UPSC NDA & NA 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Check Age Limit, Marks Required, No of Attempts, Important Factor

UPSC NDA Eligibility 2026

The UPSC NDA eligibility criteria 2026 encompass nationality, age, educational qualifications, gender, marital status, and physical fitness. Candidates must be Indian citizens or meet specific conditions related to nationality. Both male and female unmarried candidates can apply, but they must remain unmarried throughout their training. Educationally, candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12, with a science background required for the Air Force, Navy, and Naval Academy. Lastly, physical fitness is mandatory for all candidates. Candidates planning to appear for the exam can check the details related to NDA eligibility criteria 2024 as given below.

UPSC NDA Eligibility 2026 - Nationality Requirement

The eligibility criteria for the UPSC NDA 2026 exam have been provided below:

• Be an India/Nepal/Bhutan citizen
• Could be a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to settle permanently
• Could be a person with Indian origin migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan & East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
• Such candidates will have to get the certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

Age Limit - UPSC NDA Eligibility 2026

To be eligible for the NDA 2026 exam, candidates must meet specific age requirements as set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Here are the key details:

• Age Range: Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old, meaning they should have been born between July 2, 2004, and July 1, 2006, inclusive.
• Date Restrictions: Candidates born before July 2, 2004, or after July 1, 2006, are ineligible for the NDA I 2026 exam.

These age criteria are crucial for candidates aiming to join the National Defence Academy through the 2024 examination cycle.

Gender and Marital Status Requirements - UPSC NDA Eligibility 2026

According to NDA eligibility 2026 norms fixed by UPSC, only unmarried male candidates are eligible to appear in the examination. Female candidates are not allowed.

• Note 1 - UPSC will consider the DOB mentioned on the matriculation/higher secondary examination certificate or any other equivalent document for age limit proof.

• Note 2 - All candidates should note that they cannot get married until they complete their full training of the course. Any candidate who marries prior to the date of exam will not be shortlisted for training, even if the application was accepted by the commission. A candidate who marries during the training will be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him by the Government.

UPSC NDA Eligibility 2026 - Educational Qualification Required

The minimum academic qualification required for admission in Indian Army, Navy and Air force wings is as follows:

• Indian Army: Candidates should have passed 12th or its equivalent examination from any recognized board. Candidates appearing for the final exams of 12th standard are also eligible to apply for the exam.

• Indian Navy and Air Force: Candidates seeking admission in Indian Navy and Air force should have passed 12th/appearing from a recognized board or University with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.

UPSC NDA Eligibility 2026 - Physical Standards

All candidates appearing for the NDA exam must meet the physical and medical standards established by the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination. Below are the key eligibility criteria related to height and physical fitness:

• Mental and Physical Fitness: Candidates must be mentally and physically fit according to the standards set by the NDA and Naval Academy Examination.
• Minimum Height Required:
  • Air Force: The minimum height requirement is 157 cm.
  • Indian Army and Navy: Standards are defined according to the height and weight chart set by the UPSC.
• Relaxations:
  • Gorkha Tribe and Hilly Areas: Candidates from the Gorkha tribe and hills of North-Eastern India, Garhwal, and Kumaon regions receive a 5 cm relaxation in the minimum height standard.
  • Lakshadweep: A 2 cm relaxation in height is applicable to candidates from Lakshadweep.

NDA Eligibility 2026 - Visual Standards

The distance vision should be 6/6 in the better eye (6/9 in the worse eye). Myopia should not be more than 2.5 D and hypermetropia not more than 3.5 D including Astigmatism. Internal examination of the eye will be done by means of ophthalmoscope to rule out any disease of the eye. A candidate should have good binocular vision. The colour vision standard will be (CP-III) for the Army.