If you appeared for the UPSC NDA 1 exam 2026 on April 12, the wait is over. UPSC has officially released the NDA 1 Answer Key 2026 on its website. The exam was held in two shifts — Mathematics from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and General Ability Test (GAT) from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. You can now download the answer key for your set, match your responses, and calculate your expected score before the official result comes out.
Important Details – NDA 1 Answer Key 2026
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Date | April 12, 2026 |
| Papers | Mathematics (Paper I) and GAT (Paper II) |
| Sets Available | Set A, B, C, D |
| Maths Marking Scheme | +2.5 correct, −0.83 wrong |
| GAT Marking Scheme | +4 correct, −1.33 wrong |
| Expected Written Cutoff | 355–380 out of 900 |
| Written Result Expected | June–July 2026 |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Direct Link to Download NDA 1 Answer Key 2026
| Details | Link |
|---|---|
| Official UPSC NDA 1 Answer Key 2026 | Mathematics,  General Ability Test  |
| UPSC Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
How to Download UPSC NDA 1 Answer Key 2026
- Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
- Click on the “Examinations” tab on the homepage.
- Select “Answer Keys” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026.
- The answer key PDF will open — download it and match your responses.
How to Calculate Your Score
Use the marking scheme below to get a fair idea of your expected score:
- Mathematics: +2.5 marks for every correct answer, −0.83 for every wrong answer.
- GAT: +4 marks for every correct answer, −1.33 for every wrong answer.
- No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
- Total written exam marks — 900. If your score looks close to the expected cutoff of 355–380, start your SSB interview preparation right away.
Can You Challenge the Answer Key?
Yes. UPSC gives candidates a window of 7 to 10 days after the official answer key release to raise objections. You can log in to the UPSC OTR portal and submit your challenge with proper references. If your objection is found valid, it will be incorporated into the final answer key before the result is declared.
Keep checking the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in for any updates on the written result, which is expected in June–July 2026.
