NDA Eligibility 2026 – Age Limit, Qualification & Height for Boys and Girls

Quick Eligibility Checklist

1. Nationality

To apply for NDA, you must fall into one of these categories:

• Indian citizen — no certificate needed, directly eligible
• Subject of Nepal — a Nepali national (someone who holds Nepali citizenship, not Indian). Eligible for NDA but needs a Government of India eligibility certificate. Exception: Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need this certificate
• A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) needs a Government of India eligibility certificate

Important on the PIO category: The notification does not specify a cut-off migration date, but the intent matters. The person must have migrated with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Someone who recently arrived and has not established permanent residency in India would not qualify under this category. This is verified by the Government of India when issuing the eligibility certificate.

2. NDA Age Limit — The Most Important Criteria

This is where most candidates get confused. The NDA exam age limit is calculated based on the course commencement date, not the written exam date. Even being one day outside the window makes you ineligible — there are no exceptions.

NDA Age for NDA-II 2026

As per the official UPSC notification, only candidates born on or after 1st January 2008 and before 1st January 2011 are eligible for NDA-II 2026.

This means you need to be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old when the course begins on 1st July 2027.

No Age Relaxation — For Anyone

This is one thing that confuses many candidates. There is zero age relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, or EWS candidates. The age criteria for NDA are the same for everyone.

What Document Counts for Age Proof?

UPSC accepts only your Class 10 (Matriculation) certificate as proof of date of birth for the NDA exam. No other document works — not your Aadhaar card, not a birth certificate, not a hospital record, not an affidavit. Whatever date is on your Class 10 marksheet or certificate — that is your official date of birth for NDA.

Not sure how many NDA attempts you have left based on your date of birth? Use our NDA Attempt Calculator to find out in seconds.

3. NDA Qualification — Educational Eligibility

NDA Eligibility for Army Wing

For the Army wing, the NDA qualification is simple — you need to have passed Class 12 (10+2 pattern) from a recognised State Education Board or University. Any stream works — Science, Commerce, or Arts.

NDA Eligibility for Navy and Air Force Wings

For the Navy, Air Force Flying, Air Force Ground Duty, and the Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme), you must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as subjects.

NDA Eligibility 12th Percentage — Is There a Minimum?

This is one of the most searched questions. The answer is clear — there is no minimum percentage required. You just need to have passed. Whether you scored 55% or 85% does not matter for NDA eligibility. UPSC does not ask for marks, only a pass certificate.

Can Class 12 Appearing Students Apply?

Yes. Students who are still appearing in Class 12 can apply for NDA. However, if you clear the SSB interview, you must submit your Class 12 pass certificate by 10th June 2027. If you cannot produce it by that date, your candidature will be cancelled.

Important: Class 11 students are not eligible. You must be in Class 12 or have already passed it.

4. Marital Status

Both male and female candidates must be unmarried at the time of applying. This condition continues through training. The notification is very clear on this:

• If you marry after submitting your application but before joining, you will not be selected.
• If you marry during training, you will be discharged and will have to repay all expenses incurred by the Government on your training.

5. NDA for Girls — Everything You Need to Know

Can Girls Apply for NDA?

Yes, absolutely. Girls can apply for NDA and have been eligible since 2021, following a Supreme Court ruling. Today, NDA conducts separate selection for male and female candidates, with separate merit lists and separate vacancies.

Is NDA for Girls — Same Rules?

The NDA eligibility criteria for female candidates are the same as for male candidates in terms of:

• Age limit
• Educational qualification
• Nationality
• Marital status

For NDA-II 2026, there are 24 vacancies for female candidates across all wings:

NDA Eligibility for Female Height

The height required for NDA is where there is a slight difference between wings. The minimum height for NDA for female candidates is:

Note: Candidates from Gorkha communities and hilly areas of North-Eastern India, Garhwal, and Kumaon get a relaxation of 5 cm in height requirements.

So, can girls give the NDA exam? Yes — and they compete on the same written exam as male candidates.

6. Height Required for NDA — Male Candidates

The NDA height requirement for male candidates differs by wing:

Male candidates from Gorkha communities and hilly areas of North-Eastern India, Garhwal, and Kumaon get a 5 cm relaxation.

If you are a male candidate and your height is between 157 cm and 162 cm, skip Air Force, apply for the Army or the Navy. Air Force needs 162.5 cm minimum, no exceptions.

7. Physical Standards — What You Should Know

The NDA eligibility is not just about age and qualifications — your physical fitness matters too. While the detailed height-weight charts are available in the Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in under Policies → Officer Selection, here are the key things to keep in mind:

• Weight is not a fixed number — it is checked against your height and age using an official chart during the medical examination.
• Chest measurement for male candidates (Army): minimum 77 cm with at least 5 cm expansion
• Common issues that cause rejection: being overweight or underweight, flat foot, knock knees, poor eyesight, colour blindness
• Tattoos: Permanent tattoos are only allowed on the inner face of the forearm (inside of elbow to wrist) and the back of the hand. Tattoos anywhere else on the body will get you disqualified. Tribal tattoos on the face or body may be permitted on a case-by-case basis.
• Candidates are strongly advised to get a medical check-up done before applying to catch and fix minor issues early

8. Who is NOT Eligible

Be clear on these disqualifying conditions:

• Currently in Class 11 — you cannot apply
• Already married — not eligible
• Previously removed from NDA or the Naval Academy on disciplinary grounds or for lack of officer-like qualities
• Debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of Commission
• Born outside the DOB window (before 1 Jan 2008 or after 1 Jan 2011 for NDA-II 2026)
• Resigned or withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from any Armed Forces training academy

Stream-Wise Eligibility Summary

If you are from Commerce or Arts, you can still join NDA, but only through the Army wing.

Check Your Remaining Attempts

Your NDA eligibility depends heavily on your date of birth and how many exam cycles fall within your age window. Most candidates get between 4 and 6 attempts — but it varies.

Use our NDA Attempt Calculator — enter your date of birth, and it will show exactly which exam cycles you are eligible for and how many attempts you have left.

Quick Summary

All eligibility conditions in this article are verified against the official UPSC NDA & NA Examination-II, 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II) dated 20 May 2026. For detailed height-weight charts and medical standards, visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in under Policies → Officer Selection.