NDA Eligibility 2026 – Age, Education, Physical and Medical Standards

NDA eligibility has fewer parameters than most government exams — but the physical and medical standards are more specific than candidates expect, and they vary by service. Getting these details wrong can mean appearing for the exam, clearing the written, going through 5 days of SSB, and then failing the medical at the end — a waste of a year and significant effort. Read the standards for your intended service before deciding to apply.

👉 NDA Salary 2026 — training stipend, Lieutenant pay, MSP, ECHS and full package breakdown

Nationality and Marital Status

The candidate must be: a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 with intent to permanently settle. The candidate must be unmarried at the time of application and must remain unmarried until the completion of the training period (approximately 4 years from joining NDA).

Age Limits for NDA 2026

Age eligibility is service-specific and exam cycle-specific. For NDA I 2026 (typically notified in January, exam in April):

Service	Date of Birth Window (NDA I 2026)	Age at Exam Date
Army	July 2, 2007 to July 1, 2009	17–19 years on exam day
Navy	July 2, 2007 to July 1, 2009	Same
Air Force	July 2, 2007 to July 1, 2009	Same

The window is a rolling 2-year window. For NDA II 2026 (typically notified in May, exam in September), the window shifts by 6 months. The exact dates are published in the UPSC notification — verify from the official notification, not third-party summaries, because even a 1-day difference in your date of birth matters here.

Educational Qualification

Service	Minimum Qualification	Stream Required
Army	12th pass or appearing	Any stream
Navy	12th pass or appearing	Physics and Mathematics compulsory
Air Force	12th pass or appearing	Physics and Mathematics compulsory

Army accepts 12th pass in any stream — Arts, Commerce, or Science. For Navy and Air Force, Physics and Mathematics are mandatory subjects. Candidates currently in 12th (appearing) can apply — they must produce the 12th certificate/marksheet at the time of medical examination if selected. Students who fail 12th or don't meet the stream requirement after applying are disqualified at that stage.

There is no minimum percentage requirement for NDA eligibility. A candidate who passed 12th with 45% in PCM is equally eligible as one with 95%. The written exam performance determines who gets called for SSB — not the 12th percentage.

Physical Standards — Height and Weight

Service	Minimum Height	Weight (for height)	Notes
Army	157 cm	As per height-age table	Height relaxation for sons of servicemen in specific areas
Navy	157 cm	Proportionate	Leg length 99–120 cm
Air Force	162.5 cm	Proportionate	Leg length 99–120 cm, thigh ≤64 cm, sitting height ≤96 cm

The Air Force has the strictest physical requirements due to cockpit dimensions. The leg length requirement (99–120 cm) and sitting height limit (≤96 cm) are frequently overlooked by candidates who meet the height minimum. A candidate who is 165 cm tall but has an unusually high sitting height (long torso, shorter legs) may fail the Air Force physical even though their overall height is within range.

For Army, sons of servicemen from specific Northeastern states and Union Territories get a 5 cm height relaxation (minimum 152 cm).

Eye (Vision) Standards — Critical Differences by Service

Service	Distant Vision	Near Vision	Spectacles / LASIK
Army	6/6 in better eye, 6/18 in worse	N5 (better eye)	Spectacles allowed; LASIK accepted with conditions
Navy	6/6 in both eyes	N5	Spectacles allowed; LASIK accepted after 1 year with stable refraction
Air Force (Pilot)	6/6 in both eyes without correction	N5	LASIK not accepted for pilots (flying branch)
Air Force (Ground Duty)	6/6 corrected	N5	Spectacles/LASIK accepted

This table is the single most important eligibility fact for candidates wanting Air Force flying branch. If you wear glasses or contacts, you cannot qualify as an Air Force pilot through NDA — LASIK surgery is also not accepted for the flying branch. This means: if you are 14–15 years old and aspire to Air Force pilot, protect your vision now. Candidates who get diagnosed with myopia between Class 9 and the NDA exam frequently lose the Air Force pilot option permanently.

Women Candidates — Current Status

Since 2022, women candidates are eligible to apply for NDA following a Supreme Court order. The first batch of women cadets joined NDA in 2022. Eligibility criteria (age, education, marital status) are the same as male candidates. Physical standards for women are prescribed separately in the official notification — specifically, the height and weight norms differ from male candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply for NDA if I am in 12th grade right now?

Yes — candidates appearing in 12th are eligible to apply. However, you must produce your 12th pass certificate at the medical examination stage if you clear the written exam and SSB. If your 12th result is not declared by the medical date, you will be given a provisional clearance — but final selection depends on passing 12th.

Q: Is there any reservation in NDA?

NDA follows a different reservation structure from civilian government exams. The published vacancy breakdown typically includes SC/ST/OBC categories, but NDA selection is primarily merit-based through UPSC. The physical and medical standards are the same for all categories — no relaxation in physical requirements for reserved categories.

Q: Can I apply for NDA after failing 12th?

No. 12th pass (or appearing) is a minimum requirement. If you failed 12th and are reappearing, you can apply for the NDA cycle after you pass 12th — provided you still meet the age requirement at that point.

Q: What is the NDA application fee?

General/OBC candidates: ₹100. SC/ST candidates and sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs of the armed forces and equivalent categories: exempt (nil fee). Fee is paid online through the UPSC portal at the time of application.

Q: My height is 156 cm — am I ineligible for Army?

The standard minimum for Army is 157 cm, but specific relaxations apply for candidates from certain Northeastern states and sons of servicemen (minimum 152 cm). If neither applies to you and your measured height at the medical is below 157 cm, you will be declared medically unfit for Army. Height is measured at the medical — wearing shoes doesn't count, posture matters. A borderline candidate (156–158 cm) should measure carefully under proper conditions before applying.

Medical Examination — What the AFMSF-2 Form Covers

After clearing SSB, candidates appear for a detailed medical examination at the nearest Armed Forces Medical Selection Centre (AFMSC). The medical uses the AFMSF-2 (Armed Forces Medical Standards Form 2) protocol. Key areas assessed:

Medical Area	Standard	Notes
Blood Pressure	≤130/85 mmHg	Measured at rest; borderline cases may be re-tested
Hearing	Normal hearing in both ears	Audiometry test; no significant hearing loss
Colour Vision	Normal colour vision	Ishihara plates test; Air Force strict on this
Dental	Reasonable dental health	Severe misalignment or missing teeth can disqualify
Flat Feet	Assessed clinically	Moderate flat feet may be acceptable; severe may disqualify Air Force
BMI / Weight	Within height-age range	Both underweight and overweight are grounds for referral
Skin conditions	No active skin disease	Psoriasis, eczema (active) are grounds for temporary unfitness

The medical is not a pass/fail in the way written exams are. A candidate found "unfit" on initial medical can be "re-assessed" after 6 months (for borderline conditions like blood pressure or weight). Candidates who are found permanently unfit (e.g., congenital conditions, colour blindness for Air Force) cannot be reconsidered.

LASIK Surgery — Service-Specific Rules

Candidates who have had LASIK surgery face different rules depending on the service:

Army: LASIK is accepted subject to conditions — the surgery must have been performed at least 12 months before the medical examination, residual refractive error must be within acceptable limits, and the corneal thickness must be adequate as assessed at the medical.

Navy: LASIK is accepted — same 12-month post-surgery stability requirement applies. The Navy requires the refraction to be stable (no change in prescription in 12 months before surgery and 12 months after).

Air Force flying branch: LASIK surgery is NOT accepted for candidates seeking the flying branch. This is an absolute disqualification. The Air Force's rationale is the risk of haze, regression, or night vision issues under extreme flying conditions. Candidates who have had LASIK can still appear for Air Force ground duty branches.

What to Do If You're Declared Medically Unfit

A finding of "medically unfit" at the medical board is not always final. The process for appeal:

Step 1 — Request a Review Medical Board at the same centre (within 42 days of the original finding). This is a right, not a concession — you can ask for it regardless of what the medical officer suggests.

Step 2 — If still found unfit, appeal to the Armed Forces Appellate Medical Board at RR Hospital, Delhi. This is the highest medical authority for NDA/defence recruitment decisions.

Step 3 — If the appellate board also upholds the unfit finding, the decision is final for that cycle. However, you can reappear for the next NDA cycle if you are within the age limit — and if the condition was temporary (like borderline weight or blood pressure), you can present yourself at the new medical having addressed the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can an NDA applicant have a tattoo?

Tattoos on non-visible areas (covered by service uniform) are generally acceptable. Tattoos on the hands, face, or neck visible while in uniform are grounds for medical rejection. Tribal tattoos from specific communities are often exempted — the notification typically lists which communities/areas qualify for this exemption. When in doubt, the medical board makes the final call.

Q: Can someone with one eye apply for NDA?

No. Monocular vision (functional vision in only one eye) disqualifies candidates for all three services. The vision standards require adequate vision in both eyes.

Q: Is there any physical test before the written exam?

No — the written exam has no prior physical test. Physical and medical assessments only happen after you clear both the written exam and SSB interview. You can sit the written exam regardless of your physical condition.

How to Verify Your Age Eligibility Before Applying

The NDA age window is a 2-year rolling window defined as a specific date range. UPSC publishes the exact window in each notification. To check yours: open the notification, find the "Age Limits" section, note the "born not earlier than" and "born not later than" dates, and compare with your date of birth from your Class 10 certificate.

Common mistakes: Using your Aadhaar card date of birth when it differs from your Class 10 marksheet — the official DoB for NDA purposes is always the Class 10 certificate. Calculating your age on the wrong date — the cutoff is "as on the date specified in the notification" (usually July 1 for NDA I and January 1 for NDA II), not the application closing date.

If you are exactly on the boundary (born on the exact cutoff date), you are eligible — the notification says "born not earlier than" and "not later than," both of which are inclusive of the boundary date.

Service-wise Physical Standards — Side by Side

Air Force (AFA) has the strictest vision requirement by far — if you wear glasses or had LASIK, Army (IMA) or Navy (INA) are the practical choices. Apply accordingly rather than risking a medical rejection at the end of the entire process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can girls apply for NDA?

Yes — since the Supreme Court's September 2021 order, female candidates are eligible to apply for NDA. They are eligible for Army, Navy, and Air Force wings. The physical standards for female candidates differ from male standards — check the specific notification for exact requirements for each service.

Q: What happens if I fail the NDA medical after SSB recommendation?

If declared Temporarily Unfit (TU), you may be re-examined after a specified period (typically 6 months to 1 year) at a Review Medical Board (RMB). If Permanently Unfit (PU), you cannot join that service branch — but may be eligible for another branch if the specific disqualification does not apply there. For example, a candidate Permanently Unfit for Air Force flying due to vision may still be eligible for Army or Navy.

NDA Eligibility 2026 – Age, Qualification और Physical Standards

NDA eligibility के कम parameters हैं, लेकिन physical और medical standards उतने specific हैं जितना candidates expect नहीं करते — और वो service-wise अलग हैं। Written clear करना, 5 days SSB देना, और फिर medical में fail होना — यह worst case scenario है। Apply करने से पहले अपनी intended service का standard ज़रूर पढ़ें।

👉 NDA Salary 2026 — training stipend, Lieutenant pay, MSP, ECHS complete breakdown

Nationality और Marital Status

Indian citizen होना ज़रूरी है (Nepal/Bhutan citizens और pre-1962 Tibetan refugees भी eligible)। Application के time unmarried होना ज़रूरी है और training complete होने तक unmarried रहना होगा (~4 साल)।

Age Limits — NDA 2026

Exam Cycle	Date of Birth Window	Service
NDA I 2026 (April)	July 2, 2007 – July 1, 2009	Army/Navy/Air Force
NDA II 2026 (September)	January 2, 2008 – January 1, 2010 (approx)	Army/Navy/Air Force

Official notification से exact dates verify करें — third-party summaries में 1-2 day error होती है। Date of birth में 1 day का फ़र्क़ भी disqualify कर सकता है।

Educational Qualification

Service	Minimum Qualification	Stream
Army	12th pass या appearing	Any stream (Arts/Commerce/Science)
Navy	12th pass या appearing	Physics + Mathematics compulsory
Air Force	12th pass या appearing	Physics + Mathematics compulsory

Minimum percentage की कोई requirement नहीं है। 45% वाला उतना ही eligible है जितना 95% वाला — written exam performance ही SSB call decide करती है।

Physical Standards

Service	Minimum Height	Special Notes
Army	157 cm	Sons of servicemen (specific areas): 152 cm
Navy	157 cm	Leg length 99-120 cm
Air Force	162.5 cm	Leg ≤120 cm, sitting height ≤96 cm, thigh ≤64 cm

Air Force की cockpit constraints सबसे strict हैं। 165 cm height वाला candidate भी fail हो सकता है अगर sitting height ≤96 cm नहीं है। यह criterion लोग overlook करते हैं।

Eye (Vision) Standards — Service-wise Comparison

Service	Distant Vision	Spectacles/LASIK
Army	6/6 better, 6/18 worse eye	Spectacles OK; LASIK with conditions
Navy	6/6 both eyes	Spectacles OK; LASIK after 1 year stable
Air Force (Pilot)	6/6 without correction	Spectacles नहीं; LASIK भी नहीं
Air Force (Ground)	6/6 corrected	Spectacles/LASIK OK

सबसे important fact: Air Force pilot बनना है तो spectacles/LASIK acceptable नहीं। 14-15 साल की उम्र में यह aspiration है तो अभी से vision protect करें। 12th तक myopia develop हो गई तो Air Force pilot का option permanently close हो सकता है।

Women Candidates

2022 Supreme Court order के बाद women candidates NDA के लिए eligible हैं। Age, education, marital status criteria same हैं। Physical standards women के लिए notification में separately prescribed होते हैं।

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

Q: 12th में अभी appearing हूँ, apply कर सकता हूँ?

हाँ — appearing candidates apply कर सकते हैं। Written + SSB clear करने के बाद medical stage पर 12th certificate produce करनी होगी।

Q: NDA में reservation है?

SC/ST/OBC vacancy breakdown होती है। लेकिन physical और medical standards सभी के लिए same हैं — reserved categories को कोई physical relaxation नहीं है।

Q: Height 156 cm है, Army के लिए ineligible हूँ?

Standard minimum 157 cm है। Sons of servicemen (specific areas) को 152 cm तक relaxation है। Medical में बिना shoes measurement होती है — borderline candidates (156-158 cm) को proper posture में measure करना चाहिए।

Q: Application fee कितनी है?

General/OBC: ₹100। SC/ST और sons of JCOs/NCOs: exempt (nil fee)। Payment UPSC portal पर online।

Medical Examination — AFMSF-2 में क्या-क्या Check होता है

Medical Area	Standard	Notes
Blood Pressure	≤130/85 mmHg	Borderline = re-test हो सकता है
Hearing	Normal दोनों ears में	Audiometry test
Colour Vision	Normal (Ishihara)	Air Force: strict
Dental	Reasonable health	Severe misalignment disqualify कर सकती है
Flat Feet	Clinically assessed	Severe flat feet Air Force के लिए issue
BMI/Weight	Height-age range में	Under/overweight दोनों referral grounds

Medical pass/fail नहीं है। Borderline condition (BP, weight) पर 6 months बाद re-assessment हो सकती है। Permanent unfit (congenital conditions, colour blindness for AF) = reconsidered नहीं।

LASIK Surgery — Service-wise Rules

Army: LASIK accepted — surgery से 12 months पहले medical होनी चाहिए, stable refraction, adequate corneal thickness।

Navy: LASIK accepted — same 12-month stability requirement।

Air Force (Flying branch): LASIK absolutely NOT accepted। Haze/regression/night vision risk। Ground duty branches के लिए LASIK OK है।

Medically Unfit Declare हुए तो क्या करें

Step 1: Same centre पर Review Medical Board request करें — 42 days के अंदर। यह आपका right है।

Step 2: फिर भी unfit = Armed Forces Appellate Medical Board, RR Hospital Delhi — highest authority।

Step 3: Appellate board भी uphold करे = उस cycle के लिए final। Temporary condition (weight/BP) था तो next NDA cycle में — condition address करके — re-appear कर सकते हैं।

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

Q: Tattoo होने पर apply कर सकते हैं?

Uniform से covered areas पर tattoo generally acceptable है। Hands, face, neck (uniform में visible) = medical rejection grounds। Specific tribal communities को exemption — notification में listed होती है।

Q: क्या एक आँख से apply हो सकता है?

नहीं — monocular vision (एक आँख functional) तीनों services के लिए disqualify करता है।

Q: Written exam से पहले कोई physical test है?

नहीं — physical और medical assessment केवल written + SSB clear करने के बाद होती है। Written exam बिना किसी physical condition के दे सकते हैं।

Age Eligibility Verify कैसे करें

NDA age window notification में exact dates के रूप में published होती है। Check करें: notification का "Age Limits" section → "born not earlier than" और "born not later than" dates → अपनी Class 10 certificate से compare करें।

Common mistakes: Aadhaar vs Class 10 certificate DOB difference — official DOB = Class 10 certificate। Wrong reference date — "as on July 1" (NDA I) या "January 1" (NDA II), application closing date नहीं।

Exactly boundary date पर born हैं — eligible हैं ("not earlier than" और "not later than" both inclusive हैं)।

NDA में SC/ST/OBC का क्या होता है

NDA written exam में SC/ST/OBC candidates को fee exemption या age relaxation नहीं है — age window सभी के लिए same है। SC/ST candidates को application fee से exemption मिलती है (nil fee)।

Vacancies में category-wise breakdown होती है (SC/ST/OBC की seats अलग होती हैं) — लेकिन cutoff separately set होती है per category। Physical और medical standards categories के लिए same हैं — कोई physical relaxation नहीं।

Self-Assessment Checklist — Apply करने से पहले

• Class 10 certificate DOB → age window में है?
• Army: Any stream 12th pass/appearing ✓ | Navy/AF: Physics + Maths in 12th ✓
• Unmarried हैं?
• Height: Army/Navy ≥157 cm | Air Force ≥162.5 cm?
• Vision: Air Force pilot = 6/6 without correction। Army/Navy = spectacles acceptable?
• LASIK करवाई है? Air Force flying branch = ineligible।
• Colour vision normal है (Ishihara)?

यह checklist आपका basic filter है। Medical board final authority है — लेकिन इन 7 points पर clearly eligible होने पर ही apply करें।

Age Limit — विस्तार से

NDA की age eligibility UPSC की सबसे specific requirements में से एक है:

• NDA I 2026: 2 जुलाई 2007 से 1 जुलाई 2010 के बीच जन्म (age 15.5 to 18.5 years as on 1 July 2026)
• NDA II 2026: 2 जनवरी 2008 से 1 जनवरी 2011 के बीच जन्म
• Age proof: Class 10 certificate — कोई और document नहीं
• Exactly boundary date पर born हैं? — आप eligible हैं (inclusive range)

Age cutoff "application closing date" नहीं — notification में specified date पर calculate होती है। गलत calculate मत करें।

Education Eligibility — क्या पढ़ा होना ज़रूरी?

Important: Arts या Commerce stream के students NDA के लिए eligible नहीं हैं — PCM compulsory है। CDS exam (OTA) Arts graduates के लिए alternative है।

Service-wise Physical Standards — तुलना

Air Force (AFA) की vision requirement सबसे strict है। अगर चश्मा लगता है या LASIK करवाई है — Army (IMA) या Navy (INA) target करें। Medical rejection का risk NDA जैसे long selection process में बहुत expensive होता है।

Medical में Common Rejection कारण

• Vision standards पूरे न होना: Especially AFA के लिए — सबसे common rejection reason
• Flat feet (Pes Planus): Arch-building exercises 6 months पहले से — कुछ cases में correctable
• Color blindness: AFA के लिए disqualifying। Army/Navy में CP-III तक acceptable।
• Underweight/Overweight: BMI range में रहें — medical से 3 months पहले diet manage करें
• Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS): Severe cases में corrective surgery available है
• Varicose veins: Surgical correction possible — medical board decision

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

Q: क्या लड़कियाँ NDA के लिए apply कर सकती हैं?

हाँ। Supreme Court के September 2021 के आदेश के बाद female candidates NDA के लिए eligible हैं। Army, Navy, और Air Force — तीनों wings। Female candidates के लिए physical standards अलग हैं — specific notification ज़रूर पढ़ें।

Q: SSB में Recommend होने के बाद Medical fail हो जाए तो?

Temporarily Unfit (TU) घोषित होने पर 6–12 महीने बाद Review Medical Board (RMB) मिलता है। Permanently Unfit (PU) होने पर उस branch के लिए eligible नहीं रहते — लेकिन दूसरी branch के लिए apply कर सकते हैं अगर वहाँ वो condition disqualifying नहीं है।

Q: 12th appearing students NDA दे सकते हैं?

हाँ। 12th का result आने से पहले भी apply कर सकते हैं। लेकिन SSB recommend होने पर और academy joining से पहले 12th pass certificate देना होगा। 12th में fail हुए तो joining नहीं होगी।

Q: NDA में कितने attempts मिलते हैं?

Age limit तक जितने चाहें। NDA I और II साल में दो बार — Age limit 18.5 साल maximum। 12th pass student को typically 2–3 attempts मिलते हैं। लेकिन ideally first या second attempt में clear करना बेहतर है क्योंकि NDA training 3 साल की है — जितनी जल्दी join करें उतना career लंबा।

NDA Apply करने से पहले इन Documents को तैयार रखें

Form भरते समय ये documents upload करने होंगे:

• Class 10 certificate (Date of Birth proof)
• Class 12 marksheet (या appearing होने का certificate)
• Passport-size photographs (white background)
• Signature की scanned copy
• Valid ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport)
• Category certificate (OBC/SC/ST अगर applicable हो)

Physical examination और SSB के time original documents + self-attested photocopies ले जाएं।

क्या Married Candidates NDA दे सकते हैं?

नहीं। NDA में apply करते समय unmarried होना ज़रूरी है। Training के दौरान भी marriage not permitted है। NDA pass करके commissioning के बाद — यानी service शुरू होने के बाद — marriage की permission मिलती है। यह rule strictly enforced है; marriage hide करने पर service से dismissal हो सकती है।

Q: अगर 12वीं में percentage कम है तो क्या NDA दे सकते हैं?

हाँ। NDA eligibility के लिए 12वीं में कोई minimum percentage नहीं है — सिर्फ pass होना ज़रूरी है (PCM के साथ Army/Navy/AFA के लिए)। 50% या 60% का कोई cutoff नहीं। Merit UPSC written exam score + SSB marks पर बनती है, न कि 12वीं के percentage पर।

Q: क्या NDA attempt limit है?

NDA attempt limit age से define होती है — 19.5 साल की maximum age तक आप eligible हैं। UPSC NDA साल में 2 बार होता है (April और September)। अगर आप 16.5 साल में first time apply करते हैं, तो theoretically 5–6 attempts मिल सकते हैं। लेकिन 12वीं के बाद typically 2–3 attempts ही मिलते हैं।