The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the provisional answer keys for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (II) Examination 2026 on 16 September 2026. The examination was conducted on 13 September 2026 under Advertisement No. 10/2026 for 394 vacancies. Candidates can now download the provisional answer keys for Mathematics (Paper I) and the General Ability Test (Paper II) from the official UPSC website. This article covers complete details of UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026, including how to download, marking scheme, the representation window and next steps.
UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (II) Examination 2026 |
| Advertisement Number | 10/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 394 |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Released On | 16 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Status | Provisional |
| Category | Answer Key |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
About UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026
UPSC conducted the NDA and NA (II) Examination 2026 on 13 September 2026 for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy Course under the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme. The Commission has now released the provisional answer keys for both papers on 16 September 2026. Since these are provisional answer keys, candidates who find discrepancies may submit representations to the Commission within the prescribed window before the final answer keys are adopted.
Vacancy Details
| Service | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Army | 208 |
| Air Force | 120 |
| Navy | 42 |
| Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) | 24 |
| Total | 394 |
Marking Scheme
| Paper | Questions | Total Marks | Marks per Correct Answer | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (Paper I) | 120 | 300 | 2.5 | 0.83 |
| General Ability Test (Paper II) | 150 | 600 | 4 | 1.33 |
| Total | 270 | 900 |
Negative marking is applied at one-third of the marks assigned to each question, which works out to 0.83 marks for Mathematics and 1.33 marks for the General Ability Test. No marks are deducted for questions left unanswered. If a candidate marks more than one answer to a question, it is treated as a wrong answer and attracts the same penalty.
How to Download UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026
Candidates can follow the steps below to download their answer key.
Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission. Navigate to the Examination section and open the Answer Keys page. Locate the entry for National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026. Select the paper you require, either Mathematics (Paper I) or General Ability Test (Paper II). Download the provisional answer key PDF and match your responses against the answers given for your booklet series, namely Set A, B, C or D as printed on your question booklet.
Representation Window for Provisional Answer Keys
UPSC provides appeared candidates an opportunity to make representations on the questions asked and on the provisional answer keys of objective type papers. Under the Commission’s standard mechanism, this representation window is open for five days, running from the third day after the examination date up to 6:00 PM on the seventh day. Representations must be submitted only by logging in to the UPSC online portal under the section for representations on question papers and provisional answer keys.
Representations sent by email, post, by hand or through any other mode are not accepted, and the Commission does not enter into correspondence with candidates in this regard. No representation is entertained once the window closes. Since the window is short and closes within a week of the examination, candidates who wish to challenge any answer should act without delay and confirm the exact closing date and time on the official portal.
Next Steps After Answer Key
Candidates can use the provisional answer keys along with the marking scheme to calculate their expected scores. UPSC will subsequently declare the written examination result, following which shortlisted candidates will be called for the Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview conducted by the respective services. Final selection is based on the combined performance in the written examination and the SSB Interview, subject to medical fitness and other prescribed conditions.
Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Download Mathematics Answer Key | Click Here |
| Download General Ability Test Answer Key | Click Here |
| Submit Representation | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Note: UPSC’s server timed out when these two PDFs were opened for direct verification, though both file paths follow UPSC’s established naming convention with the 160926 suffix matching the 16 September 2026 release date, and are cited identically by independent sources. Please click through to confirm they load before publishing.
Important Dates
Exam Date: 13 September 2026
Answer Key Release Date: 16 September 2026
Representation Window: Five days, from the third day after the exam up to 6:00 PM on the seventh day
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026?
It is the provisional answer key released by UPSC for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (II) Examination 2026, covering the Mathematics and General Ability Test papers.
When was the UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026 released?
The provisional answer keys were released on 16 September 2026, three days after the examination held on 13 September 2026.
Is the UPSC NDA Answer Key 2026 final?
No, the answer keys released are provisional. Candidates may submit representations within the prescribed window before the final answer keys are adopted.
What is the marking scheme for the NDA exam?
Mathematics carries 120 questions for 300 marks with 2.5 marks per correct answer, and the General Ability Test carries 150 questions for 600 marks with 4 marks per correct answer, totalling 900 marks.
Is there negative marking in the NDA exam?
Yes, one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer, which is 0.83 marks in Mathematics and 1.33 marks in the General Ability Test. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
How can candidates raise objections against the answer key?
Candidates must log in to the UPSC online portal and submit their representation under the section for representations on question papers and provisional answer keys. No other mode of submission is accepted.
How long is the representation window open?
The window is open for five days, from the third day after the examination date up to 6:00 PM on the seventh day, after which no representation is entertained.
How many vacancies are there in NDA and NA (II) 2026?
There are 394 vacancies in total, comprising 208 for the Army, 120 for the Air Force, 42 for the Navy and 24 for the Naval Academy under the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme.
What is the next stage after the NDA answer key?
UPSC will declare the written examination result, after which shortlisted candidates will be called for the Service Selection Board Interview.
Which booklet sets are covered in the answer key?
The provisional answer keys cover all booklet series, namely Set A, B, C and D, and candidates must match answers against the set printed on their own question booklet.
Disclaimer: JobShouter.com is not affiliated with Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Shared for informational purposes only, please verify details on the official website.
