NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026: NDA 1 Age Limit, Qualification, Height, Physical Eligibility & FAQs

NDA Eligibility 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) prescribes NDA eligibility in terms of age limit, educational qualification, nationality & physical requirement. According to NDA eligibility criteria, candidates who are between 16.5 years to 19.5 years and have completed or are appearing in Class 12 can apply for the exam. NDA Eligibility for females is the same as males; however, there are certain differences in the height & weight parameters. There is no NDA eligibility10th percentage. 

NDA Eligibility for Male and Female Candidates

NDA Eligibility 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) lays down NDA eligibility criteria along with the notification. The eligibility criteria are certain parameters in terms of age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and medical standard. According to NDA eligibility criteria age, candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old. The age is calculated as on the date of the application form.

NDA educational qualification states that candidates who have completed or are appearing in Class 12 can apply for the exam. Both male and female candidates are eligible to apply for NDA/NA exam. NDA eligibility criteria for female are the same as the male counterpart. There is no NDA Eligibility 10th percentage. 

National Defence Academy exam or NDA exam is conducted to select eligible candidates for the Indian Armed Forces, where selected candidates of all three services, Navy and Air Force undergo training before pre-commissioning training in the respective academies. The exam is conducted twice a year-April and September to select male and female candidates for various defence services. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for SSB Interview. Read below for more details on NDA eligibility 2025.

NDA Eligibility 2026

UPSC NDA eligibility Critieria is one of the main factors to go through before applying for NDA exam. To remain the recruitment process, candidates must fit into all the NDA requirements. It is essential for candidates to follow all the specified eligibility criteria to be able to proceed further with the selection process. Candidates should note that Army might have different NDA exam eligibility requirements than those for Navy and Air Force. 

UPSC NDA Exam Eligibility 2026 Highlights 

Candidates can check below few important highlights related to NDA/NA exam eligibility.

NDA Eligibility Criteria Age

According to NDA eligibility criteria, only unmarried male and female aspirants aged between 16 and 19 are eligible to apply for the NDA. Those who are interested in applying for the exam must fall in the mentioned age group. Candidates whose UPSC NDA age limit exceeds will not be considered for the exam. Given below is the age limit for all candidates who wish to appear for the exam:

• NDA 1 age limit is that candidates should be born not earlier than July 2, 2006, and not later than July 1, 2009
• Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 01st January, 2007 and not later than 1st January, 2010 are eligible for NDA 2 exam.
• The commission will accept the date of birth that is entered into Class 10 or 12 certificates
• Candidates need to submit these certificates after the declaration of the result of the written exam

NDA Age Limit For Girls

NDA age limit for girls is the same as the male candidates. NDA age limit for girl is 16.5 to 19.5 years. Female candidates falling under the age range can apply for NDA exam.

NDA Eligibility Educational Qualification

UPSC NDA eligibility as per the educational qualification prescribed for admission to the different academies is given below.

• Candidates who are appearing in Class 12 or equivalent examination can apply as per NDA exam eligibility
• Candidates appearing in Class 11 exam are not eligible
• There is no NDA eligibility 12th percentage. Candidates who have passed Class 12 or equivalent exam can apply for the exam. 

NDA Nationality Requirements

To apply for NDA, candidates must be:

1) A citizen of India or

2) A subject of Nepal or

3) A subject of Bhutan or

4) A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India or

5) A person originally Indian who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 must be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Indian government. A certificate of eligibility is not required for Gorkha candidates from Nepal

NDA Marital Status Criteria

Only unmarried male and female candidates can apply for the exam as per NDA eligibility criteria. Candidates should not marry until they complete their training. Candidates who marry during the training will be discharged and have to refund all expenditure spend on them by the government. 

NDA Physical Standards

Candidates must be physically fit according to the NDA Height and Weight Requirements. The physical eligibility is given in the table below for Army, Navy and Air Force. NDA requirements are NDA height, weight and chest. 

NDA Height & Weight for Army and Air Force

NDA height prescribed is 157 cms (For Air Force it is 162.5 cms). Certain exceptions are applicable for candidates based on the region from which they belong. NDA height for girls is 157 cms. NDA eligibility for female height & NDA eligibility for male height is given below. 

For Gorkhas and candidates belonging to hills of North-Eastern areas of India, Garhwal, and Kumaon, the minimum height will be 5 cms less than the figure mentioned above. For candidates belonging to Lakshadweep, the minimum height standard is reduced by 2 cms.

NDA Requirements for Height and Weight for Navy

Candidates who wish to be pilot need to fulfill the following NDA requirements:

• Leg Length: The minimum of 99 cms and maximum of 120 cms
• Thigh Length: Maximum of 64 cms
• Sitting Height: The minimum of 81.50 cms and maximum is 96 cms

NDA Vision Standards

• The distance vision (corrected) of candidates should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye
• Myopia should not be more than 2.5 D
• Hyper metropia not more than 3.5 D including astigmatism
• Air Force candidates must not wear spectacles

Candidates can check below the NDA requirements for visual standards for Navy and Air Force.

Candidates must not suffer from any of the following minor conditions:

• Wax (Ears)
• Deviated Nasal Septum
• Hydrocele / Phimosis
• Condition of Overweight / Underweight
• Under Sized Chest
• Piles
• Tonsillitis
• Gynaecomastia
• Varicocele

NDA Eligibility Requirements for Guidelines Regarding Tattoos

• Candidates must ensure that any permanent body tattoos should be present only on their inner side of forearm
• Under no circumstances, UPSC accepts tattoos on the inside of the elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand
• Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are also not acceptable
• In case a candidate belongs to a tribe where it is customary to have tattoo, acceptance will be granted considering the traditions involved

Also Read:

• NDA Vacancies
• NDA Dates 
• NDA Exam Centres 
• NDA Preparation Tips
• NDA Books 

NDA Requirements for Spinal Conditions

Candidates must not have the following diseases:

• Granulomatous disease of spine
• Arthritis/spondylosis (Rheumatoid arthritis and allied disorders / Ankylosing spondylitis/ Osteoarthrosis, spondylosis and degenerative joint disease / Non-articular rheumatism (e.g. lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago etc.) & Miscellaneous disorders including SLE, polymyositis, vasculitis
• Spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis
• Compression fracture of vertebrae
• SC Heuerman’s disease (Adolescent kyphosis)
• Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of cervical spine
• Unilateral / Bilateral cervical ribs with demon stable neurological or circulatory deficit
• Scoliosis more than 15 degree as measured by Cobb’s method
• Degenerative Disc. disease
• Presence of Schmorl’s nodes at more than one level
• Atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial anomalies
• Hemi vertebrae and/or incomplete block (fused) vertebrae at any level in cervical, dorsal or lumbar spine and complete block (fused) vertebrae at more than one level in cervical or dorsal spine
• Unilateral Sacralisation or lumbarisation (Complete or incomplete) at all levels and bilateral incomplete sacralisation or lumbarisation
• Any other abnormality if so considered by the specialist

NDA Requirements for X-Ray Exam

Any of the following conditions will disqualify the candidature of candidates:

• Granulomatous disease of spine
• Arthritis / spondylosis      
• Scoliosis more than 15 degree as measured by Cobb’s Method (10 degree for Army and Navy)
• More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis
• Spondylolisthesis / Spondylosis / Spondylolysis
• Herniated nucleus pulposes
• Compression fracture of Vertebra
• Sacralisation Disease
• Cervical ribs with demonstrable neurological or Circulatory deficit
• Presence of Schmorl’s node at more than one level
• Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies
• Incomplete Sacralisation Unilateral or Bilateral
• Spina Bifida other than SV 1 and LV 5 if completely Sacralised
• Any other abnormality, if so considered by specialist

NDA Requirements for Other medical conditions 

• There should not be any symptoms of the weak constitution or bodily defects
• Candidates must have a well-developed chest
• The function of the bones or joints should be good
• No history of medical breakdown or fits
• Candidates must have normal hearing capabilities
• No impediment of speech
• Normal blood pressure with no signs of heart disease or blood vessel disease
• No liver or spleen enlargement
• No abnormalities in urine
• No skin diseases
• No abnormalities in USG abdomen examination
• A sufficient number of natural and sound teeth
• Routine ECG for Air Force candidates must fall within normal limits

NDA Eligibility for Women Candidates: Know Medical Standards

The general methods and principles of medical examination of female candidates are the same as for male candidates. However, there are some specified medical standards for female candidates which are listed below:

• A detailed menstrual, gynaecological and obstetric history in the form of a questionnaire is to be obtained from the candidate
• A detailed physical and systemic examination will be carried out for the candidates and they will be examined by a Lady Medical Officer or a Lady Gynecologist only
• The examination includes the following inspections:
  (a) External genitalia
  (b) Hernial orifices and the perineum
  (c) Any evidence of stress urinary incontinence or genital prolapsed outside introitus
  (d) Evidence of lump breast and galactorrhoea
• In all unmarried female candidates, speculum or per vaginal examination will not be carried out
• Ultrasound scan of the abdomen and pelvis is mandatory in all female candidates during the initial Medical Examination
• Any abnormality of external genitalia will be considered on merits of each case. Significant hirsutism especially with male pattern of hair growth along with radiological evidence of PCOS, will be a cause for rejection
• Following conditions will entail female candidates being declared unfit:
  (a) Primary or secondary amenorrhoea
  (b) Severe Menorrhagia or/ and severe dysmenorrhea.
  (c) Stress urinary incontinence
  (d) Congenital elongation of cervix or prolapsed which comes outside the introitus even after corrective surgery.
  (e) Pregnancy will be a cause of rejection for NDA entry
  (f) Complex ovarian cyst of any size
  (g) Simple ovarian cyst more than six cm
  (h) Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
  (i) Submucous fibroid of any size
  (j) Broad ligament or cervical fibroid of any size causing pressure over ureter
• Single fibroid uterus more than three cm in diameter fibroids more than two in number (each fibroid not more than fifteen mm in diameter) or fibroids causing distortion of endometrial cavity
• Congenital uterine anomalies except for arcuate uterus
• Acute or chronic pelvic infection
• Disorders of sexual differentiation
• Any other condition will be considered on merits of each case by the Gynaecologist
• Following conditions will be declared as FIT:
  (a) Unilocular clear ovarian cyst up to six cm
  (b) Minimal fluid in pouch of Douglas

Ineligibility for UPSC NDA Exam

Candidates will be rejected from appearing in UPSC NDA exam if they do not fulfil NDA eligibility due to the following reasons:

• If aspirants are married, then they will not be allowed to appear for the exam
• If candidates have resigned on disciplinary grounds during training then they are not eligible
• Candidates who did not clear PABT/CPSS exam are not eligible
• If aspirants are debarred by the Defence Ministry
• Candidates studying in Class 11 are not eligible
• Candidates who have failed INSB/PABT earlier will not be considered eligible 

UPSC NDA Eligibility for Female

In 2021, Supreme Court allowed NDA for girls. Earlier, only unmarried male candidates were allowed to appear for the exam. The decision was taken by Supreme Court after a writ petition was filed by Kush Kalra in the Supreme Court to allow women to appear for NDA. The petition also raised objections against the issue of violation of Articles 14, 15, 16, and 19 of the Constitution of India by not allowing the desired female candidates to participate in the NDA Exam. NDA female eligibility, age limit, educational qualification, and marital status parameters are the same as male candidates.