examination cities for NDA 2 2026. The centres cover major cities as well as several regional locations, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Port Blair.

Candidates were required to select their preferred examination centres during the application process. Since seats at most centres are limited, the preferred centre was not guaranteed merely because it was selected in the application form.

NDA Exam Centre 2026 City List 

Note: The official notification uses UPSC's designated names for cities, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar [Aurangabad (Maharashtra)], Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) and Prayagraj (Allahabad). The centre list is based on the 2026 notification.

NDA Exam Centres 2026 State-Wise List

For candidates searching for a particular city, the following are some of the major NDA examination locations:

Candidates who appeared for the NDA 2 2026 examination were required to report to the exact examination centre and venue mentioned on their admit card, as the allotted centre could not be assumed based on proximity to their preferred city.

How to Check NDA Exam Centre 2026

The NDA exam centre allotted to a candidate is not confirmed simply by the preference submitted in the application form. The final venue is communicated through the admit card.

1. Download the NDA 2 Admit Card- Visit the official UPSC website when the NDA 2 e-Admit Card is released.
2. Open the NDA 2 Admit Card- Select the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 admit-card link.
3. Check the Centre Details- Look for the examination-centre section on the admit card.
4. Verify the Complete Address- Do not stop at the city name. Check the full examination venue address, reporting time, and entry instructions.
5. Plan Your Travel- Once the address is confirmed, check the route and travel time before examination day.

UPSC states that candidates will be informed of their examination centre before the examination and that the admit card contains the relevant centre information.

Note: Candidates should note that exam city, exam centre, and exam venue are not the same. The exam city refers to the city selected or allotted to the candidate, while the exam centre is the designated examination location within that city. The exam venue refers to the exact address and building where the NDA examination will be conducted, which candidates can check on their admit card.

How many NDA exam centre preferences can a candidate select?

For NDA 2 2026, UPSC requires candidates to select an available examination centre of their choice while submitting the application form. The official notification does not specify a fixed number of multiple centre preferences. Centre allotment is based on the first-apply-first-allot system, and candidates must choose from the remaining centres if their preferred centre has already reached its capacity.

How Are NDA Exam Centres Allotted?

NDA exam-centre allotment follows a first-apply-first-allot approach, subject to the available capacity at each centre.

This makes the timing of application important. If the capacity of a candidate's preferred centre has already been reached, the candidate may have to select another available centre.

NDA Centre Allotment Rules

UPSC specifically states that there is a ceiling on the number of candidates at each centre, except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur. Once the capacity of a centre is reached, it can be frozen.

Can NDA Exam Centre Be Changed?

No. UPSC does not entertain requests to change the NDA examination centre after the allotment process.

Candidates should therefore check the centre carefully once the admit card is released. If a candidate appears at a centre other than the one indicated on the admit card, UPSC states that the candidate's question papers will not be evaluated and the candidature may be cancelled.

What if UPSC changes the centre?

UPSC reserves the right to change examination centres if circumstances require it. Candidates should therefore rely on the latest information communicated by UPSC and the centre details printed on the admit card.

NDA Exam Centre and Admit Card 2026

The NDA 2 Admit Card 2026 served as the official document confirming the examination centre and venue allotted to each candidate. The admit card contained important details such as:

Candidates should not assume that the examination venue will be the same as the city selected during application. The admit card is the final document to use for centre information.

NDA 2 Exam Date and Centre Reporting Time

The NDA 2 2026 written examination was conducted on September 13, 2026, in two sessions as per the schedule released by UPSC. UPSC has scheduled the written examination in two sessions. Candidates are required to report at the time mentioned on their admit card. Based on the NDA 1 exam 2026, candidates were to report for the forenoon session at 9:50 AM and for the afternoon session at 1:50 PM. Entry to the examination venue is closed 30 minutes before the commencement of each paper, so candidates should reach the centre well before the reporting and gate-closing time mentioned on their NDA admit card.

Candidates should follow the reporting and entry time mentioned on their individual admit card rather than using the paper start time as their arrival time.

UPSC's examination timetable confirms September 13 as the NDA 2 examination date.

What to Carry to NDA Exam Centre?

Candidates should keep their exam-day documents ready before leaving for the centre.

A candidate should check the instructions printed on the admit card because UPSC's examination-specific instructions take precedence.

Items Prohibited at NDA Exam Centre

Candidates should avoid carrying electronic devices and unnecessary study material to the examination centre.

UPSC's centre instructions prohibit mobile phones, electronic devices, programmable devices, storage media, calculators, books, notes and several other materials inside the examination venue. Candidates should also avoid bringing valuable belongings because UPSC does not take responsibility for their safe custody.

Exam-Day Guidelines for NDA 2 2026 

Candidates travelling to another city should plan the journey before the examination day.

Before the Exam

• Download and print the NDA 2 admit card.
• Verify the complete centre address.
• Check the route to the venue.
• Keep the original photo ID ready.
• Keep a black ball-point pen ready.
• Avoid carrying prohibited electronic devices.
• If the centre is in another city, arrange travel and accommodation in advance.

UPSC-related guidance recommends visiting the examination centre beforehand where possible, particularly when the candidate is unfamiliar with the area. Candidates are also advised to reach the centre sufficiently before the reporting time.

At the Examination Centre, candidates should:

1. Follow the instructions of examination officials.
2. Carry only permitted items.
3. Complete attendance and verification formalities carefully.
4. Use the prescribed pen for OMR-related entries.
5. Avoid any form of unfair assistance.
6. Follow the instructions printed on the admit card.

What to Do If Your NDA Exam Centre Is in Another City?

Candidates who receive a centre in another city should not wait until the last day to arrange travel.

A practical approach is:

The key point is that the examination centre cannot be changed simply because the allotted venue is inconvenient. Therefore, travel planning should begin as soon as the centre appears on the admit card.

NDA Exam Centre 2026 FAQs