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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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 |
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 |
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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 (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 (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 |
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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 |
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 |
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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
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, girls can apply for NDA as long as they have cleared 10+2.
Candidates can prepare for the NDA exam by practising the previous year's question papers, giving mock tests etc.
No, 12th marks don’t matter for NDA. Candidates must qualify for the 10+2 with PCM.
The starting salary of candidates is Rs. 56100 while candidates in training will get a stipend.
There are no passing marks in the NDA exam, however, candidates must score the cutoff marks.
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.
On Question asked by student community
Hello, you can check the NDA Mathematics syllabus and the CUET Applied Mathematics syllabus from the links below:
NDA syllabus:
https://competition.careers360.com/articles/nda-syllabus
CUET syllabus:
https://university.careers360.com/articles/cuet-syllabus
Hello Dear Student,
You can check, find and access more information here:
The eligibility isn't calculated on the exam date — it's calculated as on the age-cutoff date UPSC sets for course commencement, which is 1st July of the following year for NDA II. That's why your own math (18 years 10 months) doesn't line up with how UPSC actually calculates it.
Hello Dear Student,
Since you are in Class 11 , you have enough time to prepare well for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination . Focus on both your studies and physical fitness.
Hello, yes, if your date of birth is 10 June 2008, you can apply for the NDA 2027 exam. You must also meet the other eligibility requirements given in the official notification.
For more details, check this link: UPSC NDA 2027 Eligibility
Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University