UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024, Age Limit and Qualification

UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024

To apply for the NDA exam, candidates, both male and female, must meet UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024. The eligibility criteria is decided by the UPSC. Once the candidate confirms the eligibility criteria, they can submit their applications. It’s essential to know that eligibility criteria may differ for the Navy, Air Force, and Army.

Notably, the NDA, which was initially only for males, started including female candidates in 2021. Those who pass the written test proceed to the SSB Interview, signaling a positive change towards gender diversity in India’s defense forces.

UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria

The UPSC sets several parameters for the eligibility for NDA. The parameters of the UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024 are mentioned below: –

1. Age Limit
2. Marital Status
3. Nationality/Citizenship
4. Educational Qualification
5. Height & Weight
6. Distance Vision

UPSC NDA Age Limit 2024

For NDA 1, Candidates born not earlier than 2nd July 2005 and not later than 1st July 2008 are eligible.

Age Limit	For Unmarried Male/female Candidate
Lower Age Limit	15.5 years/16 years during the course commencement
Upper Age Limit	18.5 years/19 years during the course commencement

For NDA 2, Candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2005 and not later than 1st January 2008 are eligible.

Age Limit	For Unmarried Male/female Candidate
Lower Age Limit	15.5 years/16 years during the course commencement
Upper Age Limit	18.5 years/19 years during the course commencement

• Married females and married male candidates are not eligible for the NDA Exam.
• The date of birth in the application must match the Matriculation/10th/Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
• Certificates proving age must be submitted after the written exam result declaration.
• Candidates commit not to marry until completing their full training.
• Marrying after the application date, even if successful in the exam, disqualifies a candidate for training.
• If a candidate marries during training, discharge is imminent, and they must refund all government expenditures.

UPSC NDA Age Limit Relaxation

There is no age relaxation for the reserved category for NDA. Only unmarried boys/girls are allowed and age limit for both are same.

UPSC NDA Nationality/Citizenship

Candidates aspiring to take the National Defence Academy (NDA) or Naval Academy exam must meet specific eligibility criteria related to nationality or citizenship.

Only those candidates who satisfy the prescribed conditions of nationality/citizenship are permitted to participate in the examination.

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal, or
• A subject of Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee settled in India before January 1, 1962
• A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma and East African countries like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention to permanently settle in India.

Note: Candidates falling under categories (2), (3), (4), and (5) must submit a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India to the recruiting body. However, Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from the requirement of presenting a Certificate of Eligibility.

UPSC NDA Educational Qualification 2024

To appear in the NDA 2024 exam, candidates need to have passed the 12th class from a recognized board. The Union Public Service Commission specifies this as the minimum education qualification for eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria	Qualification Required
For Army Wing of NDA	12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA	12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
For 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy	12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

• Aspirants appearing in Class 12th or equivalent examination are eligible to apply.
• Aspirants who are appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible.
• Those candidates who are in class 12th, they must submit proof of passing the 12th class or equivalent examination by the mentioned date.

UPSC NDA Height & Weight Criteria (for Army and Air Force)

UPSC NDA Height and Weight for Army and Air Force differ for Male and Female Candidate. 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+01day – 30 yrs	Age: 30 +01 day –40 yrs	Age: Above 40yrs
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 to20 yrs	Age: 20 +01day-30 yrs	Age: 30 + 01Day- 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

Indian Navy Height and Weight Requirements

Height (M)	Up to 17 yrs (kg)	17-18 yrs (kg)	18-20 yrs (kg)	20-30 yrs (kg)	Above 30 yrs (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

Indian Air Force Height, Sitting Height, Leg Length and Thigh Length (Male/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

UPSC NDA Medical Requirements for Visual Standards

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 DEso-6 prism DHyper-1 prism DHypro-1 prism D
Maddox Rod Test at 33 cms	Exo-16 prism DEso-6 prism DHyper-1 prism DHypo-1 prism D

UPSC NDA: FAQs