NDA Eligibility Criteria 2023- Age Limit, Qualification & Physical Standards

NDA Eligibility 2023 – The NDA eligibility criteria are decided by the Union Public Service Commission. Candidates willing to appear for NDA exams can apply for the same only if they fulfil the prescribed NDA Eligibility Criteria.

The eligibility criteria of NDA comprise four main aspects that are mandatory for applicants to fulfil. The four main aspects of NDA eligibility are:

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

This article will discuss the above-mentioned NDA eligibility criteria in detail. Aspirants of Indian Defence Services must meet the National Defence Academy Exam eligibility conditions. 

The UPSC prescribes NDA/ NA eligibility in detail in the official notification. The Commission released the notification for UPSC NDA 2 2023 exam on 17th May 2023. Candidates can check the NDA Notification to dive deep for relevant details. 

Aspirants of other Government exams can check the linked page for the latest information regarding upcoming exams. 

NDA 2 Exam Notification 2023

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NDA Eligibility

Through the official notice, UPSC releases a detailed description of the Naval Academy eligibility condition mandatory for the exam. The highlights of the detailed eligibility conditions, as discussed below in the article, are given in the following table:

Aspirants must go through NA eligibility conditions because

• Mere issue of an Admission Certificate to the candidate will not imply that his candidature has been finally cleared by the Commission
• UPSC conducts verification of eligibility criteria with reference to original documents.
• Verification is done, once the candidate qualifies for the interview and Personality Test.
• The conducting body has the right to reject the candidature of the applicant at any stage of recruitment in case he/she is found to be not fulfilling the required criteria and,
• If the candidate is appointed, in such a case he/she is liable to be removed from service.
• A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary may be admitted to the examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to him by the Government of India.

Eligibility For NDA 2023

One of the key considerations when registering for the NDA exam is the qualifying requirements for the NDA. The applicant must meet all qualifying criteria in order to advance in the hiring process. After examining the openings and determining if they meet all eligibility requirements, both male and female candidates may submit applications for the exam. According to NDA eligibility 2023, candidates who were not born earlier than 02 July 2004 or later than 01 July 2007 are eligible to apply for the NDA 1 exam.

To continue with the exam selection procedure, candidates must first satisfy all of the given NDA qualifying requirements. Be aware that the eligibility requirements for applicants to the Navy and Air Force may differ from those for the Army.

Earlier, the NDA was conducted to select male candidates for various services, now since 2021 UPSC has made female candidates eligible for the NDA examination. The candidates who qualified for the written test will be called for SSB Interview. 

NDA Eligibility for Female Candidates:

The Supreme Court of India issued an interim judgement allowing female candidates to register for the exam in 2021. Refer to the following details for information on female candidates’ NDA eligibility:

• The NDA eligibility for female candidates is equal to that for male candidates, according to UPSC.
• For female applicants to the NDA Exam, the height, weight, and vision criteria are the same as for male applicants.
• Female candidates must meet the same NDA requirements as male candidates, including marital status.
• The physical requirements for female candidates must be equivalent to those for male candidates.

Detailed NDA Eligibility is as mentioned below:

NDA Eligibility- Age Limit

NDA I Age Limit – Only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than 2nd July 2004 and not later than 1st July 2007 fulfil the eligibility for the NDA exam.

NDA II Age Limit – Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2004 and not later than 1st January 2007 are eligible for the NDA exam.

To put it simply, candidates should be between the age of 15.5 years and 19 years to be eligible for the exam.

NDA Age Limit for Girls

Girls are eligible to join the NDA at the same age as male candidates. According to the official NDA 2 2022 notification, which was published on May 18, 2022, both male and female applicants who are single and were born between January 2, 2004, and January 1, 2007, are eligible to sit for the exam.

Important Note – 

• Married females and married male candidates are not eligible to apply for NDA Exam.
• The date of birth mentioned in the application must be the same as that entered in the Matriculation/ 10th/ Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
• Candidates need to submit certificates for proof of age after the declaration of the result of the written exam.
• Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application though successful at this or any subsequent Examination will not be selected for training. A candidate who marries during training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditures incurred on him by the Government.

Candidates willing to appear for the NDA examination must go through the detailed NDA Syllabus and exam pattern to kickstart their preparation. 

NDA Eligibility – Nationality / Citizenship

Candidates willing to appear for the National Defence Academy or Naval Academy exam are required to fulfil the NDA eligibility condition in terms of Nationality Or Citizenship.

Only the aspirants who fulfil the following conditions of nationality will be allowed to appear for the examination. 

1. A citizen of India, or
2. A subject of Nepal, or
3. A subject of Bhutan, or
4. A Tibetan refugee permanently settled in India from and before January 1, 1962.
5. A person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (2), (3), (4) and (5) presents a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India to the recruiting body.

However, the Certificate of eligibility will not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

Eligibility for NDA – Education Qualification 

The  Union Public Service Commission has set a minimum level of education qualification that a candidate must possess to be eligible for the NDA examination.

Aspirants must have passed at least the 12th Board exam to appear for NDA/NA examination. The detailed NDA education Qualification required is highlighted below:

Important pointers –

• Aspirants appearing in Class 12th or equivalent examination are eligible to apply
• Aspirants who are appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible for this examination
• Candidates appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible for this examination.
• Those candidates who have yet to qualify in the 12th class or equivalent examination and are allowed to appear provided they submit proof of passing the 12th class or equivalent examination by the prescribed date (i.e. 24th June 2023) and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of Board/University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground whatsoever.

Aspirants of the NDA exam can check the related links given below-

• NDA Result
• NDA Salary

NDA Eligibility – Physical Standards

To fulfil the NDA Eligibility, applicants must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination as per guidelines mentioned in the notification. 

Depending on the position for which a candidate is applying, the NDA eligibility requirements for physical fitness change a little.

It must be noted that a candidate will not be qualified to register for the NDA exam in 2022 if he or she has left or withdrawn from any of the training academies of the Armed Forces due to disciplinary reasons.

Below is a list of the prerequisite NDA physical requirements.

NDA Eligibility: Height and Weight Requirement:

Indian Army: Height and Weight Requirements for Female NDA (Army) Candidates:

 Height and Weight Standards for Male Candidates joining NDA (Army)

Under no circumstances will weights below the minimum allowed be accepted. In age-specific categories, the maximum allowable weight for height has been set. Only candidates with verified evidence of body building, wrestling, or boxing at the national level will have weights over the permitted limit. In such circumstances, the following requirements must be satisfied.

• The BMI should be less than 25.
• Male and female waist-hip ratios should be less than 0.9 and 0.8, respectively.
• For men, the ideal waist circumference is 90 cm, and for women, 80 cm.
• The range of all biochemical metabolic measures should be normal.

Note – 

• 10% variation on the higher side of average acceptable.
• Height relaxable up to 2 cm where the Medical Board certifies that the candidate is likely to grow and come up to the required standard on completion of his training.
• Exemption of 2 cm in minimum height standard is given to candidates of Lakshadweep region.
• The minimal height requirement for female candidates to join the armed forces is 152 cm and for male candidates is 157cm. 
• Candidates from the North Eastern Hills of India, the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, as well as Gorkhas, will be allowed with a minimum height of 148 cm for females and 152cm for male candidates. 
• An allowance for growth of 02 cm will be made for candidates below 18 yrs at the time of examination. 
• The Flying Branch requires a minimum height of 163 cm. Other anthropometric requirements set forth by Flying Branch include sitting height, leg length and thigh length.

Indian Navy: Height and Weight Standards for Male and Female candidates in Indian Navy

Aspirants who wish to join the Navy are required to fulfil the following requirements –

• Sitting Height: The minimum of 81.50 cm and the maximum is 96 cm
• Leg Length: The minimum of 99 cms and maximum of 120 cms
• Thigh Length: Maximum of 64 cms

Only candidates with verified evidence of bodybuilding, wrestling, or boxing at the national level will have weights over the permitted limit. In such circumstances, the following requirements must be satisfied.

• The BMI should be less than 25.
• Males should have a waist-to-hip ratio that is less than 0.9 and females less than 0.8.
• Males should have a waist circumference under 90 cm, and ladies should have one under 80 cm.
• The range of all biochemical metabolic measures should be normal.

Indian Air Force:  Height and Weight Standards for Male candidates in Indian Air Force

Flying Branch requires a minimum height of 162.5 cm. For such aircrew, the following measures for sitting height, thigh length, and leg length are acceptable:

• Minimum sitting height: 81.5 cm 96.0 cm is the maximum
• Minimum Leg Length: 99.0 cm No more than 120.0 cm
• Maximum Thigh Length: 64.0 cm. 
• Entry into Ground Duty branches will require a minimum height of 157.5 cm.

The minimum permissible height will be 5 cm less for Gorkhas and people from Uttarakhand’s hilly regions and North-Eastern India (152.5 cm). The minimum allowable height for candidates from Lakshadweep might be lowered by 2 centimetres (155.5 cm).

Height and Weight Standards for Female candidates in Indian Air Force

Flying Branch requires a minimum height of 162.5 cm. For such aircrew, the following measures for sitting height, thigh length, and leg length are acceptable: –

• Minimum sitting height: 81.5 cm 96.0 cm is the maximum 
• Minimum Leg Length: 99.0 cm No more than 120.0 cm
• Maximum Thigh Length: 64.0 cm
• Entry into Ground Duty branches will require that you be 152 cm tall minimum. 

The minimum permissible height will be 5 cm less for Gorkhas and people from Uttarakhand’s hilly regions and North-Eastern India (147 cm). The minimum allowable height for candidates from Lakshadweep might be lowered by 2 centimetres (150 cm).

Only under extraordinary circumstances will weights above the maximum be permitted for candidates (both men and women) who can provide proof of their participation in bodybuilding, boxing, and wrestling. However, in certain circumstances, the following requirements must be satisfied:

• BMI needs to be under 27.
• Male and female Waist Hip Ratios should be less than 0.9 and 0.8, respectively.
• For males, the ideal waist circumference is 94 cm, and for females, 89 cm.
• Every biochemical metabolic metric ought to fall within the normal range.

NDA Eligibility – Visual Standards

The following visual standards must be met to be eligible for NDA exam:

NDA Physical Fitness: 

Aspirants must get themselves medically examined to ensure that they do not suffer from any of the following minor conditions as well-

• Wax (Ears)
• Deviated Nasal Septum
• Hydrocele / Phimosis
• Condition of Overweight / Underweight
• Under Sized Chest
• Piles
• Tonsillitis
• Gynaecomastia
• Varicocele

Following conditions will entail female candidates being declared unfit:

• Primary or secondary amenorrhoea
• Severe Menorrhagia or/ and severe dysmenorrhea.
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Congenital elongation of cervix or prolapsed which comes outside the introitus even after corrective surgery.
• Pregnancy. Pregnancy will be a cause of rejection for NDA entry.
• Complex ovarian cyst of any size.
• Simple ovarian cyst more than six cm.
• Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.
• Submucous fibroid of any size.
• Broad ligament or cervical fibroid of any size causing pressure over the ureter.
• Single fibroid uterus more than three cm in diameter; fibroids more than two in number (each fibroid not more than fifteen mm in diameter) or fibroids causing distortion of the endometrial cavity.
• Congenital uterine anomalies except for the arcuate uterus.
• Acute or chronic pelvic infection.
• Disorders of sexual differentiation.
• Any other condition will be considered on the merits of each case by the Gynaecologist. 

NDA Physical Fitness: Case of Body Tattoos

• The candidates must make sure that any permanent body tattoos (if any) are limited to the forearm’s inner side.
• Tattoos on the inside of the elbow to the wrist, as well as on the rear (dorsal) side of the hand, will never be accepted by UPSC.
• Any other body part with a permanent tattoo is also unacceptable.
• Acceptance will be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the traditions involved, in the event that the applicant happens to be a member of a tribe where having tattoos on the face or body is traditional. In such cases, the decision of the authorities shall be final.

NDA Eligibility- Miscellaneous

The NDA exam has a number of eligibility requirements, and candidates are shortlisted based on their physical fitness. It is recommended that they go for a complete medical examination before submitting their application. According to NDA eligibility, the following are the guidelines for the physical test requirements:

• The candidate must be in good physical and mental health, free from illness, and without any disabilities.
• After full extension, the chest should not measure less than 81 cm. After a full inspiration, the chest should have expanded by at least 5 cm. To check for any disease, a chest X-ray will be taken.
• The candidates are advised to rectify minor defects/ailments.
• The candidate should not have a history of mental breakdowns or fits, according to the NDA eligibility 2022.
• Bones/Joints should not be impaired in any function. These should be developed properly.
• Untreated hernias will result in disqualification. An operation on a hernia should be performed one year prior to the last medical examination.
• The candidate’s liver and spleen have to be of average size.
• The heart and blood vessels shouldn’t have any biological or functional diseases.
• The hearing should be normal. The candidate should be able to hear a whisper with each ear at a distance of 610 cm. There should not be any disease of the ear, nose, and throat.
• There should be no piles, hydrocele, varicocele, or other skin conditions.
• The applicant should have a sufficient number of natural and sound teeth. There should be a minimum of 14 dental points.
• Blood Pressure should be normal.
• Any disease affecting the abdominal internal organs will result in disqualification.
• USG abdomen examination will be performed and any congenital structural anomaly will lead to disqualification.
• NDA eligibility states that the candidate should not be of weak constitution, or overweight/underweight.

The NDA eligibility in terms of physical and medical standards is much more than what is mentioned above. Hence, candidates are advised to go through the official notification for further clarification on National Defence Academy Eligibility Criteria. 

NDA 2 Exam 2023 Notification:-Download PDF Here

Aspirants appearing for NDA exams must go through the Competitive Exam Preparation Strategies to plan out a good study schedule and leave no stone unturned for exam preparation.