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.
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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.
