NDA cutoffs exist at two points: the written exam cutoff (which determines who gets an SSB call) and the final merit cutoff (written + SSB combined, which determines who gets into NDA). Understanding both — and the gap between them — tells you more than a table of numbers does. The written cutoff is set low enough to call 3–4 times the vacancies for SSB; the final cutoff is set by how competitive the SSB-recommended pool actually is. Both have been moving upward consistently. See the written exam structure to understand what drives these scores.
The following figures are drawn from official UPSC result notices. Written Exam Cutoff (out of 900): NDA I 2022 – 325; NDA II 2022 – 338; NDA I 2023 – 342; NDA II 2023 – 355; NDA I 2024 – 360; NDA II 2024 – 371. Final Merit Cutoff (out of 1800): NDA I 2022 – 682; NDA II 2022 – 688; NDA I 2023 – 698; NDA II 2023 – 706; NDA I 2024 – 708; NDA II 2024 – 714. The written cutoff has risen by approximately 46 marks over three years (2022 to 2024). The final cutoff has risen by 32 marks over the same period — a slower rate, reflecting that SSB performance across the recommended pool has been more stable than written exam performance.
Why the Cutoff Keeps Rising and What Drives It
Three structural factors explain the upward trend. First: awareness of PYQ availability — more candidates now practice with 10+ years of official NDA papers, raising the floor of written performance. Second: improved Maths coaching penetration — specifically for Trigonometry and Calculus, which have the highest PYQ density, and where coached candidates consistently outperform self-studiers who rely only on NCERT. Third: the female eligibility expansion from 2022 has added a new applicant cohort, increasing the effective applicant pool at the higher end of the score distribution. For 2026, the trend suggests the written cutoff will likely continue in the 370–390 range for NDA I and potentially higher for NDA II — but treat this as a planning estimate, not a guaranteed figure. Verify the actual cutoff at upsc.gov.in after each cycle.
Wing-Wise Cutoff Dynamics
The official written cutoff published by UPSC is a single common figure across all wings. Wing-specific differentiation occurs at the final merit list stage: Air Force (108 vacancies) has the highest effective written + SSB score requirement among recommended candidates. Navy (30 vacancies) has the fewest seats and its final merit candidates tend to cluster at higher combined scores. Army (370 vacancies) offers the most seats and the widest written score range among final merit list candidates. A candidate shortlisted for SSB but not recommended by Air Force SSB can still appear for Army SSB in a subsequent cycle — the written shortlist does not restrict future applications.
What Score to Actually Target
The data-driven planning target is: 400+ out of 900 in the written exam for a comfortable SSB call across all wings including Air Force. Scoring 360–370 (near the 2024 cutoff) provides no buffer — normalization of question difficulty across cycles, combined with the competitiveness of the candidate pool, means marginal written scores translate to marginal SSB call probability. Within the written exam, targeting at least 140–150/300 in Maths and 250–260/600 in GAT creates a robust combined score. These are preparation targets — not announced qualifying marks. See how to build toward this score in 6 months.