UPSC NDA 2 2026 English GAT Date and Pattern

UPSC NDA and NA II 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, September 13. Mathematics runs from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM IST. The General Ability Test runs from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and its Part A English component carries 200 marks.

English is not a separate two-hour paper in NDA. It sits inside the 600-mark, two-and-a-half-hour GAT with 400 marks of General Knowledge.

The written test does not assess speaking. Spoken communication becomes relevant at the Services Selection Board. Start a free SpeakShark conversation for general confidence, then use UPSC and service material for NDA selection.

Key takeaways

• NDA 2 is on September 13, 2026.
• Mathematics runs from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
• GAT runs from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
• English carries 200 of GAT's 600 marks.
• Wrong answers lose one third of assigned marks.
• The notice lists 394 provisional vacancies.

In this guide: timetable | English | syllabus | penalty | vacancies | eligibility | admit card | SSB | research | FAQ

NDA 2 2026 written timetable

The new UPSC timetable places two sessions on the same Sunday.

UPSC closes venue entry 30 minutes before each session. Based on that published rule, entry closes at 9:30 AM for Mathematics and 1:30 PM for GAT. The candidate's e-Admit Card can add an earlier reporting requirement.

The timetable uses Indian Standard Time. Candidates should not rely on a page that shortens GAT to 4:00 PM, because the official scheme gives GAT two and a half hours from its 2:00 PM start.

The date may change at UPSC's discretion. Recheck the official NDA II page before travel.

Where English sits inside GAT

The General Ability Test has two parts.

English represents 22.2% of the full 900-mark written exam. It does not have a separately published timer within GAT. Candidates must manage English and General Knowledge inside the shared 150-minute session.

UPSC does not publish a fixed English question count or time allocation in the 2026 notice. Turning a previous paper's distribution into a guaranteed current pattern would overstate the evidence.

This differs from UPSC CDS 2 English, which is a standalone 100-mark, two-hour paper. It also differs from RBI Grade B English, SBI PO English, and IBPS PO English.

Official NDA 2 English syllabus

UPSC names four English areas:

1. Grammar and usage.
2. Vocabulary.
3. Comprehension.
4. Cohesion in extended text.

The purpose is to test understanding of English, workmanlike use of words and proficiency. The published wording supports language in context, not only memorised grammar labels.

A source-led practice workflow is:

1. Download official NDA General Ability Test papers.
2. Separate Part A English from Part B General Knowledge.
3. Classify only question forms that actually appear.
4. Record errors by grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion.
5. Practise switching from Mathematics in the morning to the combined GAT after lunch.

Previous papers are useful evidence but do not guarantee an unchanged count or order in September.

For general foundations, read English vocabulary and speaking skills, beginner speaking mistakes, and English speaking and writing skills. Official GAT papers remain the exam source.

Negative marking is one third

Both written papers contain objective questions. UPSC applies the same penalty rule throughout.

The deduction is proportional to the marks assigned to that question, not necessarily a universal flat amount across Mathematics, English and General Knowledge.

Candidates should:

1. Complete high-confidence English items first within their chosen GAT order.
2. Eliminate alternatives before attempting uncertain questions.
3. Avoid double-marking any OMR row.
4. Leave an item blank when no answer can be supported.
5. Reserve time to check booklet series, subject code and roll number.

UPSC allows appeared candidates to submit online representations about questions and provisional answer keys from the third day through 6:00 PM on the seventh day after the examination. Email and postal representations are not accepted for that window.

NDA and NA II 2026 vacancies

The notice lists 394 provisional places.

The three Air Force rows total 120. NDA across Army, Navy and Air Force totals 370, while Naval Academy adds 24.

UPSC states that male and female entries are selected separately according to notified vacancies. The totals may change with training capacity.

Candidates must rank service preferences in the examination-specific module. They are considered only for services selected in the application, and UPSC does not ordinarily accept later additions or alterations.

Eligibility and fee snapshot

The examination is for unmarried male and female candidates born from January 1, 2008 through January 1, 2011, inclusive, under the 2026 notice.

Candidates appearing in Class 12 could apply, but Class 11 candidates were not eligible. Proof deadlines and original-certificate rules still apply after SSB qualification.

The application fee was INR 100. Female, SC and ST candidates and the specified wards of JCOs, NCOs and Other Ranks were exempt. OBC and EWS candidates did not receive an automatic fee exemption under the notice.

The original notification listed June 9 at 6:00 PM as the deadline, while the current UPSC archive displays June 11. The application period is closed, so candidates should now retain the application number and use the examination page for later documents.

Admit Card, entry and OMR rules

UPSC schedules e-Admit Card release for the last working day of the week preceding the examination. Cards are downloaded from the online portal and are not sent by post or email.

Check these fields immediately:

• Candidate name and photograph.
• Roll number.
• Examination centre.
• Mathematics and GAT timetable.
• Photo ID details.
• Reporting and gate-closing instructions.

The same photo ID used in the registration profile should be carried for the examination and later SSB.

Use a black ball pen for OMR marking. Mistakes in encoding the roll number or test-booklet series can make the answer sheet liable for rejection.

Face authentication is mandatory. UPSC prohibits phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, storage media, cameras and other communication equipment. Bags and valuables should not be brought because safe-keeping is not provided.

For source discipline, review questions before booking an English test. Registration, timetable, e-Admit Card and representation pages each answer a different operational question.

Written marks, SSB and final selection

The written examination and SSB each carry 900 marks.

Candidates who reach UPSC's written qualifying standard proceed to SSB.

The two stages are:

Only candidates who clear Stage I continue. Stage II spans four days. Air Force candidates can also face CPSS requirements according to preference and selection status.

The notice says SSB interviews are likely in December 2026 and January 2027 or as scheduled by the recruiting directorate. Final allocation uses combined written and SSB marks, eligibility, medical fitness, preferences and vacancies.

For general communication, practise English job interview role plays, English conversation topics for adults, and practice English speaking alone. Start free speaking practice without treating it as an SSB simulator.

How we researched this guide

On August 28, 2026, we checked the UPSC notification archive, live homepage timetable listing and 40-page NDA and NA II notice. The timetable supplied the two exact IST sessions. The notice supplied English weighting, syllabus, negative marking, vacancies, eligibility, entry and SSB rules.

We calculated English's 33.3% share of GAT and 22.2% share of the written total from official marks. We preserved the absence of a fixed current English question count rather than importing one from coaching pages.

We did not copy protected questions, predict cut-offs or use SpeakShark customer data.

We are a speaking improvement tool. We are not an exam preparation provider, and we are not affiliated with UPSC, the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Armed Forces or any exam board. For test format, booking and official practice material, go to the exam body directly. Use SpeakShark to make your spoken English stronger, and use official material to learn the test.

FAQ

English is Part A of the General Ability Test scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM Indian Standard Time. It is not a separate morning paper. Mathematics runs first from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, followed by the combined GAT in the afternoon.

English carries 200 of the General Ability Test's 600 marks. General Knowledge carries the other 400 marks. GAT lasts two and a half hours and uses subject code 02. Together with the 300-mark Mathematics paper, the NDA 2 written examination has a 900-mark maximum.

The official syllabus covers grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension, and cohesion in extended text. UPSC says these areas test understanding of English, workmanlike use of words and overall proficiency. The notice does not publish a fixed question count or a guaranteed distribution among those English areas.

For every wrong objective answer, UPSC deducts one third, stated as 0.33, of the marks assigned to the question. Marking more than one response is treated as wrong even when one response is correct. A blank question has no penalty. This rule applies to Mathematics and GAT.

The NDA and NA II notification lists 394 provisional vacancies, comprising 370 male and 24 female places. The service totals are 208 Army, 42 Navy, 120 Air Force across Flying and Ground Duties, and 24 Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry places.

Candidates who meet UPSC's written standard proceed to a two-stage Services Selection Board process. Stage I screens through intelligence and perception work. Stage II includes interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, psychology tests and conference. SSB is worth 900 marks, equal to the written examination maximum.

For general spoken English, start free daily practice. Premium costs $10 for one month, $25 for three months, or $69 for one year. See pricing.

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Sources

1. UPSC NDA and NA II 2026 notification, checked for scheme, English, penalties, vacancies and SSB.
2. UPSC examination notification archive, checked for current examination and application records.
3. UPSC homepage, checked for the live NDA II timetable listing.
4. UPSC NDA II timetable page, checked for exact sessions.
5. UPSC previous question papers, checked for official NDA General Ability Test papers.
6. UPSC online application portal, checked for the portal route named in the notice.
7. Indian Army recruiting portal, checked for the SSB information route named by UPSC.
8. SpeakShark pricing, checked for current free and paid options.

UPSC can change dates, centres, qualifying marks, vacancies and SSB instructions. Confirm the NDA II page and e-Admit Card before acting.