NDA II Cut Off 2026 – Expected Cutoff, Previous Year Cutoffs & Qualifying Marks

The NDA II Cut Off 2026 refers to the minimum marks that candidates must secure in the written examination (and subsequently in the combined written + SSB score) to be eligible for shortlisting and final selection. The cutoff for NDA II 2026 will be officially released by UPSC along with the final result, expected in early 2027. However, based on previous year trends and expert analysis, expected cutoffs can be estimated to help aspirants set their target scores.

NDA II 2026 Expected Cut Off

Important: Clearing the aggregate cutoff alone is not sufficient. Candidates must also secure at least 25% marks in each paper separately (i.e., 75 in Maths and 150 in GAT) to qualify.

NDA II Previous Year Cutoff – Written Exam

The following table presents the official written exam cutoffs released by UPSC over the years:

Observation: The written cutoff has fluctuated between 292 and 360+ over the years, heavily influenced by the paper's overall difficulty level and the number of candidates.

NDA II Previous Year Cutoff – Final (Written + SSB)

The final cutoff is computed out of 1800 marks (900 written + 900 SSB interview). Candidates who clear the written cutoff must also perform well in the SSB to make the final merit list.

Trend: The final cutoff has generally remained in the 650–730 range over the past decade.

NDA II 2026 Safe Score

A "safe score" is the mark above which a candidate can reasonably expect to clear the written stage and be called for SSB:

Experts recommend aiming for at least 400 marks in the written exam to be in a comfortable position for most years, regardless of the official cutoff.

NDA II 2026 Qualifying Marks – Sectional Cutoff

UPSC mandates minimum qualifying marks in each paper separately. These are non-negotiable:

Note: In some years (e.g., NDA 1 2024 and NDA II 2023), the sectional minimum was relaxed to 20% by UPSC. However, candidates should always prepare targeting 25% as the baseline.

Factors Affecting NDA II Cut Off 2026

NDA II Cutoff vs NDA I Cutoff – Comparison (Typical)

NDA I and NDA II cutoffs are independent. NDA II typically has a slightly different cutoff than NDA I because the two exams are taken by different candidate pools and have different paper difficulty levels.

How to Use Cutoff Data for Preparation

Branch-wise Cutoff Variation

While UPSC does not publish separate branch-wise written exam cutoffs, the SSB process and medical standards mean that effective competition varies by wing:

Candidates targeting Air Force should aim for higher scores both in written and SSB.

NDA II 2026 Cutoff – Official Release Timeline

The official cutoff is published only along with the final result, not with the written result PDF.

Summary

The NDA II Cut Off 2026 for the written exam is expected to be in the range of 360–380 marks out of 900, with the final cutoff (written + SSB) expected around 700–720 out of 1800. Candidates must also clear a mandatory 25% sectional minimum in both Maths (75 marks) and GAT (150 marks). Historical data shows the written cutoff has ranged from 292 to 360+, depending on paper difficulty. The safest strategy is to target a written score of 400+ to remain well above the cutoff threshold.

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