NDA Eligibility
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released NDA 1 2024 eligibility criteria. According to NDA eligibility criteria, female and male candidates who have completed their Class 12 or equivalent can apply for the exam. Unmarried male and female candidates are eligible to apply for NDA 1 2024 exam. Candidates must have been born not earlier than July 2, 2005, and not later than July 1, 2008.
The eligibility highlights certain parameters in terms of NDA age limit, educational qualification, and physical and medical standards. Candidates applying for the exam must read NDA eligibility to ascertain whether they are eligible for the exam or not. The candidature of candidates might get canceled at any stage of the recruitment process if they do not fulfill NDA exam eligibility. Before applying, eligible male and female candidates must go through the NDA requirementsvided on this page.
The National Defence Academy exam or NDA exam is conducted to select eligible candidates for the Indian Armed Forces, where selected candidates of all three services, Army, Navy, and Air Force undergo training before pre-commissioning training in the respective academies. Union Public Service Commission conducts NDA twice a year-April and September to select male and female candidates for various defense services. Candidates qualifying for the written exam are called for SSB Interview.
NDA eligibility is one of the main factors to go through before applying for the NDA exam. To remain in the recruitment process, candidates must fit into all the NDA requirements. Candidates need to follow all the specified NDA eligibility to be able to proceed further with the selection process. Candidates should note that the Army might have different NDA exam eligibility requirements than those for the Navy and Air Force.
What is Eligibility for NDA Exam 2024
National Defence Academy eligibility is specified by UPSC in the official notification. The male and female eligibility criteria include factors such as nationality, NDA age limit, NDA qualification, NDA physical test, and medical standards. The age criteria for the NDA exam is between 16.5 and 19.5 years. Candidates who have passed and are appearing in Class 12 can apply for the NDA exam. NDA requirements for eligibility are certain factors that candidates need to fulfill to be eligible for the exam. To ensure final selection to the NDA, candidates need to meet the following NDA eligibility:
1. NDA Age Limit, Marital Status & Gender
2. Citizenship/Nationality
3. NDA Qualification
4. NDA Physical Test/ Medical Qualification
Candidates must ensure that they fulfill the NDA eligibility before applying for the exam. Candidates failing to fulfill the NDA eligibility will not be allowed to participate in the recruitment process.
NDA Eligibility 2024 Highlights
Candidates can check below a few important highlights related to NDA exam eligibility.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the Exam | NDA |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| Post | Lieutenant |
| Gender & Marital Status | Unmarried: Female and Male |
| NDA Age Limit | 16.5 to 19.5 years |
| NDA Qualification | Army Wing: Passed or appeared in Class 12 For Air Force and Naval Wings: Passed or appearing in Class 12. Candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class 12 |
| NDA Physical Test | In the NDA physical test, the eligibility of candidates is measured as per height, weight and medical standards |
| Selection Process | Written exam SSB Interview |
According to NDA eligibility criteria, only unmarried male and female aspirants aged between 16.5 and 19.5 are eligible to apply for NDA. Those who are interested in applying for the NDA exam must fall in the mentioned age group. Candidates whose NDA age limit exceeds will not be considered for NDA. Given below is the NDA age limit for all candidates who wish to appear for the NDA exam:
NDA 1 age limit is that candidates should be born not earlier than July 2, 2005, and not later than July 1, 2008
NDA 2 age limit, candidates must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2004, and not later than January 1, 2007
NDA 2 age limit, candidates must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2004, and not later than January 1, 2007
NDA Age Limit For Girls
The NDA age limit for girls is the same as the male candidates. The NDA age limit for girls is 16.5 to 19.5 years. Female candidates falling under the age range can apply for the NDA exam.
NDA Eligibility for Female
In 2021, the Supreme Court has allowed NDA for girls. Earlier, only unmarried male candidates were allowed to appear for the exam. The decision was taken by the Supreme Court after a writ petition was filed by Kush Kalra in the Supreme Court to allow women to appear for NDA. The petition also raised objections against the issue of violation of Articles 14, 15, 16, and 19 of the Constitution of India by not allowing the desired female candidates to participate in the NDA Exam.
In response to the same, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy passed the interim order allowing female candidates to be a part of the NDA 2 exam in 2021. The decisions regarding the nature of training, intake strength, training standards, and medical and NDA physical standards for girls rested upon the Ministry of Defence. NDA female eligibility, age limit, educational qualification, and marital status parameters are the same as male candidates.
NDA eligibility for female candidates is the same as their male counterparts. The height, weight, and vision NDA requirements for female candidates are the same. NDA qualification as well as the physical standard required for female and male candidates are the same.
NDA Qualification
NDA eligibility as per the educational qualification prescribed for admission to the different academies is given below
NDA Qualification for Army wing
NDA Qualification for Army wing
NDA Qualification for Air Force and Naval wings of NDA and 10 2 Cadet entry scheme at INA
Passed Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
- • Candidates who are appearing in Class 12 or equivalent examination can apply as per NDA exam eligibility.
- • Candidates who are appearing in Class 12 or equivalent examination can apply as per NDA exam eligibility.
- • There is no NDA eligibility based on class 12th percentage. Candidates who have passed the Class 12 or equivalent exam can apply for the exam
NDA Nationality
To apply for NDA, candidates must be:Provided that a candidate belonging to categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 must be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Indian government. A certificate of eligibility is not required for Gorkha candidates from Nepal
NDA Eligibility 2024 Marital Status
Only unmarried male and female candidates can apply for the exam as per NDA eligibility. Candidates should not marry until they complete their training. Candidates who marry during the training will be discharged and have to refund all expenditures spent on them by the government.
NDA Physical Test
Candidates must be physically fit according to the physical and medical standards of NDA eligibility. NDA physical eligibility is given in the table below for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. NDA requirements are NDA height, weight, and chest.
NDA Height & Weight for Army and Air Force
NDA height prescribed is 157 cm (For the Air Force it is 162.5 cm). Certain exceptions are applicable for candidates based on the region from where they belong. NDA height for girls is 157 cm
For Gorkhas and candidates belonging to hills of North-Eastern areas of India, Garhwal, and Kumaon, the minimum height will be 5 cm less than the figure mentioned above. For candidates belonging to Lakshadweep, the minimum height standard is reduced by 2 cm.
Candidates who wish to be pilots need to fulfill the following NDA requirements
NDA Medical Requirements for Visual Standards
Candidates can check below the NDA requirements for visual standards for the Navy and Air Force.
Candidates must not suffer from any of the following minor conditions:
- • Wax (Ears)
- • Deviated Nasal Septum
- • Hydrocele / Phimosis
- • Condition of Overweight / Underweight
- • Under Sized Chest
- • Piles
- • Tonsillitis
- • Gynaecomastia
- • Varicocele
NDA Requirements for Guidelines Regarding Tattoos
- • Candidates must ensure that any permanent body tattoos are present only on the inner side of the forearm
- • Under no circumstances, does UPSC accept tattoos on the inside of the elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of the palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand
- • Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are also not acceptable
- • In case a candidate belongs to a tribe where it is customary to have a tattoo, acceptance will be granted considering the traditions involved
NDA Requirements for Spinal Conditions
Candidates must not have the following diseases:
- • Granulomatous disease of the spine
- • Arthritis/spondylosis (Rheumatoid arthritis and allied disorders / Ankylosing spondylitis/ Osteoarthrosis, spondylosis and degenerative joint disease / Non-articular rheumatism (e.g. lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago etc.) & Miscellaneous disorders including SLE, polymyositis, vasculitis
- • Spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis
- • Compression fracture of vertebrae
- • SC Heuer man's disease (Adolescent kyphosis)
- • Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of the cervical spine
- • Unilateral / Bilateral cervical ribs with demon stable neurological or circulatory deficit
- • Scoliosis more than 15 degrees as measured by Cobb’s method
- • Degenerative Disc. disease
- • The presence of Schmorl’s nodes at more than one level
- • Atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial anomalies
- • Hemi vertebrae and/or incomplete block (fused) vertebrae at any level in the cervical, dorsal, or lumbar spine and complete block (fused) vertebrae at more than one level in the cervical or dorsal spine
- • Unilateral Sacralisation or lubrication (Complete or incomplete) at all levels and bilateral incomplete sacralization or lubrication
- • Any other abnormality if so considered by the specialist
NDA Requirements for X-Ray Exam
Any of the following conditions will disqualify the candidature of candidates:
- • Granulomatous disease of the spine
- • Arthritis/spondylosis
- • Scoliosis more than 15 degrees as measured by Cobb’s Method (10 degrees for Army and Navy)
- • More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis
- • Spondylolisthesis / Spondylosis / Spondylolysis
- • Herniated nucleus purposes
- • Compression fracture of Vertebra
- • Sacralisation Disease
- • Cervical ribs with demonstrable neurological or Circulatory deficit
- • The presence of Schmorl’s node at more than one level
- • Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies
- • Incomplete Sacralisation Unilateral or Bilateral
- • Spina Bifida other than SV 1 and LV 5 if completely Sacralised
- • Any other abnormality, if so considered by a specialist
NDA Requirements for Other Medical Conditions
- • There should not be any symptoms of a weak constitution or bodily defects
- • Candidates must have a well-developed chest
- • The function of the bones or joints should be good
- • No history of medical breakdown or fits
- • Candidates must have normal hearing capabilities
- • No impediment to speech
- • Normal blood pressure with no signs of heart disease or blood vessel disease
- • No liver or spleen enlargement
- • No abnormalities in urine
- • No skin diseases
- • No abnormalities in the USG abdomen examination
- • A sufficient number of natural and sound teeth
- • Routine ECG for Air Force candidates must fall within normal limits
NDA Eligibility 2024 for Women Candidates: Know Medical Standards The general methods and principles of medical examination of female candidates are the same as for male candidates. However, there are some specified medical standards for female candidates which are listed below:
- • A detailed menstrual, gynecological, and obstetric history in the form of a questionnaire is to be obtained from the candidate
- • A detailed physical and systemic examination will be carried out for the candidates and they will be examined by a Lady Medical Officer or a Lady Gynecologist only
- • The examination includes the following inspections:
- (a) External genitalia
- (b) Hernial orifices and the perineum
- (c) Any evidence of stress urinary incontinence or genital prolapsed outside introitus
- (d) Evidence of lump breast and galactorrhoea
- • In all unmarried female candidates, speculum or per vaginal examination will not be carried out
- • Ultrasound scan of the abdomen and pelvis is mandatory in all female candidates during the initial Medical Examination
- • Any abnormality of external genitalia will be considered on the merits of each case. Significant hirsutism especially with male pattern of hair growth along with radiological evidence of PCOS, will be a cause for rejection
- • The following conditions will entail female candidates being declared unfit:
- (a) Primary or secondary amenorrhoea
- (b) Severe Menorrhagia or/ and severe dysmenorrhea.
- (c) Stress urinary incontinence
- (d) Congenital elongation of cervix or prolapsed which comes outside the introitus even after corrective surgery.
- (e) Pregnancy will be a cause of rejection for NDA entry
- (f) Complex ovarian cyst of any size
- (g) Simple ovarian cyst of more than six cm
- (h) Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
- (i) Submucous fibroid of any size
- (j) Broad ligament or cervical fibroid of any size causing pressure over the ureter
- • Single fibroid uterus more than three cm in diameter fibroids more than two in number (each fibroid not more than fifteen mm in diameter) or fibroids distorting endometrial cavity.
- • Congenital uterine anomalies except for arcuate uterus
- • Acute or chronic pelvic infection
- • Disorders of sexual differentiation
- • Any other condition will be considered on the merits of each case by the Gynaecologist
- • The following conditions will be declared as FIT:
- (a) Unilocular clear ovarian cyst up to six cm
- (b) Minimal fluid in the pouch of Douglas
Ineligibility for UPSC NDA 2024 Exam
Candidates will be rejected from appearing in the UPSC NDA exam if they do not fulfill NDA eligibility due to the following reasons:
- • If aspirants are married then they will not be allowed to appear for the exam
- • If candidates have resigned on disciplinary grounds during training then they are not eligible
- • Candidates who did not clear the PABT/CPSS exam are not eligible
- • If aspirants are debarred by the Defence Ministry
- • Candidates studying in Class 11 are not eligible
- • Candidates who have failed INSB/PABT earlier will not be considered eligible