How to Join NDA After 12th (Commerce, Arts, Science) - Eligibility, Application, Selection Process

How to Join NDA After 12th (Commerce, Arts, Science) - Eligibility, Application, Selection Process

Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Jul 15, 2024 11:54 AM IST | #NDA

How To Join NDA After 12th?- The NDA and NA exam is one of the most popular exams in India meant for candidates looking to join the Indian defence services. The UPSC conducts this exam twice yearly. The NDA exam can be attempted after 10+2 by candidates who want to join the Indian Defence Services.

It is an extremely competitive exam with strict standards. On this page, we shall discuss in detail how to join the NDA. We will be going over details such as how to join the NDA after 12th, the eligibility criteria etc. Candidates looking to attempt the NDA can go through the material below.

How To Join NDA After the 12th?

  • Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria of NDA can apply for it.

  • To apply for NDA candidates will have to visit the official website of UPSC and apply online.

  • Those who successfully apply for UPSC NDA will have to appear in the NDA exam and qualify for it.

  • Post clearing the NDA candidates will have to go through a course for the initial 3 years.

  • After completing the course, they will be stationed as a lieutenant in the Indian defence services.

This Story also Contains
  1. How To Join NDA After the 12th?
  2. How To Join NDA After 12th? - NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025
  3. How To Join NDA After 12th? - Application Process
How to Join NDA After 12th (Commerce, Arts, Science) - Eligibility, Application, Selection Process
How to Join NDA After 12th (Commerce, Arts, Science) - Eligibility, Application, Selection Process

Quick links:

How To Join NDA After 12th? - NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) prescribes the NDA eligibility criteria and mentions them in the official notification. As per the eligibility criteria, only unmarried candidates who have completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination can apply for the exam.

The eligibility criteria also include nationality, age limit, educational qualification and physical standards which candidates need to fulfil in order to be eligible for the exam. From the following table, candidates can check the detailed eligibility criteria of NDA 2025 consisting of academic qualification, age limit and physical requirements.

Quick links:

NDA educational qualification 2025

NDA Wings

Qualifying Exam details

For Indian Army

Passed 12th standard from State Education Board or a University

For Air Force and Naval

Passed 12th standard with Physics and Mathematics from State Education Board or a University

NDA 1 & 2 age limit 2025

Exam

Age limit

Date of Birth Criteria

NDA (1) 2025

16.5 years - 19.5 years

July 2, 2005 to July 1, 2008

NDA (2) 2025

To be announced

Quick links:

Height and Weight Requirements: Indian Army & Air Force- Males

Height and Weight Requirements: Indian Army & Air Force- Females

Height (in cm)

Minimum weight

Age in years

17-20

20-30

30-40

40+

Weight (in kg)

140

35.3

43.1

45.1

47.0

49.0

141

35.8

43.7

45.7

47.7

49.7

142

36.3

44.4

46.4

48.4

50.4

143

36.8

45.0

47.0

49.1

51.1

144

37.3

45.6

47.7

49.8

51.1

145

37.8

46.9

49.0

50.5

51.8

146

38.4

46.3

48.4

50.5

52.6

147

38.9

47.5

49.7

51.9

54.0

148

39.4

48.2

50.4

52.6

54.8

149

40.0

48.8

51.1

53.3

55.5

150

40.5

49.5

51.8

54.0

56.3

151

41.0

50.2

52.4

54.7

57.0

152

41.6

50.8

53.1

55.4

57.8

153

42.1

51.5

53.8

56.2

58.5

154

42.7

52.2

54.5

56.9

59.3

155

43.2

52.9

55.3

57.7

60.1

156

43.8

53.5

56.0

58.4

60.8

157

44.4

54.2

56.7

59.2

61.6

158

44.9

54.9

57.4

59.9

62.4

159

45.5

55.6

58.1

60.7

63.2

160

46.1

56.3

58.9

61.4

64.0

161

46.7

57.0

59.6

62.2

64.8

162

47.2

57.7

60.4

63.0

65.6

163

47.8

58.5

61.1

63.8

66.4

164

48.4

59.2

61.9

64.6

67.2

165

49

59.9

62.6

65.3

68.1

166

49.6

60.6

63.4

66.1

68.9

167

50.2

61.4

64.1

66.9

69.7

168

50.8

62.1

64.9

67.7

70.6

169

51.4

62.8

65.7

68.5

71.4

170

52

63.6

66.5

69.4

72.3

171

52.6

64.3

67.3

70.2

73.1

172

53.3

65.1

68

71

74

173

53.9

65.8

68.8

71.8

74.8

174

54.5

66.6

69.6

72.7

75.7

175

55.1

67.4

70.4

73.5

76.6

176

55.8

68.1

71.2

74.3

77.4

177

56.4

68.9

72.1

75.2

78.3

178

57

69.7

72.9

76

79.2

179

57.7

70.5

73.7

76.9

80.1

180

58.3

71.3

74.5

77.8

81

181

59

72.1

75.4

78.6

81.9

182

59.6

72.9

76.2

79.5

82.8

183

60.3

73.7

77

80.4

83.7

184

60.9

74.5

77.9

81.3

84.6

185

61.6

75.3

78.7

82.1

85.6

186

62.3

76.1

79.6

83

86.5

187

62.9

76.9

80.4

83.9

87.4

188

63.6

77.8

81.3

84.8

88.4

189

64.3

78.6

82.2

85.7

89.3

190

65

79.4

83

86.6

90.3

191

65.7

80.3

83.9

87.6

91.2

192

66.4

81.1

84.8

88.5

92.2

193

67

81.9

85.7

89.4

93.1

194

67.7

82.8

86.6

90.3

94.1

195

68.4

83.7

87.5

91.3

95.1

196

69.1

84.5

88.4

92.2

96

197

69.9

85.4

89.3

93.1

97

198

70.6

86.2

90.2

94.1

98

199

71.3

87.1

91.1

95

99

200

72

88

92

96

100

201

72.7

88.9

92.9

97

101

202

73.4

89.8

93.8

97.9

102

203

74.2

90.7

94.8

98.9

103

204

74.9

91.6

95.7

99.9

104

205

75.6

92.5

96.7

100.9

105.1

206

76.4

93.4

97.6

101.8

106.1

207

77.1

94.3

98.6

102.8

107.1

208

77.9

95.2

99.5

103.8

108.2

209

78.6

96.1

100.5

104.8

109.2

210

79.4

97

101.4

105.8

110.3

Height and Weight Requirements: Indian Army & Air Force- Females

Height (in cm)

Minimum weight

Age in years

17-20

20-30

30-40

40+

Weight (in kg)

140

35.3

43.1

45.1

47.0

49.0

141

35.8

43.7

45.7

47.7

49.7

142

36.3

44.4

46.4

48.4

50.4

143

36.8

45.0

47.0

49.1

51.1

144

37.3

45.6

47.7

49.8

51.1

145

37.8

46.9

49.0

50.5

51.8

146

38.4

46.3

48.4

50.5

52.6

147

38.9

47.5

49.7

51.9

54.0

148

39.4

48.2

50.4

52.6

54.8

149

40.0

48.8

51.1

53.3

55.5

150

40.5

49.5

51.8

54.0

56.3

151

41.0

50.2

52.4

54.7

57.0

152

41.6

50.8

53.1

55.4

57.8

153

42.1

51.5

53.8

56.2

58.5

154

42.7

52.2

54.5

56.9

59.3

155

43.2

52.9

55.3

57.7

60.1

156

43.8

53.5

56.0

58.4

60.8

157

44.4

54.2

56.7

59.2

61.6

158

44.9

54.9

57.4

59.9

62.4

159

45.5

55.6

58.1

60.7

63.2

160

46.1

56.3

58.9

61.4

64.0

161

46.7

57.0

59.6

62.2

64.8

162

47.2

57.7

60.4

63.0

65.6

163

47.8

58.5

61.1

63.8

66.4

Height and Weight Requirements: Indian Navy- (Males/females)

Height (in cm)


Age in years


Upto 17


17-18


18-20


20-30


30+


Weight (in kg)

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

1.47

37

45

40

45

40

48

40

50

40

52

1.48

37

46

41

46

41

48

41

50

41

53

1.49

38

47

41

47

41

49

41

51

41

53

1.5

38

47

42

47

42

50

42

52

42

54

1.51

39

48

42

48

42

50

42

52

42

55

1.52

39

49

43

49

43

51

43

53

43

55

1.53

40

49

43

49

43

51

43

54

43

56

1.54

40

49

43

49

43

52

44

55

44

57

1.55

41

50

44

50

44

53

44

55

44

58

1.56

41

51

45

51

45

54

45

56

45

58

1.57

42

52

46

52

46

54

46

57

46

60

1.58

42

52

46

52

46

54

46

57

46

59

1.59

43

53

47

53

47

56

47

58

47

61

1.6

44

54

47

53

47

56

47

59

47

61

1.61

44

54

48

54

48

57

48

60

48

62

1.62

45

55

49

55

49

58

49

60

49

63

1.63

45

56

49

56

49

58

49

61

49

64

1.64

46

56

50

56

50

59

50

62

50

65

1.65

46

57

50

57

50

60

50

63

50

65

1.66

47

58

51

58

51

61

51

63

51

66

1.67

47

59

52

59

52

61

52

64

52

67

1.68

48

59

52

59

52

62

52

65

52

68

1. 69

49

60

53

60

53

63

53

66

53

69

1.7

49

61

53

61

53

64

53

66

53

69

1.71

50

62

54

62

54

64

54

67

54

70

1.72

50

63

55

63

55

65

55

68

55

71

1.73

51

64

55

64

55

66

55

69

55

72

1.74

51

64

56

64

56

67

56

70

56

73

1.75

52

65

57

65

57

67

57

70

57

74

1.76

53

66

57

66

57

68

57

71

57

74

1.77

53

66

58

66

58

69

58

72

58

75

1.78

54

67

59

67

59

70

59

73

59

76

1.79

54

67

59

67

59

70

59

74

59

77

1.8

55

68

60

68

60

71

60

75

60

78

1.81

56

69

61

69

61

72

61

75

61

79

1.82

56

70

61

70

61

73

61

76

61

79

1.83

57

70

62

70

62

74

62

77

62

80

1.84

58

71

63

71

63

74

63

78

63

81

1.85

58

72

63

72

63

75

63

79

63

82

1.86

59

73

64

73

64

76

64

80

64

83

1.87

59

73

65

73

65

77

65

80

65

84

1.88

60

74

65

74

65

78

65

81

65

85

1.89

61

75

66

75

66

79

66

82

66

86

1.9

61

76

67

76

67

79

67

83

67

87

1.91

62

77

67

77

67

80

67

84

67

88

1.92

63

77

68

77

68

81

68

85

68

88

1.93

63

78

69

78

69

82

69

86

69

89

1.94

64

79

70

79

70

83

70

87

70

90

1.95

65

80

70

80

70

84

70

87

70

91

Quick links:

Vision requirement - Indian Navy

Requirements

Vision Standard

Uncorrected without glass

6/6, 6/9

Corrected with glass

6/6, 6/6

Limits of Myopia

-0.75

Limits of Hypermetropia

1.5

Binocular vision

III

Limits of colour perception

I

Vision requirement - Indian Air Force

Requirements

Vision Standard

Minimum distant vision

6/6, 6/9

Corrected with glass (for Hypermetropia)

6/6, 6/6

Colour vision

CP-I

Hypermetropia

+2.0 D

Sph Manifest Myopia

Nil

Retinoscopic Myopia

0.5 in any Meridian permitted

Astigmatism

+ 0.75 D Cyl (within + 2.0 D maximum)

Maddox Rod Test at 6 meters

Exo-6 prism D

Eso-6 prism D

Hyper-1 prism D

Hypro-1 prism D

Maddox Rod Test at 33 cms

Exo-16 prism D

Eso-6 prism D

Hyper-1 prism D

Hypo-1 prism D

Quick links:

How To Join NDA After 12th? - Application Process

The NDA 1 application form 2025 will be released on the official website of the UPSC. The NDA form comprises two parts. The first part consists of registration while the second consists of detailed form filling, selecting exam centres and paying the application fee. Check the steps here to fill out the application form.

  • Registration for the exam by filling in required details

  • Choosing preferred branches

  • Verifying the details

  • Generation of registration ID

  • Selecting exam centre

  • Paying application fee

  • Uploading signature and photograph

Quick links:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How can I prepare for NDA after 12th?

Candidates can prepare for the NDA exam by practising the previous year's question papers, giving mock tests etc.

2. Can a girl join NDA after 12th 2025?

Yes, girls can apply for NDA as long as they have cleared 10+2.

3. Does 12th marks matter in NDA?

No, 12th marks don’t matter for NDA. Candidates must qualify for the 10+2 with PCM.

4. What is NDA salary?

The starting salary of candidates is Rs. 56100 while candidates in training will get a stipend.

5. What are the passing marks in the NDA exam?

There are no passing marks in the NDA exam, however, candidates must score the cutoff marks.

6. How hard is the NDA exam?

Yes, NDA is one of the toughest exams in India. Due to the high competitive level and a lot of candidates applying for it. However, with proper preparations and an effective study plan candidates can qualify it easily.

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Questions related to NDA

Have a question related to NDA ?

Hello Abhay,

if your date of birth is 22/09/2006, you will be 18 years old in september 2025. for NDA 2 2025, candidates must be born between 02 january 2007 and 01 january 2010. so you are not eligible for NDA 2 2025 as you are older than the upper age limit.

Hope this message finds you well,

thank you.

According to the updated age requirements, you are qualified for NDA II 2025 if your birthday is April 2006 (however there is some disagreement among sources).  According to the most recent revisions, applicants born between January 2, 2006, and January 1, 2009 (age 16.5–19.5 years), including April 2006, are eligible.  However, other sites mention January 2, 2007–January 1, 2010, therefore check the formal announcement (anticipated by April–May 2025) for exact dates.

No, you're not eligible for NDA 2 2025 since you were born on 13th December 2006. The age limit for NDA 2 2025 is between 2nd January 2007 and 1st January 2010.

However, you're eligible for NDA 1 2026.


Cracking the NDA (National Defence Academy) exam in the first attempt requires a well-structured preparation strategy, unwavering dedication, and a positive mindset. It's a competitive exam, but with the right approach, success is achievable.

Firstly, understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. The NDA exam consists of two main papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The GAT is further divided into English and General Knowledge. Go through the detailed syllabus for each subject, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and plan your study schedule accordingly. Knowing what to study is the foundation of your preparation.

Next, focus on building a strong foundation in the fundamentals. Ensure your basic concepts in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Economics, and English grammar are clear. NCERT books for classes 11th and 12th are invaluable resources for this. Consistent and regular study is key; aim for daily study sessions rather than last-minute cramming.

Practice previous years' question papers extensively. This will familiarize you with the exam pattern, the types of questions asked, the difficulty level, and the time constraints. Solving these papers will also help you identify your weak areas so you can focus on improving them. Time management is crucial in the NDA exam, so practice solving papers within the stipulated time limit.

Develop effective time management skills. During your preparation, learn to allocate time wisely to each subject. In the exam hall, stick to your planned schedule and don't spend too much time on a single question. Accuracy and speed are both important. Regular mock tests that simulate the actual exam environment will help you hone these skills.

Stay updated on current affairs and improve your general knowledge. Read newspapers, magazines, and follow reliable online sources to stay informed about national and international events, science and technology, sports, and other relevant topics. A good grasp of current affairs is essential for scoring well in the General Knowledge section.

Finally, maintain a positive attitude and take care of your physical and mental well-being. Believe in your preparation and stay motivated. Get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly. A healthy mind and body are crucial for effective learning and performing under pressure. If needed, seek guidance from mentors or join study groups for motivation and support. Consistent effort and a strategic approach will significantly increase your chances of cracking the NDA exam in your first attempt.

Yes, with a DOB of December 20, 2006, you are eligible for NDA 1, 2026 as you’ll be between 16.5 to 19.5 years old in April 2026.

NDA 1, 2026 Exam is in April 2026.

Application starts around December 2025.

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