UPSC NDA 1 2026 answer key released: official PDFs on upsc.gov.in
UPSC released NDA 1 official answer key on 16 April 2026 .
Author: Upasna Choudhary
Last updated: Apr 16, 2026 17:26 IST
UPSC NDA 1 2026 answer key: what’s out
The Union Public Service Commission has published the provisional UPSC NDA 1 2026 answer key on its website in PDF format. The key covers both papers — Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT) — and is issued for all question paper sets A, B, C, D .
The NDA 1 written exam took place on 12 April 2026 in two shifts across the country. Candidates who sat for the test should download the PDFs from the UPSC site and check their responses against the provisional key.
How to download the UPSC NDA 1 2026 answer key
Go to the UPSC official website, upsc.gov.in, and look for the item titled "Provisional Answer Key: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2026" in the "What’s New" section. The Mathematics and GAT answer key PDFs are available there for direct download.
Save the files and compare your marked answers with the key for the correct set (A/B/C/D) you attempted.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NDA 1 written examination | 12 April 2026 |
| Answer key release | 16 April 2026 |
| Article last updated | 16 April 2026 |
What the provisional key means and next steps
The released document is a provisional answer key, so UPSC allows candidates to raise objections if they find discrepancies. The commission has not specified an objection timeline or fee in the published PDFs; check the UPSC portal for any separate notification on the challenge process.
After finalisation of answers, the next stage for qualified candidates is the SSB interview, which is the key stage following the written test.
What’s not yet available
UPSC’s release does not include an objection submission window or details on how objections will be evaluated. There is also no official date yet for the NDA 1 result or score conversion; candidates should monitor upsc.gov.in for updates.
Quick checklist for candidates
- Download the correct set (A/B/C/D) PDFs for Maths and GAT.
- Cross-check your answers against the provisional key.
- Watch the UPSC website for any notification on objection procedure and result date.
- Prepare documents and SSB readiness if you expect to qualify.