- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:37 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
UPSC NDA, CDS 2 Exams 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially activated the online registration portal for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Naval Academy (NA) Examination (II), 2026, alongside the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II), 2026. Recognising variations in board evaluation cycles, the commission has issued an essential eligibility clarification regarding young defense aspirants whose final academic scorecards are still pending. This brings immense relief to thousands of students currently stuck in result transition phases.
According to the latest administrative guidelines, candidates who physically appeared for their Class 12 or final-year degree examinations during the 2025-26 academic calendar but have not yet received their certificates can seamlessly participate in the recruitment drive. While filling out the centralised Common Application Form via the commission’s digital engine, these candidates simply need to select the "appearing/appeared" status checkbox under their qualification profiles. This ensures they do not miss out on the national competitive cycle due to delayed academic timelines.
Also Read: Bihar Government Makes Student Details Submission Mandatory For Coaching Institutes; Details Here
Wing-Wise Educational Eligibility for NDA II Aspirants
Candidates whose intermediate results are currently awaited must verify their chosen wing-specific requirements before locking their registration data:
NDA Army Wing: Candidates must have passed or be actively appearing in the Class 12 (Intermediate) standard or its equivalent examination from any recognised state or central board, regardless of their stream (Science, Commerce, or Arts).
Air Force, Navy, and Naval Academy Wings: Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 or its equivalent, but with a strict core curriculum combination consisting of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM).
Eligibility and Rules for CDS II Final-Year Graduate Applicants
The Commission has introduced identical eligibility relaxations for senior candidates looking to join the armed forces through the Combined Defence Services path. Final-year undergraduate students who have completed their final semester exams and are awaiting their results can submit applications, provided they meet the specific qualifications required by their targeted training academy.
Indian Military Academy (IMA) & Officers Training Academy (OTA): Candidates must hold a recognised Bachelor's degree or be in their final year of any undergraduate discipline.
Indian Naval Academy (INA): Applicants must possess or be in the final year of a valid Engineering Degree from a recognised institution.
Air Force Academy (AFA): Candidates require a standard Bachelor's degree but must have explicitly studied Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level.
Mandatory Document Verification and Deadlines
While the commission allows result-awaiting candidates to complete the initial registration process and sit for the written test, this relaxation is subject to strict conditions. All selected candidates must successfully clear their qualifying academic board exams and produce official passing certificates or degrees before the final institutional admission process and training commencement dates.
Failing to submit these essential verification sheets within the final cut-off window will result in the immediate cancellation of their candidature, regardless of their performance in the written exams or SSB interview rounds.