NDA Eligibility Criteria: Age, Education, Nationality and More

Meeting the age rule is only the first step. Here is the full NDA eligibility checklist in one place. Details are set out in each UPSC notification, so confirm every point there before you apply.

1. Age

You must be 16.5 to 19.5 years old on the day the course commences, which UPSC expresses as a date of birth window. For NDA I 2027 it is 2 July 2008 to 1 July 2011. See the NDA age limit 2027 guide.

2. Education

• Army wing: Class 12 (10+2) of any stream, passed or appearing.
• Air Force and Naval Academy: Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics, passed or appearing.

Candidates who are still in Class 12 can apply and must show their qualification later in the selection process, as set out in the notification.

3. Nationality

You must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or another category named in the notification. Some categories need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

4. Marital status

Candidates must be unmarried.

5. Gender

Men and women can apply. The age window is the same for both.

6. Attempts

There is no fixed limit. You can try again as long as your date of birth is inside the window of the exam you apply for.

7. Physical and medical standards

Selected candidates must meet the physical and medical standards given in the notification. Check the current standards for your chosen wing, because they differ by service.

8. Proof of age

UPSC accepts the date of birth on the Matriculation or equivalent certificate. Keep it ready and make sure the date you enter in the application matches it exactly.

Next step

Use the NDA age calculator to confirm the age rule, then read the notification for everything else.