The Union Public Service Commission releases the eligibility criteria for the NDA exam in its official notification. Candidates must check that they meet the NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024 before applying. The NDA eligibility criteria cover educational qualifications, age limit, physical standards, marital status, and medical standards. The age limit for NDA 2 2024 is the same for both male and female candidates.
Both male and female candidates who have completed the 12th grade can apply for the NDA exam. It is important to meet the age limit and other NDA eligibility criteria before submitting the application. Details on NDA eligibility, including educational qualifications and physical standards, are provided below.
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024: Overview
| NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024 Overview | |
| Name of the Organization | Union Public Service Commission |
| Name of exam | NDA Examination |
| Category | NDA Eligibility Criteria |
| Exam Level | National |
| Total number of questions | 270 Questions (120 from Mathematics and 150 from General Ability Test) |
| Total marks | 900 Marks (300 Marks for Mathematics and 600 Marks for General Ability Test) |
| Duration | 2½ Hours + 2½ Hours |
| Selection Process | Written Test-SSB Interview |
| Age Limit | 16.5 years-19.5 years |
| Gender and Marital Status | Unmarried Male and Female |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 marks |
NDA Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who are interested in applying must check the NDA Eligibility Criteria before filling out the application form. If a candidate does not meet the desired eligibility criteria then his/her application form will be rejected. Candidates who wish to apply for this job profile must be unmarried males and females and must meet the following eligibility criteria:
(i) Nationality
To be eligible for NDA, candidates must be either:
- a citizen of India, or
- a subject of Nepal, or
- a subject of Bhutan
- a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India.
Note: Candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal will not be considered eligible.
(ii) NDA Age Limit
Candidates must meet the following age criteria for appearing in the NDA exam.
- Only unmarried male and female candidates born between 02 January 2006 and 01 January 2009, are eligible.
- The accepted date of birth is the one in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate, or a certificate recognized by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation, or an extract from a University Register of Matriculates certified by the proper authority, or in the Secondary School Examination or an equivalent examination certificate.
- These certificates must be submitted only after the declaration of the written exam results.
- Other documents like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, and service records will not be accepted.
- The Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate includes the alternative certificates mentioned.
- Only the date of birth in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate at the time of application submission will be accepted.
- No request for changing the date of birth will be considered after it has been recorded by the Commission.
(iii) NDA Educational Qualification
Candidates must meet the following Educational Qualifications to complete the application process.
|
Post |
Educational Qualification |
|
For Army Wing of National Defence Academy |
Candidates who wish to apply must be :12th Class pass from School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University. |
|
For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy |
Candidates must be 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent conducted by a State Education Board or a University. |
Note: Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination.
Such candidates who qualify the SSB interview but could not produce Matriculation/10+2 or equivalent certificate in original at the time of SSB interview should forward duly self-attested Photocopies to ‘Directorate General of Recruiting, Army HQ, West Block. III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi110066’ and for Naval Academy candidates to ‘Naval Headquarters, DMPR, OI&R Section, Room No. 204, ‘C’ Wing, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi-110011’.
(iv) NDA Physical Standards
Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2024.
Candidates are advised to read the guidelines given in Appendix-IV to check whether they meet the required physical standards and whether they are eligible to apply.
They should be able to fulfill the following criteria:
(a) Running: 2.4 km in 15 minutes
(b) Skipping
(c) Pushups & Sit-ups: Minimum 20 each
(d) Chin-ups: Minimum 08
(e) Rope Climbing: 3.4 meters
Height and Weight Standards for Male Candidates joining NDA (Army)
Height requirement varies as per the stream of Weight should be proportionate to height as per the chart given below:-
| Age (yrs) | Minimum weight for all ages | Age: 17 to 20 yrs | Age: 20+01 day – 30 yrs | Age: 30 + 01 day – 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 |
| 164 | 48.4 | 59.2 | 61.9 | 64.6 | 67.2 |
| 165 | 49.0 | 59.9 | 62.6 | 65.3 | 68.1 |
| 166 | 49.6 | 60.6 | 63.4 | 66.1 | 68.9 |
| 167 | 50.2 | 61.4 | 64.1 | 66.9 | 69.7 |
| 168 | 50.8 | 62.1 | 64.9 | 67.7 | 70.6 |
| 169 | 51.4 | 62.8 | 65.7 | 68.5 | 71.4 |
| 170 | 52.0 | 63.6 | 66.5 | 69.4 | 72.3 |
| 171 | 52.6 | 64.3 | 67.3 | 70.2 | 73.1 |
| 172 | 53.3 | 65.1 | 68.0 | 71.0 | 74.0 |
| 173 | 53.9 | 65.8 | 68.8 | 71.8 | 74.8 |
| 174 | 54.5 | 66.6 | 69.6 | 72.7 | 75.7 |
| 175 | 55.1 | 67.4 | 70.4 | 73.5 | 76.6 |
| 176 | 55.8 | 68.1 | 71.2 | 74.3 | 77.4 |
| 177 | 56.4 | 68.9 | 72.1 | 75.2 | 78.3 |
| 178 | 57.0 | 69.7 | 72.9 | 76.0 | 79.2 |
| 179 | 57.7 | 70.5 | 73.7 | 76.9 | 80.1 |
| 180 | 58.3 | 71.3 | 74.5 | 77.8 | 81.0 |
| 181 | 59.0 | 72.1 | 75.4 | 78.6 | 81.9 |
| 182 | 59.6 | 72.9 | 76.2 | 79.5 | 82.8 |
| 183 | 60.3 | 73.7 | 77.0 | 80.4 | 83.7 |
| 184 | 60.9 | 74.5 | 77.9 | 81.3 | 84.6 |
| 185 | 61.6 | 75.3 | 78.7 | 82.1 | 85.6 |
| 186 | 62.3 | 76.1 | 79.6 | 83.0 | 86.5 |
| 187 | 62.9 | 76.9 | 80.4 | 83.9 | 87.4 |
| 188 | 63.6 | 77.8 | 81.3 | 84.8 | 88.4 |
| 189 | 64.3 | 78.6 | 82.2 | 85.7 | 89.3 |
| 190 | 65.0 | 79.4 | 83.0 | 86.6 | 90.3 |
| 191 | 65.7 | 80.3 | 83.9 | 87.6 | 91.2 |
| 192 | 66.4 | 81.1 | 84.8 | 88.5 | 92.2 |
| 193 | 67.0 | 81.9 | 85.7 | 89.4 | 93.1 |
| 194 | 67.7 | 82.8 | 86.6 | 90.3 | 94.1 |
| 195 | 68.4 | 83.7 | 87.5 | 91.3 | 95.1 |
| 196 | 69.1 | 84.5 | 88.4 | 92.2 | 96.0 |
| 197 | 69.9 | 85.4 | 89.3 | 93.1 | 97.0 |
| 198 | 70.6 | 86.2 | 90.2 | 94.1 | 98.0 |
| 199 | 71.3 | 87.1 | 91.1 | 95.0 | 99.0 |
| 200 | 72.0 | 88.0 | 92.0 | 96.0 | 100.0 |
| 201 | 72.7 | 88.9 | 92.9 | 97.0 | 101.0 |
| 202 | 73.4 | 89.8 | 93.8 | 97.9 | 102.0 |
| 203 | 74.2 | 90.7 | 94.8 | 98.9 | 103.0 |
| 204 | 74.9 | 91.6 | 95.7 | 99.9 | 104.0 |
| 205 | 75.6 | 92.5 | 96.7 | 100.9 | 105.1 |
| 206 | 76.4 | 93.4 | 97.6 | 101.8 | 106.1 |
| 207 | 77.1 | 94.3 | 98.6 | 102.8 | 107.1 |
| 208 | 77.9 | 95.2 | 99.5 | 103.8 | 108.2 |
| 209 | 78.6 | 96.1 | 100.5 | 104.8 | 109.2 |
| 210 | 79.4 | 97.0 | 101.4 | 105.8 | 110.3 |
Height and Weight Standards for Female Candidates joining NDA (Army)
Female Ideal Weights for Different Age Groups and Heights for NDA (Flying & Ground Duty) Candidates on Entry
| Age (yrs) | Minimum weight for all ages | Age: 17 to 20 yrs | Age: 20 +01 day-30 yrs | Age : 30 + 01 Day- 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 |
For Gorkhas and candidates belonging to hills of North-Eastern areas of India, Garhwal, and Kumaon, the minimum height will be 5 cms less than the figure mentioned above. For candidates belonging to Lakshadweep, the minimum height standard is reduced by 2 cms.
Height and Weight requirements for Navy
Candidates must meet the prescribed physical standards set by the authorities. They should have a robust physique, good eyesight, and meet the specific height and weight requirements.
| Height (in cms) | Weight (in kgs) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 years | 18 years | 20 years | |
| 152 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| 155 | 45 | 46 | 47 |
| 157 | 46 | 47 | 49 |
| 160 | 47 | 48 | 50 |
| 162 | 48 | 50 | 52 |
| 165 | 50 | 52 | 53 |
| 167 | 52 | 53 | 55 |
| 170 | 53 | 55 | 57 |
| 173 | 55 | 57 | 59 |
| 175 | 57 | 59 | 61 |
| 178 | 59 | 61 | 62 |
| 180 | 61 | 63 | 64 |
| 183 | 63 | 65 | 67 |
NDA Marital Status Eligibility
Marital status is a key part of the NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024. All unmarried male and female candidates can apply for the NDA exam. Review the NDA eligibility 2024 regarding marital status below.
Candidates should remain unmarried until they complete their training. An aspirant who marries after applying, even if successful, will be disqualified from the training. Aspirants who marry during training will be discharged and required to refund all expenses incurred by the Government.
Height Requirements
For Ground Duty Branch
- The minimum height for entry into ground duty branches- 157.5 cm.
Minimum acceptable height for Gorkhas and individuals belonging to North Eastern regions of India and hilly regions of Uttarakhand- (152.5 cm). - In the case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cm- (155.5 cm)
NDA Height and Weight For Flying Branch
| Height Requirements | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Sitting height | 81.5 cm | 96.0 cm |
| (ii) Leg Length | 99.0 cm | 120.0 cm |
| (iii) Thigh Length | – | Maximum- 64.0 cm |
The NDA eligibility criteria serve as a foundation for selecting the most suitable candidates for training at the National Defence Academy. Meeting the age, nationality, educational, marital, and physical fitness requirements is essential for aspiring candidates. It is advisable for candidates to thoroughly read and understand the eligibility criteria before applying for the NDA examination.
| NDA Exam Related Useful Links | |
| NDA Notification | NDA Syllabus |
| NDA Salary | NDA Selection Process |
| NDA Previous year Question Papers | NDA Cut-off |
| NDA SSB Interview | NDA Exam Preparation |
