Introduction

Every single day at Alpha NDA Academy, students walk up to us with one very common question: “Sir, How Many Marks Are Required to Clear the NDA Exam?“

And honestly, it is the right question to ask before you start preparing. Because if you do not know the target, you cannot plan the journey.

The NDA cutoff is the minimum score you must cross to get selected. It is not fixed. It changes every year depending on how tough the paper was, how many students appeared, and how many seats were available. And if you understand how this cutoff has moved over the years, your preparation becomes a lot more focused.

We have been training NDA aspirants for years at Alpha NDA Academy in Sikar, Rajasthan, and one pattern we keep seeing is this: students who study the cutoff trend perform better in mock tests because they know exactly what they are working towards.

This blog gives you the complete yearwise NDA cutoff data from 2015 to 2025, a proper trend analysis, and a clear answer to what score you should be targeting in 2026.

Before you read further, if you are still figuring out the basics of the NDA exam structure, we recommend reading our detailed guide on the NDA Exam Syllabus 2026 and the NDA Marking Scheme. Both will help you understand the context of this cutoff data much better.

What Is NDA Cutoff and Why Does It Matter?

The NDA cutoff is the minimum qualifying score that a candidate must secure to move to the next stage of selection. UPSC releases this cutoff officially after every exam along with the result.

Think of it this way. Thousands of students sit for the NDA written exam every time. UPSC cannot call all of them for the SSB interview. So they set a minimum mark. Only those who cross that mark get the chance to appear for SSB. That minimum mark is the written exam cutoff.

After the SSB interview, the final scores of written exam and SSB interview are combined. Again, a cutoff is applied. Only those who cross this combined score make it to the final merit list and get admission to the National Defence Academy.

So there are actually two cutoffs in NDA:

Written Exam Cutoff  Out of 900 marks (written paper total)
Final Selection Cutoff  Out of 1800 marks (written 900 + SSB interview 900)

Understanding both is important. Clearing the written cutoff gets you to SSB. Clearing the final cutoff gets you into NDA.

To learn more about what happens between these two stages, read our blog: What Happens After NDA Written Exam.

The Sectional Cutoff: Something Many Students Miss

Before we get into the yearwise data, there is one thing you must know that most students ignore completely.

There is a sectional cutoff in NDA.

Even if you score very high overall, you must score a minimum percentage in each paper separately. UPSC sets this at approximately 25% in both the Mathematics paper and the General Ability Test (GAT) paper. In some years, this has been as low as 20%.

What does this mean practically?

Paper	Total Marks	25% Sectional Cutoff
Mathematics	300	75 marks
GAT (General Ability Test)	600	150 marks

So you cannot ignore either paper. We have seen students at our academy who scored well above 350 in total but failed because their Mathematics marks were only 60 or 65 out of 300. That is below 25%. They did not qualify despite having a good overall score.

This is exactly why at Alpha NDA Academy, we train both papers with equal seriousness from Day 1. If you are concerned about the Maths paper specifically, read our blog: Why NDA Maths Is Difficult for Students to understand the common problems and how to fix them.

Year Wise NDA Written Exam Cutoff: 2015–2025

Below is the complete and verified cutoff data for the NDA written exam (out of 900 marks), sourced from official UPSC results:

Exam	Written Cutoff (Out of 900)	Sectional Qualifying %
NDA I 2025	334	25% in each subject
NDA II 2025	304.90 (Male) / 358.84 (Female)	25% in each subject
NDA I 2024	291	20% in each subject
NDA II 2024	305	25% in each subject
NDA I 2023	301	25% in each subject
NDA II 2023	292	20% in each subject
NDA I 2022	360	25% in each subject
NDA II 2022	316	20% in each subject
NDA I 2021	343	25% in each subject
NDA II 2021	355	25% in each subject
NDA I 2020	355	25% in each subject
NDA II 2020	355	25% in each subject
NDA I 2019	342	25% in each subject
NDA II 2019	346	25% in each subject
NDA I 2018	338	25% in each subject
NDA II 2018	325	25% in each subject
NDA I 2017	342	25% in each subject
NDA II 2017	258	25% in each subject
NDA I 2016	288	25% in each subject
NDA II 2016	229	20% in each subject
NDA I 2015	306	30% in each subject

Source: UPSC Official Result Notifications

Note on NDA II 2025: From this exam onwards, UPSC released separate cutoffs for male and female candidates. The female cutoff was higher (358.84) compared to male (304.90). This is a new development that aspirants in 2026 should be aware of.

Year Wise NDA Final Selection Cutoff: 2015–2025

The final selection cutoff is based on combined marks of written exam and SSB interview (total out of 1800). This is what determines who finally gets admitted to NDA, Pune.

Exam	Final Cutoff (Out of 1800)
NDA I 2025	699
NDA II 2025	666.01 (Male) / 737.40 (Female)
NDA I 2024	654
NDA II 2024	673
NDA I 2023	664
NDA II 2023	656
NDA I 2022	720
NDA II 2022	678
NDA I 2021	709
NDA II 2021	726
NDA I 2020	723
NDA II 2020	719
NDA I 2019	704
NDA II 2019	709
NDA I 2018	705
NDA II 2018	688
NDA I 2017	708
NDA II 2017	624
NDA I 2016	656
NDA II 2016	602
NDA I 2015	674

Source: UPSC Official NDA Final Result Notifications

 

What Does This Trend Actually Tell Us? (Our Analysis)

This is the part that will actually help you prepare better. After looking at this data year after year, here is what we have observed at Alpha NDA Academy.

1. The Written Cutoff Typically Falls in the 290–360 Range

If you look at the last six years (2020–2025), the written exam cutoff has generally ranged between 290 and 360 out of 900. There was one exception in NDA I 2022 when the cutoff went up to 360, which was the highest in recent years.

The practical takeaway: if you can consistently score 350 and above in mock tests, you are in a comfortable position. Aim for at least 370–380 to have a real safety buffer.

2. NDA I Cutoff Is Generally Higher Than NDA II

This is a pattern we notice almost every year. NDA I, conducted around April, usually has a slightly higher cutoff than NDA II, which happens in September. One reason could be that more students are fully prepared by the first attempt since it comes right after Class 12 boards. By NDA II, the candidate pool also includes those who just appeared in NDA I, and many of them may have felt the paper was harder or adjusted their strategy.

3. 2022 Was an Unusually High Year

NDA I 2022 had a written cutoff of 360 out of 900. That is noticeably higher than other recent years. When a year like this comes, students who were targeting 320 or 330 get left out despite working hard. This is why we always tell our students at Alpha: do not target the cutoff. Target 50–70 marks above it.

4. 2023 and 2024 Saw a Drop

After the high cutoffs of 2020–2022, the scores came down in 2023 (NDA I: 301, NDA II: 292) and 2024 (NDA I: 291, NDA II: 305). This likely means the papers were harder in those years, meaning fewer students could score high. Lower cutoff does not mean easier selection. It means the paper itself was tougher.

5. The Final Selection Cutoff Is Around 650–730

Look at the final selection numbers. Most years, the last recommended candidate scored somewhere between 650 and 730 out of 1800. This gives you a useful benchmark: your combined written exam and SSB performance must add up to roughly 700 or above to be safe.

If you score 350 in the written exam, you need roughly 350+ in SSB to be competitive. That is very much achievable with the right SSB preparation. To understand what goes on in those five days of SSB, read our complete guide: SSB Interview 5 Day Process Explained.

What Affects the NDA Cutoff Each Year?

Students often ask us: “Sir, aage ka cutoff kaise pata lagaayein?” And the honest answer is, no one can predict it exactly. But you can understand the factors that move it.

Number of Candidates: More students appearing in the exam means more competition. A higher number of attempts usually pushes cutoffs up because more students are scoring in the higher range.

Paper Difficulty: In a tougher year, fewer students can score above a certain mark. So the cutoff comes down naturally because UPSC has to select a fixed number of candidates.

Number of Vacancies: If UPSC announces more seats in a particular year, the cutoff may be slightly more lenient. Fewer seats can push it higher.

Exam Pattern Changes: Any change in the question type, distribution of topics, or timing can impact how well students perform overall.

This is something we monitor every year at Alpha NDA Academy so our students always have updated target scores.

What Is a Safe Score to Target for NDA 2026?

Based on the trend from 2018–2025, here is the safe target score framework we give to our students:

Category	Written Score Target (Out of 900)
Minimum to qualify	310–330
Comfortable zone	340–370
Strong position	370–420 and above

For the final selection (out of 1800):

Category	Combined Target Score
Minimum chance	650–670
Good chance	680–720
Very strong chance	720 and above

Our recommendation at Alpha NDA Academy is always to target the strong position. Do not prepare to just clear the cutoff. Prepare to score well so that even if the paper is slightly harder than expected, you still qualify comfortably.

A very useful read on how to build that kind of preparation strategy is our blog: NDA Preparation Tips 2026.

SubjectWise Strategy to Score Above Cutoff

Understanding the cutoff is one thing. Actually crossing it is another. Here is how we break it down for students at Alpha NDA Academy.

Mathematics (300 marks)

The Maths paper can feel intimidating but it is highly predictable. The syllabus is fixed and UPSC follows a consistent pattern. Topics like Trigonometry, Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, and Vectors appear almost every year.

A safe target: 120–150 out of 300 in Maths. This is achievable with consistent practice and concept clarity.

Focus on solving previous year papers and timed mock tests. At Alpha, students solve full Maths papers every Saturday in exam conditions. This builds speed and accuracy simultaneously.

General Ability Test or GAT (600 marks)

GAT is where most students can make up for a moderate Maths performance. With English, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, and Current Affairs all combined here, a disciplined student can score quite well.

A safe target: 220–260 out of 600 in GAT. The English section alone carries significant marks and is very scoring if you work on grammar and comprehension regularly.

For a full breakdown of the syllabus, check our guide: NDA Exam Syllabus 2026.

Important: Negative Marking Can Pull Your Score Below Cutoff

We cannot talk about cutoff without talking about negative marking. Many students lose 40–60 marks in one paper simply because they guessed answers without confidence.

Every wrong answer deducts 0.83 marks in Maths and 1.33 marks in GAT. If you attempt 30 questions blindly in GAT and get 20 wrong, you lose 26.6 marks from your score. That can push you below the cutoff even if your actual knowledge was enough to qualify.

At Alpha NDA Academy, we teach a very clear rule: attempt only what you know with confidence. Learn to skip strategically. This mindset shift alone has helped many of our students improve their scores by 40–60 marks in mock tests.

To understand the full marking structure, read our detailed blog: NDA Marking Scheme Explained.

NDA Cutoff for Girls: A New Category from 2025

Since NDA II 2025, UPSC has started releasing separate cutoffs for male and female candidates. In NDA II 2025, the female cutoff was 358.84 out of 900 for written exam, compared to 304.90 for male candidates.

This shows that the competition among female candidates is also rising. If you are a girl aspiring for NDA, this is important to note. Your target should be higher, not just around the male cutoff.

At Alpha NDA Academy, we run a dedicated Girls NDA Coaching Program with separate batches, experienced women mentors, and full SSB preparation support. If you want to know more, check our NDA Coaching for Girls program.

How Alpha NDA Academy Prepares Students to Clear Cutoff Consistently?

We have a 90% written selection rate at Alpha NDA Academy. That number does not happen by accident. Here is what makes the difference.

Weekly Full Mock Tests (900 marks): Every Saturday, our students write a complete NDA paper on 900 marks in timed, examhall conditions. After each test, we give parents a detailed performance report showing marks, weak areas, and how the student improved from last week. This is exactly the kind of tracking that helps students move from 280 to 370 in written scores over a few months.

TargetBased Preparation: We do not tell students to “study hard.” We tell them: you need 130 in Maths and 230 in GAT. That is your target. Now here is the chapterwise plan to get there. Specific targets create specific results.

ConceptFirst Teaching: Most students lose marks in Maths not because they lack time but because they never understood the concept clearly. Our faculty teaches every topic from the ground up, especially for students who come from Arts or Commerce backgrounds. We have seen students from nonScience streams score above 140 in Maths with proper guidance.

Current Affairs and GK Updates: GAT depends a lot on awareness of recent events, especially defencerelated news. At Alpha, weekly current affairs sessions keep students updated without them having to read the newspaper for two hours every day.

SSB Starts from Day 1: Many students focus only on written preparation and start SSB prep after their result comes out. That is already too late. At Alpha NDA Academy, SSB training begins from the first day of joining. Daily group discussions, psychological sessions, personality development, and our worldclass GTO ground ensure that students are ready for both written and SSB simultaneously.

To understand the complete preparation journey from the very beginning, read: How to Start Preparing for NDA After 10th.

---

Common Mistakes Students Make When Thinking About Cutoff

Over the years, we have seen students make the same errors again and again. Knowing these can save you months of misdirected effort.

Mistake 1: Targeting just the cutoff mark. Many students see a cutoff of 310 and think: “I will just aim for 315.” That is a very risky approach. Any small bad day in the exam hall can bring you below 310. Always target at least 50–70 marks above the expected cutoff.

Mistake 2: Ignoring the sectional cutoff. You must score at least 25% in each paper separately. Focusing only on total score without watching your perpaper performance can fail you even with a good total.

Mistake 3: Comparing NDA I and NDA II cutoffs blindly. If NDA I had a cutoff of 360 and NDA II had 316, students assume NDA II is easier. That is not correct. A lower cutoff usually means a harder paper. The number of students who can score above the bar was simply less that year.

Mistake 4: Skipping SSB preparation till written result comes. By that time, you usually have only 3–4 months for SSB. That is not enough to develop the personality and leadership qualities that assessors look for.

Frequently Asked Questions About NDA Cutoff

What is the minimum score to clear NDA written exam?

– Based on recent trends, you need to score approximately 290–360 out of 900 in the written exam, with at least 25% marks in each paper separately. However, we strongly recommend targeting 360–380+ to have a comfortable buffer.

Is the NDA cutoff the same for Army, Navy, and Air Force?
– Yes. UPSC releases a single written exam cutoff applicable to all three wings of NDA. The final selection depends on merit and the candidate’s choice of wing.

Is there a categorywise cutoff in NDA?
– UPSC does not officially release a categorywise cutoff for NDA like some other exams do. The same minimum cutoff applies to all candidates. However, final selection may factor in reserved category vacancies.

What happens if I clear the written cutoff but do not clear SSB?
– If you clear the written exam cutoff, you will be called for SSB. But just attending SSB is not enough. Your combined score of written and SSB must exceed the final selection cutoff for you to get a final recommendation. Read more about the complete process: NDA Selection Process.

Can I give NDA exam again if I miss the cutoff?
– Yes, absolutely. There is no limit on attempts as long as you are within the age range of 16.5 to 19.5 years. Many of our students at Alpha NDA Academy have cleared NDA on their second attempt with better preparation. Read: NDA Eligibility for Repeaters to understand your options.

What is a good score to guarantee final selection?
– To be safe for final selection, aim for a combined score of 700 or above out of 1800. This requires roughly 350 in written and 350 in SSB, which is very much achievable with structured coaching and consistent preparation.

How is the NDA cutoff decided by UPSC?
– UPSC looks at the total number of candidates who appeared, the number of available vacancies, the overall performance of candidates, and the paper’s difficulty level. After the SSB rounds are complete, the final merit list is published and the last recommended candidate’s score becomes the official final cutoff.

Conclusion: Know Your Target, Plan Your Journey

NDA is one of the most respected career paths a student can take. It is also one that rewards preparation done with clarity and direction.

When you know that the NDA written cutoff generally falls between 290–360 out of 900, you know what you are aiming for. When you know the final selection requires around 700 out of 1800, you understand that SSB preparation is equally important. And when you know that the sectional cutoff can eliminate you even with a good overall score, you make sure both papers get enough attention.

That is what this trend analysis is meant to do: give you clarity so that every hour of your preparation is pointed in the right direction.

At Alpha NDA Academy, we do not just teach you the syllabus. We teach you how to think like a future officer, how to manage the exam strategically, and how to show up as your best self in both the written exam and the SSB interview.