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

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

    Vishnukumar VUpdated on 11 Dec 2025, 09:52 AM IST

    NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Union Public Service Commission released 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 are determined on the basis of different factors like age, nationality, academic qualification, and physical standards.

    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.

    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 1, 2007, to July 1, 2010 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.

    Also check:

    NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit

    The Union Public Service Commission mentioned the age limit in the official NDA notification 2026. As per the UPSC NDA 2026 eligibility criteria, applicants between July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2010, 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 1, 2001, to July 1, 2010

    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 mentioned 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 released 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 ?

    Hi,

    Nahi, aap NDA exam ke liye eligible nahi hain. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) ke NDA ke liye age limit 16.5 se 19.5 years hoti hai.

    Aapka DOB 22 Jan 2006 ke hisaab se 2026 tak aap age limit cross kar chuki hain, isliye NDA ke liye apply nahi

    HI Student

    If you are a candidates with the birth date December 13, 2007, you are generally eligible for NDA 1. You are likely not eligible for NDA 2 exam 2026 . To learn more about the eligibility criteria, click on the link below.

    Hi !

    You must be between the 16. 5 years and 19. 5 years when you apply for those exams. So, you are eligble to apply NDA 1 exam in 2027 and TES. You can check the NDA eligibility criteria in the link below.

    NDA eligibility criteria

    There are also

    Yes, you can join the army without NDA and without NCC. You can join through the CDS Exam, SSC Tech entry, ACFAT, Agniveer Entry, and others with the necessary qualifications.