Last verified: 12 October 2026 (Monday, evening). The figures below are as reported by the Times of India (report dated 11 October 2026; page opened and verified by us today) — a single Tier-2 source, since the school has not published the numbers on its own website yet. Anything marked EXPECTED is our interpretation, not an official claim.
Twenty-three cadets of Sainik School Nalanda have cleared the written stage of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 — the UPSC-conducted written test held on 13 September 2026. Principal Colonel Bhupender Kumar congratulated the cadets and their parents, and said the result reflected the cadets’ discipline and faculty mentorship.
The qualifiers now move to the second hurdle: the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, run under the Ministry of Defence. School authorities told the Times of India that special SSB orientation classes will be organised for the 23 qualifiers to prepare them for the interview and assessment process.
The cadets are in the race for the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 158th Course and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) — both scheduled to commence on 1 July 2027. The written stage is only the first filter; the SSB — five days of psychology tests, group tasks and the personal interview — is where most candidates fall out. That is exactly why the school’s decision to run dedicated SSB orientation classes matters.
Here is the number to remember: this is not a one-off. In April 2025, Sainik School Nalanda was conferred the Raksha Mantri Trophy for 2023-24 — awarded to the Sainik School that sent the maximum number of cadets to the NDA among all 33 Sainik Schools in the country. Eight of its cadets joined the 152nd Course that commenced in July 2024. The school has received this trophy twice in a decade.
That is the whole point of the AISSEE grind your child is in the middle of right now. Sainik Schools exist for one job — preparing boys and girls academically, physically and mentally for entry into the NDA — and results like this are the proof the machine works. When you sit across the dining table tonight discussing whether the preparation is worth it, this is the answer.
If your child is preparing for AISSEE 2027 (exam expected 31 January 2027), the immediate action is unchanged: keep the preparation steady. But one lesson from Nalanda is worth internalising — schools that produce NDA officers do not just teach the syllabus; they build the SSB-ready personality (communication, initiative, fitness) from Class 6 onwards. When you shortlist schools during e-counselling next year, look at each school’s NDA selection track record, not just its cutoffs.
Photo: Pexels
How many Sainik School Nalanda cadets cleared the NDA (II) 2026 written exam?
23 cadets, as reported by the Times of India on 11 October 2026. They cleared the written stage of the NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026 conducted by the UPSC.
When was the NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026 written test held?
The written examination was held on 13 September 2026, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
What happens next for the 23 qualifiers?
They are now eligible for the SSB interview conducted under the Ministry of Defence. The school said special SSB orientation classes will be organised for them.
Which NDA course are they competing for?
The Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 158th Course and the 120th Indian Naval Academy Course, both scheduled to commence on 1 July 2027.
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