NDA Cut-off 2026: Official Written and Final Cut-off Marks

The NDA cut-off is the minimum mark a candidate needs to move to the next stage of selection. UPSC releases two cut-offs for each NDA exam: the minimum qualifying marks in the written exam (out of 900), which decide who goes to the SSB, and the marks of the last recommended candidate at the final stage (out of 1,800). UPSC publishes both together after the final result.

This guide lists the official NDA cut-off marks for the last four exams, explains the sectional rule, and shows what score to aim for in NDA I 2027 (11 April 2027).

Table of Contents

Types of NDA Cut-off

NDA Cut-off: Official Marks for Recent Exams

Source: UPSC "Recommendation Details and Cut-off Marks" for each exam, published on upsc.gov.in.

What the Numbers Show

• The written cut-off has stayed between about 290 and 335 marks out of 900 (about 32–37%) for men.

• In NDA II 2025, UPSC set a separate, higher written cut-off for women: 358.84 compared with 304.90 for men.

• The final cut-off has ranged from 654 to 699 out of 1,800 for men. For women in NDA II 2025, it was 737.40.

• The sectional minimum rose from 20% in NDA I 2024 to 25% in the three exams since.

NDA Sectional Cut-off

UPSC requires candidates to score a minimum percentage in each paper, in addition to the overall written cut-off. In the last three exams, this was 25%:

A strong GAT score cannot make up for scoring below 75 in Mathematics, and vice versa.

NDA Cut-off for NDA II 2026 and NDA I 2027

The written result of NDA II 2026 is expected in October 2026. UPSC will release its cut-off marks only after the final result, which comes after the SSB and medical tests.

Based on the last four exams, a safe target is:

These targets are based on past trends and are not official. Women candidates should aim higher, as their cut-offs were higher in NDA II 2025.

Factors That Affect the NDA Cut-off

• Number of vacancies: More seats usually mean a slightly lower cut-off.

• Number of candidates: More applicants increase competition.

• Difficulty of the papers: A tougher Maths or GAT paper lowers the scores needed.

• Performance at SSB: The final cut-off depends heavily on SSB marks, which carry the same weight (900) as the written exam.

• Separate merit lists: Men and women are ranked separately against their own vacancies.

How UPSC Breaks Ties

If candidates have equal final marks, UPSC's tie-breaking rules for NDA I 2025 were: more marks in the written exam rank higher; if still equal, more marks in the General Ability Test; if still equal, the older candidate ranks higher.

How to Score Above the NDA Cut-off

• Secure the sectional minimum first: Make sure you can score well above 75 in Maths and 150 in GAT.

• Control negative marking: One-third of the marks is deducted for each wrong answer, so attempt questions you are reasonably sure of.

• Focus on high-weightage GK: Physics (25%), History (20%) and Geography (20%) carry most of the GK marks.

• Prepare for SSB early: The SSB carries 900 marks, the same as the written exam, and decides the final rank.

• Take mock tests: Practise full-length NDA mocks under timed conditions. On Testkart, educators publish online tests for defence exams that you can use for timed practice.

The official NDA cut-off has stayed around 290–335 out of 900 in the written exam and around 650–700 out of 1,800 in the final merit list for men, with higher marks needed for women in NDA II 2025. Aim for at least 350 in the written exam, clear the 25% sectional minimum in both papers, and prepare seriously for the SSB, which carries equal weight.