It’s okay to feel lost right now. Many students go through this after 12th.
You had an interest in NDA, which means you have discipline and courage in you.
Even if you missed NDA, you can still join the defence later through CDS after graduation.
If you want a steady government job, SSC is a great option with strong career growth.
If you like technology and logical work, a B.Tech can open many career paths.
Take some time to understand what truly excites you: serving, studying, or solving.
You haven’t failed; you’re just finding your right direction. Your journey’s not over yet.
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality, Attempt Limit
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Union Public Service Commission releases the UPSC NDA 1 eligibility criteria 2026 in the official notification. The notification containing the NDA 2026 eligibility criteria is released on the official website. The notification is released at upsc.gov.in. UPSC NDA eligibility criteria 2026 are determined on the basis of different factors like age, nationality, academic qualification, and physical standards.
This Story also Contains
- NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Overview
- UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026
- NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Nationality
- NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit
- NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Academic Qualification
- NDA Eligibility Criteria - Marital Status
- NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Physical Standard
- NDA Height & Weight for Army and Air Force
- NDA Medical Requirements for Visual Standards
- NDA Application Form 2026
Female candidates are also eligible to apply for the NDA exam. As per the NDA Eligibility criteria, candidates between the age group of 16.5 to 19.5 years and the 12th pass students are eligible for the exam. Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can fill out the NDA application form 2026 before the deadline.
Also check:
NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Overview
Particulars | Details |
Exam Name | NDA Examination |
Examination Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Exam Level | National |
NDA Eligibility criteria | Nationality - Indian Age limit for NDA - Applicants born between July 2, 2006, to July 1, 2009 are eligible. Educational Qualification - Passed 12th standard with mathematics and physics |
Number of attempts | No limit |
UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026
Union Public Service Commission combined multiple components together to determine the eligibility criteria of the NDA exam. The components of the NDA exam eligibility criteria are mentioned below.
Nationality
NDA exam age limit
Educational Qualification
Marital Status
Physical Standard
Check Here For A List of Other Government Exams
NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Nationality
As per the UPSC NDA notification 2026, an applicant who is an Indian citizen can apply for the NDA exam 2026. They should fulfil any of the NDA eligibility criteria as prescribed by the Commission below.
Candidates of Indian Origin or
A subject of Nepal or
A subject of Bhutan or
People of Indian origin migrated from Zaire, Ethiopia, East African Countries of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Burma, Pakistan, Zambia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam to settle in India or
Tibetan refugees came to India, to settle in India before January 1, 1962.
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit
The Union Public Service Commission mentions the age limit in the official NDA notification 2026. As per the UPSC NDA 2026 eligibility criteria, applicants between July 2, 2006, to July 1, 2009, can apply online for the National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) exam. Those belonging to the reserved category are eligible for NDA age relaxation as per the rules set by the UPSC. For more details on NDA age limit and age relaxation, check the tables below:
UPSC NDA age limit 2026
Exam | Date of Birth Criteria | Maximum age for NDA |
NDA (1) 2026 | July 2, 2006, to July 1, 2009 | 19.5 |
NDA (2) 2026 | July 2, 2006, to July 1, 2009 | 19.5 |
Note: There is no age relaxation provided to reserved category applicants for the NDA & NA examinations as per the rules set by the Union Public Service Commission. Also, the NDA age limit for girls and for boys are the same.
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Academic Qualification
UPSC Board also mentions the educational qualifications which are needed to apply for the UPSC NDA 2026 exam. To be eligible to appear in the NDA 2026 exam, candidates should have passed the 12th class from a recognized board.
NDA Education Qualification 2026
NDA Wings | NDA exam qualification |
Indian Army | Passed 12th standard from State Education Board or a University |
Indian Air Force and Naval | Passed 12th standard with Physics and Mathematics from State Education Board or a University |
NDA Eligibility Criteria - Marital Status
Candidates who want to appear for the UPSC NDA 1 and NDA 2 2026 exam must be unmarried and must remain unmarried until the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy training is completed. If the candidate marries in between the UPSC NDA training he will be removed from the Academy.
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Physical Standard
Those clearing the NDA & NA 2026 SSB interview round will be called for the NDA physical fitness or medical test round. In this stage, the physical and mental state of the candidate will be tested by the authorities. If they fail to meet the prescribed medical standards, they will be disqualified. Check some of the NDA 2026 physical standards in the tables below.
NDA Height & Weight for Army and Air Force
The National Defence Academy prescribed the height & weight for Army and Air Force in the official notification. UPSC NDA height and weight for Army and Air Force differ for Men and Women. Candidates can check the details of NDA height & weight for Army and Air Force from the tables below.
Indian Army Height and Weight Requirement (Male)
Age (yrs) | Minimum weight for all ages | Age: 17 to 20 yrs | Age: 20+01 day - 30 yrs | Age: 30 + 01 day - 40 yrs | Age: Above 40 yrs |
Height (cm) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (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 | 51.8 |
145 | 37.8 | 46.3 | 48.4 | 50.5 | 52.6 |
146 | 38.4 | 46.9 | 49.0 | 51.2 | 53.3 |
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 |
Indian Army Height and Weight Requirement (Female)
Age (yrs) | Minimum weight for all ages | Age: 17 to 20 yrs | Age: 20 +01 day-30 yrs | Age: 30 + 01 Day- 40 yrs | Age: Above 40 yrs |
Height (cm) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (Kg) | Weight (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 | 51.8 |
145 | 37.8 | 46.3 | 48.4 | 50.5 | 52.6 |
146 | 38.4 | 46.9 | 49.0 | 51.2 | 53.3 |
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 |
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Indian Navy Height and Weight Requirements
Heigh t in Mtrs | Up to 17 yrs | 17 yrs + 1 day to 18 yrs | 18 yrs + 1 day to 20 yrs | 20 yrs + 1 day to 30 yrs | Above 30 yrs | |||||
Minim um Weight in Kg | Maximu m Weight in Kg | Minim um Weight in Kg | Maximu m Weight in Kg | Minim um Weight in Kg | Maxim um Weight in Kg | Minimu m Weight in Kg | Maximu m Weight in Kg | Minimu m Weight in Kg | Maximum Weight in Kg | |
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 | 50 | 44 | 50 | 44 | 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 | 59 |
1.58 | 42 | 52 | 46 | 52 | 46 | 55 | 46 | 57 | 46 | 60 |
1.59 | 43 | 53 | 47 | 53 | 47 | 56 | 47 | 58 | 47 | 61 |
1.6 | 44 | 54 | 47 | 54 | 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 |
NDA Medical Requirements for Visual Standards
NDA has prescribed the medical requirements to test the visual standards of the candidates. As per the details mentioned in the official brochure, The distance vision (corrected) of candidates must be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye. To know more about the NDA medical requirements for visual standards, go through the table below.
Indian Navy Vision requirement
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 |
Indian Air Force Height, Sitting Height, Leg Length and Thigh Length (Male)
Parameters | Minimum | Maximum |
Height | 162.5 | - |
Sitting height | 81.5 cm | 96.0 cm |
Leg Length | 99.0 cm | 120.0 cm |
Thigh Length | - | 64.0 cm |
Indian Air Force Height, Sitting Height, Leg Length and Thigh Length (Female)
Parameters | Minimum | Maximum |
Height | 162.5 | - |
Sitting height | 81.5 cm | 96.0 cm |
Leg Length | 99.0 cm | 120.0 cm |
Thigh Length | - | 64.0 cm |
Indian Air Force Weights (Male)
Height (in cm) | Age Range (in Years) / Weight (in Kgs) | |||
15-16 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 18-19 | |
152 | 41 | 42.5 | 44 | 45 |
155 | 42 | 43.5 | 45.3 | 47 |
157 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 48 |
160 | 45 | 46.5 | 48 | 49 |
162 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 51 |
165 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 53 |
167 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 54 |
170 | 51 | 52.5 | 55 | 56 |
173 | 52.5 | 54.5 | 57 | 58 |
175 | 54.5 | 56 | 59 | 60 |
178 | 56 | 58 | 61 | 62 |
180 | 58.5 | 60 | 63 | 64.5 |
183 | 61 | 62.5 | 65 | 66.5 |
Indian Air Force Weights (Female)
Height (in cm) | Age Range (in Years) / Weight (in Kgs) | |||
15-16 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 18-19 | |
147 | 38 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
148 | 39 | 40 | 42 | 43 |
149 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 43 |
150 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 44 |
152 | 41 | 42.5 | 44 | 45 |
155 | 42 | 43.5 | 45.3 | 47 |
157 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 48 |
160 | 45 | 46.5 | 48 | 49 |
162 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 51 |
165 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 53 |
167 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 54 |
170 | 51 | 52.5 | 55 | 56 |
173 | 52.5 | 54.5 | 57 | 58 |
175 | 54.5 | 56 | 59 | 60 |
178 | 56 | 58 | 61 | 62 |
180 | 58.5 | 60 | 63 | 64.5 |
183 | 61 | 62.5 | 65 | 66.5 |
Indian Air Force Vision requirement
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 |
Know about eligibility criteria for other government examinations
NDA Application Form 2026
The conducting authority releases the NDA 1 application form 2026 in online mode on December 10, 2025. The NDA form 2026 is released on the official website - upsc.gov.in/upsconline.nic.in. Candidates who meet the UPSC NDA 2026 eligibility criteria are eligible to apply online by December 30, 2025. The correction in the application form can be allowed for a certain time period. The NDA 2026 application form fee is Rs 100 for General and OBC category candidates and Nil for others.
The NDA exam form 2026 has two parts and should be filled out carefully. No option to edit the NDA application form 2026 will be provided after its submission. Upon successful completion of the NDA registration 2026, candidates would receive a confirmation regarding the same.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When is the NDA 1 application form 2026 going to be released?
A:
UPSC NDA 1 2026 application form can be accessed from December 10, 2025 to December 30, 2025.
Q: How many stages are there in the UPSC NDA selection process 2026?
A:
UPSC NDA 2026 selection process has three stages. They are Written exam, SSB interview and physical standards or medical test.
Q: Can 12th standard pass candidates apply for the NDA exam 2026?
A:
Yes, class 12th pass candidates are eligible to appear for the NDA exam, if they meet the other UPSC NDA eligibility criteria 2026.
Q: What is the age limit to apply for the NDA 2026 exam?
A:
The age limit to apply for the NDA exam 2026 is 16.5 to 19.5 years.
Q: Are females eligible to apply for NDA 2026 exam?
A:
Yes, females are also eligible to apply for the NDA 2026 exam.
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Questions related to NDA
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to NDA ?
Hii,
No, you will not be eligible for the NDA 1 2026 exam because, as you have stated that your date of birth is 19 July 2007, and you do not fit in this range. Being between the range of 16.5 to 19.5 years is not enough. Your date of birth does not come under the mandated date range.
Hope it helps!!!
Hello,
If your date of birth is 01/01/2008 , you are not eligible for NDA 2, 2026 .
For
NDA 2, 2026
, candidates must be born
between 2 January 2007 and 1 January 2010
.
Since your date of birth is
1 January 2008
, you fall
inside this range
, so you are actually
eligible.
Hope it helps !
Hello,
Yes, you are eligible for the NDA1 2026 exam, as your date of birth, 09/06/2007, falls under the eligible range for the NDA1 2026 exam, which is between July 2, 2007, and July 1, 2010. Also, remember to meet the other criteria for the exam, such as educational qualification and age criteria.
I hope it will clear your query!!
The notification dates for both the NDA and IMU CET exams are released by their respective authorities, generally following a consistent annual schedule.
The UPSC releases the NDA notification twice a year:
-
NDA I: Notification usually releases in December/January (for the exam held in April).
-
NDA II: Notification usually releases in May (for the exam held in September).
The IMU CET (Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test) is typically held once a year for the July batch.
-
Notification/Application: Releases around March/April.
-
Exam Date: The exam is usually conducted in June.
Keep monitoring the official UPSC and IMU websites for exact dates, or check this page for updates: https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/imu-cet-exam-dates
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