NDA Eligibility 2026: Age Limit, Qualification, Physical

Before you prepare for NDA, make sure you meet every eligibility condition. UPSC checks eligibility at every stage, and verification with original documents happens only after the SSB interview. A candidate found ineligible at that point loses the seat even after clearing the written exam and SSB.

This guide explains the NDA eligibility criteria 2026–27 in detail: nationality, age limit, marital status, educational qualification for each wing, physical and medical standards, and who cannot apply. All conditions are taken from the official UPSC notification for NDA II 2026. The notification for NDA I 2027 is due on 2 December 2026, and any changes will appear there.

Table of Contents

NDA Eligibility Criteria at a Glance

NDA Nationality Requirement

A candidate must be one of the following:

• A citizen of India

• A subject of Nepal

• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire or Ethiopia, or from Vietnam, with the intention of settling permanently in India

Candidates in the second and third groups need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India. Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need this certificate.

NDA Age Limit

For NDA II 2026, only candidates born not earlier than 1 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011 were eligible. In simple terms, candidates were roughly 16.5 to 19.5 years old at the time of the course, which begins on 1 July 2027.

The age window usually moves forward by six months with each exam. There is no age relaxation for any category, including SC, ST, OBC or EWS candidates.

Date of Birth Rules

• UPSC accepts only the date of birth recorded in the Class 10 (Matriculation or Secondary School) certificate or an equivalent certificate.

• Horoscopes, affidavits, municipal birth extracts and service records are not accepted.

• Once entered in the UPSC application, the date of birth cannot be changed later for any reason.

NDA Marital Status

Only unmarried men and women can apply. Candidates must not marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries after applying will not be selected for training, even if successful in the exam. A cadet who marries during training is discharged and must repay the money spent by the government on training.

NDA Educational Qualification

This means students from arts or commerce streams can apply only for the Army wing. Students with PCM can choose any wing.

Can Class 12 Students Apply for NDA?

Yes. Students appearing in the Class 12 exam can apply. However:

• They must submit proof of passing Class 12 by the date set in the notification. For NDA II 2026, this date is 10 June 2027.

• No extension is given for late board exams or delayed results.

• Candidates who clear SSB but cannot show original certificates at the SSB must send self-attested copies to Army HQ (or Naval HQ for Naval Academy candidates) by the same date.

Candidates in Class 11 are not eligible.

Wing-wise NDA Eligibility Summary

Service Preferences and Eligibility

In the application, candidates list the services they want in order of preference (Army, Navy, Air Force, Naval Academy). They are considered only for the services they choose, and preferences cannot be changed after submission.

• Air Force candidates must also clear the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) at the SSB.

• Candidates who failed the CPSS or Pilot Aptitude Battery Test earlier can still opt for Air Force Ground Duty branches.

NDA Physical Standards

Physical and medical fitness is checked by a Board of Service Medical Officers after the SSB. The latest NDA notification says these standards are governed by the Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces, which is available on joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Height Standards (as per the NDA medical guidelines)

• Candidates from Gorkha, north-eastern and hilly regions get a relaxation of up to 5 cm; candidates from Lakshadweep get 2 cm.

• A growth allowance of 2 cm is given to candidates below 18 years of age.

• Weight must be in proportion to height and age, as per the medical charts.

Other Medical Standards

• Eyesight: Standards differ by service. The Navy and Air Force (Flying) have stricter vision rules than the Army.

• Hearing: Candidates should hear a forced whisper at 610 cm with each ear.

• Dental: At least 14 dental points are required.

• Tattoos: Permanent tattoos are allowed only on the inner forearm (from the elbow to the wrist) and on the back of the hand. Tattoos elsewhere lead to rejection, except for tribal communities where tattoos are a custom, decided case by case.

UPSC advises candidates to get a medical check-up before applying and to treat minor problems early. Common reasons for rejection include ear wax, a deviated nasal septum, being overweight or underweight, piles, tonsillitis and varicocele.

Who Is Not Eligible for NDA?

• Married candidates, or those who marry before training ends

• Candidates in Class 11

• Candidates outside the notified age window

• Candidates who resigned or withdrew on disciplinary grounds from any armed forces training academy

• Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding a commission

NDA Eligibility for Women

Women have been eligible for NDA since the NDA II 2021 exam. The eligibility rules for age, education and marital status are the same for women and men. For NDA II 2026, UPSC notified 24 vacancies for women: 10 in the Army, 5 in the Navy, 6 in the Air Force and 3 in the Naval Academy. Women also do not pay the application fee. Merit lists for men and women are prepared separately.

NDA Application Fee

OBC and EWS candidates must pay the full fee. The fee is paid online and is not refundable.

How UPSC Verifies NDA Eligibility

Admission to every stage of the NDA exam is provisional. Getting an e-admit card does not mean UPSC has confirmed that you are eligible. Original documents are checked only after a candidate qualifies for the SSB interview. If any detail in the application, such as the date of birth or educational qualification, does not match the original documents, the candidature is cancelled, even at the final stage. The application form also cannot be corrected after it is submitted, so check every detail carefully before you submit.

NDA Eligibility Checklist Before You Apply

• Your date of birth falls within the notified age window

• You are unmarried and willing to stay unmarried until training ends

• You have passed or are appearing in Class 12 (not Class 11)

• You have Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12 if you want the Air Force, Navy or Naval Academy

• Your name and date of birth match your Class 10 certificate

• You have a valid photo ID, preferably Aadhaar, for your UPSC registration

• You meet the height and medical standards, or have treated minor medical issues

• You have no tattoos outside the permitted areas

Documents Needed to Prove Eligibility

• Class 10 certificate (for date of birth)

• Class 12 certificate or mark sheet (or proof of passing by the notified date)

• A valid photo ID, preferably Aadhaar, used in the UPSC registration

• Certificate of eligibility (for nationality categories that need it)

• Category certificate for fee exemption, where applicable

The NDA eligibility criteria are strict but simple. You must be an unmarried Indian citizen (or a listed equivalent), fall within the notified age window, have or be appearing in Class 12 (with PCM for the Air Force and Navy), and meet the armed forces' medical standards. Check the exact age window in the NDA I 2027 notification on 2 December 2026, and apply on upsconline.nic.in by 22 December 2026.