NDA Vacancies 2026: Wing-Wise, Male & Female Vacancy Details

NDA Vacancies 2026 for the NDA 2 exam 2026 include a total of 394 seats for admission to the 158th National Defence Academy Course and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC), commencing in July 2027. The vacancies are distributed across the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA, along with the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Naval Academy. Candidates can check the complete vacancy details in the official NDA 2 notification 2026 released by UPSC.

Of the total NDA 2 2026 vacancies, 370 are notified for male candidates and 24 for female candidates. The service-wise distribution includes 208 vacancies in the Army, 42 in the Navy, 120 across different Air Force entries, and 24 for the Naval Academy. UPSC released the NDA 2 notification 2026 on May 20, 2026, and the written examination is scheduled to be held on September 13, 2026.

NDA 2 2026 Vacancies: Highlights

The 370 NDA vacancies cover the Army, Navy and Air Force entries, while the remaining 24 vacancies are for the Naval Academy's 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme.

NDA 2 2026 Vacancy: Service-Wise Breakup

The Army Wing has the highest number of NDA 2 2026 vacancies, with 208 seats. The Air Force has 120 vacancies across Flying, Ground Duties (Technical) and Ground Duties (Non-Technical). The Navy has 42 vacancies, while the Naval Academy has 24.

Which NDA entry has the most vacancies?

The Army Wing has the highest intake with 208 vacancies, which represents more than half of the total 394 vacancies.

The Air Force has the second-largest overall intake when all three Air Force entries are combined.

This breakup is more useful than looking only at the overall vacancy number. For example, a candidate targeting Air Force Flying is competing for the 92 notified Flying vacancies, not all 394 NDA 2 vacancies.

NDA 2 2026 Male Vacancies

There are 370 vacancies for male candidates in NDA 2 2026. Male candidates can apply for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy entries, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements for their preferred service. Among all entries, the Army has the highest number of male vacancies, with 198 seats, followed by the Air Force Flying branch with 90 vacancies.

The Army accounts for 198 of the 370 male vacancies, making it the largest male intake. Air Force Flying follows with 90 male vacancies.

NDA 2 2026 Female Vacancies

UPSC has notified 24 vacancies for female candidates in NDA 2 2026. These vacancies are distributed across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy rather than being treated as one common pool.

The Army has the highest female intake with 10 vacancies, followed by the Navy with 5 vacancies. The three Air Force entries together account for 6 female vacancies, while the Naval Academy has 3.

NDA 2 2026 Female Vacancy: Entry-Wise Breakup

The Army therefore accounts for 10 out of the 24 female vacancies, or about 41.7% of the total female intake.

Female Vacancies by Service

The vacancy distribution is important for candidates because the service-specific vacancy, rather than the overall female vacancy of 24, is relevant when considering a particular entry.

For example, there are only 2 female vacancies in Air Force Flying, compared with 10 in the Army.

What entries can female candidates apply for through NDA?

Female candidates can apply for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) through NDA exam 2026, subject to fulfilling the eligibility requirements. For NDA 2 2026, there are 10 vacancies in the Army, 5 in the Navy, 2 each in Air Force Flying, Ground Duties (Technical) and Ground Duties (Non-Technical), and 3 vacancies in the Naval Academy, taking the total number of female vacancies to 24.

Which NDA Entry Has the Highest Female Officer Vacancies?

In NDA 2 recruitment 2026, the Army has the highest number of female vacancies, with 10 seats. It is followed by the Navy with 5 vacancies, while the Air Force offers a total of 6 female vacancies across its three entries, and the Naval Academy offers 3 vacancies.

NDA 2 2026 Male vs Female Vacancies

The 394 notified vacancies are divided into 370 male and 24 female vacancies.

The male and female vacancy figures are separately specified for the different entries. Candidates should therefore not interpret the 394 seats as one common pool.

NDA 2 2026 Vacancy: NDA vs Naval Academy

The total of 394 vacancies consists of 370 NDA seats and 24 Naval Academy seats.

The 24 Naval Academy vacancies are separate from the 370 NDA vacancies and are for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme.

NDA Vacancy Trend: 2023 to 2026

NDA vacancies have not remained constant across examination cycles. The total intake increased from 395 vacancies in 2023 to 406 in 2025 before falling to 394 in 2026.

The 2026 intake is therefore 12 vacancies lower than the 406 vacancies notified for NDA 2 2025.

NDA 2 2025 vs NDA 2 2026

The reduction is particularly relevant because the NDA component remains unchanged at 370, while the Naval Academy intake has reduced.

Thus, the entire reduction from 406 to 394 vacancies comes from the Naval Academy intake.

NDA Vacancies 2026: How Vacancies Affect Selection

The total number of vacancies does not directly determine the NDA cutoff.

A candidate first has to qualify the written examination and then clear the SSB and medical requirements. Final allocation depends on merit, service preference, eligibility, medical fitness and the vacancies available for the relevant entry.

The written examination carries 900 marks, while the SSB Interview also carries 900 marks.

Therefore, a candidate should not calculate their chances simply by comparing their expected score with the figure of 394 vacancies.

Does the Number of NDA Vacancies Determine the Number of SSB Calls?

The number of candidates called for the NDA SSB interview is not fixed at the same number as the notified vacancies. UPSC prepares the written examination result by shortlisting candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks decided by the Commission. The NDA 2 2026 notification does not specify a fixed vacancy-to-SSB-call ratio. Therefore, the number of candidates called for the SSB can be higher than the total number of vacancies.

Does a Higher Number of NDA Vacancies Mean a Lower Cutoff?

Not necessarily.

The NDA cutoff is influenced by several factors, including the number of candidates appearing, paper difficulty, candidate performance, vacancies, service preferences and the number of candidates qualifying for subsequent stages.

For example, even if the total number of vacancies increases, the cutoff may not fall significantly if the number of serious candidates and their scores also increase.

For service-specific planning, candidates should therefore look at the relevant entry's vacancy position rather than the overall NDA vacancy count.

NDA Vacancies and Service Preference

The vacancy that matters most to a candidate is the one corresponding to their preferred entry.

For example, a candidate whose primary preference is Air Force Flying should consider the 92 Flying vacancies while evaluating competition. The remaining NDA and Naval Academy vacancies are not interchangeable seats for that particular entry.

Similarly, a candidate targeting the Naval Academy should consider the 24 INAC vacancies, rather than the overall 394.

How Does Service Preference Affect NDA Selection?

Service preference plays an important role in the final allocation of NDA candidates. Candidates are considered only for the Services and courses for which they have indicated their preference in the application form. Final allocation is made based on the candidate's eligibility, position in the merit list, medical fitness, order of service preference, and the number of vacancies available. Candidates eligible for multiple entries are considered according to their preference order, and once allocated to a particular Service or course, they are not considered for the remaining preferences.

Are NDA 2 2026 Vacancies Final?

The 394 vacancies are provisional/approximate and can be revised.

The vacancy position depends on the requirements and training capacity of the respective academies. Therefore, candidates should use 394 as the currently notified vacancy figure and check the latest official UPSC communication if a revised vacancy notice is issued.

This is also why vacancy figures from previous NDA examinations should be used only for comparison and not as a guarantee of the final intake.

NDA 2 2026 Vacancy and Course Commencement

The vacancies announced through NDA 2 2026 correspond to courses scheduled to commence in July 2027.

The National Defence Academy exam 2026 itself is scheduled for September 13, 2026, following the notification released on May 20, 2026.

NDA Vacancies 2026: What Candidates Should Check

Candidates checking the NDA vacancy position should focus on the following rather than only the headline number:

Check the entry-wise vacancy

The difference between 208 Army vacancies and 92 Air Force Flying vacancies is significant when assessing a preferred service.

Check the male/female breakup

The 394 vacancies are divided into 370 male and 24 female vacancies, with further entry-wise distribution.

Check whether the vacancy is provisional

The notified number can be revised depending on the requirements and training capacity.

Check your service preference

The total 394 vacancies do not mean that all candidates are competing for all 394 seats. The relevant vacancy depends on the entry for which the candidate is eligible and considered.

Check the latest UPSC notification

For any change in vacancy numbers, the latest official notification or notice should be treated as the final reference.

NDA Vacancies 2026 FAQs