NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality, Attempt Limit

NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality, Attempt Limit

Vishnukumar VUpdated on 11 Sep 2025, 06:10 PM IST

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.

LiveNDA 2 Result 2025 LIVE: UPSC NDA scorecard at upsc.gov.in soon; merit list, direct link, updatesOct 1, 2025 | 9:44 AM IST

Candidates must receive at least 25% in each subject to pass the NDA exam in 2025. Candidates must receive at least 150 of the 600 possible points on the NDA GAT exam to be eligible. They must receive 75 of the 300 possible points on the NDA Mathematics exam to be eligible. They are not, however, shortlisted in the final NDA merit list 2025 if they just receive the qualifying marks. In order to be admitted, candidates must also meet the minimum NDA 2025 cut-off.

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This Story also Contains

  1. NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Overview
  2. UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026
  3. NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Nationality
  4. NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit
  5. NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Academic Qualification
  6. NDA Eligibility Criteria - Marital Status
  7. NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Physical Standard
  8. NDA Height & Weight for Army and Air Force
  9. NDA Medical Requirements for Visual Standards
  10. NDA Application Form 2026
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality, Attempt Limit
UPSC NDA eligibility criteria

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

Free download: Basic information about category-wise top career exams

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 ?

If your birthday is on 3rd April 2007, you are eligible to apply for the NDA 1 exam in 2026, but you are not eligible for NDA 2, 2026.

Current age limit is Minimum-16.5 years, Maximum-19.5 years.

cgeck here NDA ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Hope it helps..

Hello,

Yes, you will be eligible.

For NDA 1 2026, candidates must be between 16.5 years and 19.5 years on the cut-off dates given in the notification. Since you will be 19 years 4 months at the time of exam, you will still be under 19.5 years. So you can apply.

You will only become ineligible after you cross 19.5 years.

Hope it helps !

Yes, you are eligible for the NDA exam in April 2025 based on your age. You were born on 10th September 2006, so on 1st January 2025 you will be around 18 years and 3 months old, which is within the NDA age limit of 16.5 to 19 years. Make sure you also meet the educational and other eligibility criteria before applying.

Hello dear candidate,

YES, you are eligible for both NDA 1 and NDA 2 in 2025 with date of birth 13 April 2007.

I hope you find this helpful. Thank you.

Yes, you are eligible to apply for NDA examination as the age limit for NDA exam is 16.5 - 19.5 .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Thank you.