NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age, Qualification, Physical & Medical Standards

The National Defence Academy (NDA) serves as the joint services academy for the Indian Armed Forces. Upon selection, candidates from the Army, Navy, and Air Force undergo joint basic training at NDA before proceeding to their respective pre-commissioning training academies. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the NDA examination twice annually, typically in April and September. Historically, the NDA exam was for male candidates. However, as of 2021, UPSC has opened the NDA examination to female candidates. Those who qualify in the written test will be invited for the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the eligibility criteria for the NDA examination.

NDA Eligibility 2026

The NDA 2 2026 eligibility criteria are based on four primary aspects. To ensure successful final selection, candidates must meticulously meet all the following eligibility requirements:

1. NDA Age Limit, Marital Status & Gender
2. NDA Citizenship/Nationality
3. NDA Educational Qualification
4. NDA Physical/ Medical Qualification

NDA Age Limit 2026

Only unmarried male and female candidates whose age falls between 16.5 and 19.5 years are eligible to apply online for the NDA 2 Exam 2026. The detailed NDA age limit criteria, as prescribed by UPSC, are outlined below. Please review the key points and the accompanying table carefully.

1. The date of birth mentioned during the application form filling must be the same as the date of birth given in the matriculation or secondary school leaving certificate.
2. Only unmarried candidates can apply for the NDA examination.
3. The candidates born not earlier than 02nd July 2006 and not later than 1st July 2009 are eligible.

UPSC NDA 2 Notification 2026 Released: 394 Vacancies Available - Click Here for Details

NDA Educational Qualification 2026

Interested candidates must satisfy the educational qualifications set by UPSC to be considered eligible for the NDA. Kindly review the educational criteria presented in the table below before submitting your application for the NDA examination. 

Posts	Required Educational Criteria
Army Wing	Pass certificate of class 12th via recognized board or a University.
Air Force and Naval Wings	Pass certificate of class 12th via recognized board or a University with Physics and Mathematics.
10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy	Pass certificate of class 12th via recognized board or a University with Physics and Mathematics.

NDA Nationality 2026

Candidates must meet specific nationality requirements to be eligible for the NDA. Failure to meet these nationality criteria can lead to the termination of candidature at any stage of the selection process. Applicants must possess citizenship as per one of the following criteria:

1. A citizen of India
2. A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
3. An Indian origin who has migrated from countries(Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (Formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam) to permanently settle in India.
4. Refugees of Tibet who moved to India, before 1st January 1962 and settled here permanently.

NDA Physical Fitness and Medical Standards 

Aspiring candidates for the NDA must carefully review the required physical and medical standards. The fitness and medical criteria are as follows:

NDA Physical Fitness

Candidates must be medically fit and free from any of the minor ailments listed below:

1. Piles
2. Tonsillitis
3. Gynaecomastia
4. Varicocele
5. Wax (Ears)
6. Deviated Nasal Septum
7. Hydrocele / Phimosis
8. Condition of Overweight / Underweight
9. Under Sized Chest

NDA Physical Standard for Army/Air force

The minimum acceptable height is 157 cm for the Army and 162.5 cm for the Air Force. Certain regional relaxations in height are permissible for candidates from specific areas. These exceptions are detailed as follows:

1. Candidates belonging to the hills of North India, Kumaon, Garhwal, Gorkhas will get a 5cms relaxation in maximum height required.
2. The candidates belonging to the Lakshadweep region will get 2cms of relaxation in maximum height.

The standard weight and height requirements based on age groups are presented in the table below:

Height (in cm) for ARMY/AIR FORCE	Weight (in Kgs) for Different Age Groups
	15-16 Years	16-17 Years	17-18 Years	18-19 Years
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

Physical Standards for Navy: Candidates aspiring to join the Navy through the NDA must adhere to the following physical standards:

1. Leg Length: The minimum of 99 cms and maximum of 120 cms
2. Thigh Length: Maximum of 64 cms
3. Sitting Height: The minimum of 81.50 cms and maximum is 96 cms

Height (in cm) for Navy	Weight (in kgs) for Different Age Groups
	20 years	18 years	16 years
152	46	45	44
155	47	46	45
157	49	47	46
160	50	48	47
162	52	50	48
165	53	52	50
167	55	53	52
170	57	55	53
173	59	57	55
175	61	59	57
178	62	61	59
180	64	63	61
183	67	65	63

NDA Visual Standards for ARMY

Candidates must meet the stipulated visual standards set by the authorities. Refer to the table below for the visual standards required to be eligible for the ARMY:

Vision Standard For ARMY
Distance Vision (Corrected)	Better Eye 6/6; Worse Eye 6/9
Colour vision	CP-III (Defective Safe).
Myopia should not exceed -2.5D. Hypermetropia should not exceed +3.5D.

 Visual Standards for Air Force: Candidates must meet the following vision standards to be eligible for the Air Force wing:

Vision Standards for Air Force
Candidates who wear spectacle		Not eligible for Air Force
Minimum distant vision		6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other. Correctable to 6/6 only for Hypermetropia.
Colour vision CPI 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.Max)

 Visual Standards for Navy:  The authorities have established specific vision standards for candidates seeking to join the Navy. Meeting these vision requirements is crucial for Navy eligibility. Please review the visual standards for the Navy presented below: 

Vision standard for Navy

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 color perception – I