NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026: How Many Marks Are Safe?

Summary

The NDA written examination is over and the next big query for aspirants is on how many marks are needed to clear the written stage and receive the SSB call-up. While the official cutoff will be released by UPSC later, previous years’ cutoff trends can give candidates a fair idea of their standing.

In this article, we will discuss the NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026, previous years’ official cutoff trends and the NDA 2 Safe Score 2026 you should aim for. You can also check our detailed NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026 for the difficulty level and good attempts breakdown.

Also check: NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & Questions

1. How Is the NDA Cutoff Calculated?

Before discussing the NDA 2 expected cutoff 2026, it is important that you first understand how the cutoff actually works. For the NDA written examination there are two requirements which a candidate would have to satisfy in order to qualify:

• Subject-wise minimum marks: This is a rather straightforward cut-off which basically implies that candidates shall have to obtain a minimum of 25% marks in both Mathematics and GAT. A candidate will not qualify for the next stage in case they score less than the prescribed minimum marks in either the papers.
• Overall Cutoff Written: Considering the subject-wise qualifying marks, UPSC has an overall cutoff out of 900 marks. Candidates scoring more than the cutoff marks will finally be shortlisted for the SSB interview.

2. NDA Cutoff Trends: What Do Previous Years Tell Us?

One of the most useful ways to estimate the NDA 2 expected cutoff 2026 is to look at the official cutoff marks from recent years.

Year	NDA I Written	NDA I Final	NDA II Written	NDA II Final
2021	343	709	355	726
2022	360	720	316	678
2023	301	664	292	656
2024	291	654	305	673
2025	334	699	304.9 (Male) / 358.84 (Female)	666.01 (Male) / 737.40 (Female)

3. NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026

The NDA 2 2026 Expected Cutoff is expected to lie somewhere in the ranges mentioned in the cutoff trends of the previous years:

Stage	Expected Cutoff
Written Examination	315–345 / 900
Final Selection	690–715 / 1800

Note: These figures are only estimates based on previous cutoff trends and should not be considered the official UPSC cutoff.

Based on the cutoff trends of the previous years, you can guess your NDA 2 Expected Cut off 2026 with the help of the NDA 2 Answer Key 2026 solutions PDF provided by Digital Benchers. You can also evaluate your answers taking help of the NDA 2 Question Paper PDF 2026.

Also check: NDA 2 Safe Score 2026

4. When Will UPSC Release the NDA 2 Cutoff 2026?

The timing of the official cutoff often confuses candidates. UPSC does not usually release the final cutoff immediately after the written examination. The result of the written exam is declared first while the cutoff marks are released later after the selection process is completed along with the SSB stage.

Till UPSC releases the official figures, all the numbers floating on the internet including the NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026 mentioned in this article should be given a status of estimates.

5. Let Digital Benchers Help You Prepare

The NDA 2 2026 exam is over but your preparation journey does not end with the written paper. If you expect to clear the written cutoff, this is the right time to start preparing for the SSB interview instead of waiting for the result.

If your score is around the expected cutoff or you are unsure about your chances, you can still use this time productively. The Digital Benchers Study Planner Pro can help you to organise your preparation and plan your next steps according to your goals.

You can also check the NDA Exam Pattern, attempt NDA Mock Tests and practice with NDA Previous Year Question Papers to strengthen your preparation for future attempts. If you are confident about your written score, start working on SSB preparation now so that you are ready when the result is announced.