NDA 2 Cut Off 2026: Expected Written and Final Cut Off
NDA 2 Cut Off 2026 predictions vary by source. Here's the expected written and final cut off range, explained with the numbers behind it.
NDA 2 Cut Off 2026 for the written exam is expected to fall somewhere between 310 and 380 marks out of 900, depending on which source's analysis you check, with most estimates clustering around 330 to 360. The expected final cut off, which combines written marks with your SSB score, is projected around 700 to 720 out of 1800. These are unofficial estimates based on paper difficulty and past trends, not numbers from UPSC. The actual cutoff is released only by UPSC itself, usually after the SSB rounds are complete.
If you're checking this, you're likely trying to answer one of two questions: did I clear the written exam, or what score do I realistically need to aim for.
This guide covers both, along with why the estimates themselves differ so much.
What Does "NDA 2 Cut Off" Actually Mean?
There are two separate cutoffs in the NDA process, and mixing them up causes most of the confusion.
-
Written cutoff: the minimum score in the written exam (Maths plus GAT) needed to qualify for an SSB interview call. This is what most "expected cutoff" predictions are actually about.
-
Final cutoff: the minimum combined score, written marks plus SSB marks, needed to make it onto the final merit list and get recommended.
Clearing the written cutoff only gets you an SSB call. It doesn't guarantee a seat, since the SSB interview carries significant weight in the final merit.
NDA 2 2026 Exam Snapshot
Before the cutoff numbers make sense, it helps to know what the paper actually looks like.
The exam was held on September 13, 2026, for approximately 394 vacancies across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy. There's also a fixed penalty of one-third of the marks deducted for every wrong answer, so accuracy matters as much as attempts.
Expected NDA 2 Cut Off 2026: Written Exam
Three separate exam-analysis sources put NDA 2 expected cutoff marks in slightly different bands, which is normal for unofficial predictions.
Read together, most analyses agree the safer working range for NDA 2 Cut Off 2026 sits around 330 to 360, with some sources projecting higher if the paper is judged tougher than initially rated.
Why the Difficulty Ratings Don't Fully Agree
One source rated the NDA 2 2026 paper "easy to moderate," while another called it "moderate to difficult." Both can't be fully right, and that's exactly why NDA 2 2026 written cutoff predictions spread across a range instead of landing on one number.
Mathematics is generally seen as the harder of the two papers this year, with good attempts estimated between 50 and 90 questions depending on the source, against a target accuracy of 85 percent or higher given the negative marking.
The General Ability Test, covering English and General Knowledge, is rated comparatively easier, with good attempts estimated between 90 and 130 questions combined.
Sectional Qualifying Marks: The 25 Percent Rule
Beyond the overall cutoff, there's a separate rule that trips up candidates who score well overall but poorly in one section.
You must score at least 25 percent in each paper independently, not just 25 percent of the total.
-
Mathematics: at least 75 marks out of 300
-
GAT (English + GK combined): at least 150 marks out of 600
Scoring high overall but falling under 25 percent in either paper alone can disqualify you, regardless of your total score. This is worth checking separately from your overall estimate.
Expected Final Cut Off (Written Plus SSB Combined)
The final cutoff is where written marks and SSB marks are added together, out of a combined 1800.
Current projections put the NDA 2 2026 final cutoff somewhere around 700 to 720 out of 1800, though this figure depends heavily on SSB performance across the batch and is even less predictable than the written cutoff.
Historically, the final combined cutoff has ranged roughly between 602 and 726 across recent years, which shows how much SSB scores alone can shift the final number.
Previous Years' NDA Cut Off Trend
Looking at how the written cutoff has moved over recent years gives useful context for where 2026 might land.
The cutoff has moved by 30 to 60 marks year over year in the past, which is exactly why treating any single year's number as a guarantee for the next is risky.
What "Safe Score" Actually Means for NDA 2 2026
NDA 2 safe score 2026 isn't a guarantee. It's a buffer built on top of the expected cutoff, so a slightly tougher paper or higher competition doesn't leave you short.
-
Conservative safe score: around 380 or more in the written exam, aimed at candidates who want a comfortable margin over every published estimate.
-
Competitive safe score: around 420 to 450, positioning you well ahead of most projected cutoff bands.
-
Strong performance benchmark: 480 or more, which puts you well clear of the written cutoff regardless of which source's prediction turns out closer to reality.
Aiming closer to 400 in the written exam, rather than exactly at the lowest predicted cutoff, gives a reasonable safety margin across most of these scenarios.
What to Do While You Wait for the Official Cut Off
-
Don't wait for the written result to start SSB preparation. If your attempts and accuracy suggest you're in range, begin OIR and PPDT practice now.
-
Check UPSC's own notifications directly for the actual result date and cutoff, rather than relying only on unofficial estimates.
-
Compare your own attempted-questions count against the good-attempt ranges above, rather than just your gut feeling about how the paper went.
-
Avoid chasing a single source's most optimistic or most pessimistic number as if it were official.
Common Mistakes When Reading Cutoff Predictions
-
Treating an unofficial estimate as the final answer: only UPSC's own notification confirms the actual cutoff.
-
Ignoring category and gender-wise variation: cutoffs for different categories and for female candidates have differed from the general cutoff in past years.
-
Panicking over the lowest published estimate: a single pessimistic prediction from one source doesn't override the broader range across multiple analyses.
-
Stopping SSB preparation while waiting for the written result: this wastes valuable preparation time if the written cutoff is cleared.
Want NDA Result Dates and Cutoff Updates as They're Announced? Join the Defence Study community on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram for NDA notifications, SSB prep tips, and result updates as they happen. Stay Informed. Stay Prepared. Stay Ready.
Bringing It Together
NDA 2 Cut Off 2026 estimates for the written exam currently sit in a 310 to 380 range, with most analyses converging around 330 to 360, and the final combined cutoff projected around 700 to 720.
These are informed predictions, not certainties. The only number that matters officially comes from UPSC itself, usually announced on the official UPSC website once results and, later, the SSB process are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the expected NDA 2 Cut Off 2026 for the written exam? Estimates range from 310 to 380 out of 900, with most analyses converging around 330 to 360, depending on how each source rates the paper's difficulty.
What is the difference between the written cutoff and the final cutoff? The written cutoff qualifies you for an SSB interview call. The final cutoff combines your written marks with your SSB marks, out of 1800, and determines your position on the merit list.
What is a safe score for NDA 2 2026? A conservative safe score is around 380 or higher in the written exam. A competitive safe score is closer to 420 to 450, well above most predicted cutoff ranges.
Do I need 25 percent in each paper separately? Yes. You need at least 75 out of 300 in Mathematics and at least 150 out of 600 in GAT independently, regardless of your overall total.
When will the official NDA 2 2026 cutoff be released? UPSC releases the official written cutoff along with the result, and the final cutoff only after the SSB process is complete. These unofficial estimates are meant as guidance until then, not a substitute for the official announcement.
Why do different sources give different expected cutoff ranges? Each source rates the paper's difficulty and good-attempt ranges slightly differently, which is why predictions span 310 to 380 rather than landing on one figure.
