NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025: Check Age Limit, Physical Standard, Educational Qualification

NDA Exam Eligibility 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the NDA exam eligibility criteria for the candidates who are willing to appear for the exam. The NDA eligibility criteria comprise the educational qualification of the candidate, nationality, and age limit of the candidate. Applicants must make sure they fulfil all eligibility requirements in order to appear for the UPSC NDA exam. 

Candidates must be between the ages of 16.5 and 19.5 years old as prescribed in the notification and are eligible to apply for the NDA exam 2025, and they must have passed or be appearing for class 12. Candidates who fail to meet any of the eligibility requirements will be disqualified and prohibited from taking the examination. As a result, in order to fill out the NDA application form, candidates must be aware of the eligibility conditions.

NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025: Highlights

The following are the essential aspects of the NDA Exam eligibility requirements for 2025:

NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025

Candidates who apply for the exam must verify that they meet all of the eligibility requirements for taking the examination. Their admittance will be strictly provisional at all stages of the examination, subject to meeting the necessary eligibility standards.

The issuance of an Admission Certificate to a candidate does not mean that his candidacy has been approved by the Commission. Only when the applicant has qualified for the interview/Personality Test are the eligibility requirements with regard to original documents verified.

NDA Eligibility Criteria: Nationality

A candidate must be unmarried male/female and must be :

1. a citizen of India, or
2. a subject of Nepal, or
3. 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 with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (2) and (3), above shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

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

NDA Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit

Aspiring candidates must ensure their age falls in the NDA age limit bracket to apply for the NDA exam. Candidates can check below to know more age limit conditions for the exam:

• Candidates must be unmarried; married candidates are ineligible to appear for the examination
• Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 02nd July, 2006 and not later than 1st July, 2009 are eligible for NDA 1 exam 2025.
• Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 02nd January 2007 and not later than 1st January 2010 are eligible for NDA 2 exam 2025.

Candidates should be aware that the Commission will only accept the date of birth as indicated in the Matriculation/ Secondary School Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of the application, and no later request for its alteration will be entertained or permitted.

NDA Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification

Educational qualifications vary somewhat depending on the branch/wing for which the individual has sought. The educational qualification requirements for various posts in Indian Armed Forces are detailed below.

NDA Physical Standards and Medical Fitness

The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam requires aspiring candidates to be physically and mentally fit and fulfill certain requirements to appear for the exam. The NDA physical fitness eligibility criteria vary considerably depending on the post for which the individual is applying.

A number of qualified candidates are subsequently rejected by the commission on medical grounds. To avoid disappointment at the final stage, candidates are advised to have themselves medically examined before submitting their applications.

NDA Height & Weight Requirements (Army)

The Indian Armed Forces has laid down certain height and weight requirements for both male and female candidates that must be fulfilled by them for final selection. Candidates can check the table below to know more about height and weight requirements:

For Female Candidates 

• For female candidates, the minimum height necessary for entrance into the Armed Forces is 152 cm.
• Gorkhas and applicants from the hills of India's north-eastern region, Garhwal, and Kumaon will be admitted with a minimum height of 148 cm.
• A growth allowance of 02 cm will be provided for applicants under the age of 18 at the time they take the examination. The Flying Branch requires a minimum height of 163 cm.

Note: Candidates under the age of 17 will be measured and weighed in accordance with the 'Indian Academy of Paediatrics growth charts for height, weight, and BMI for 05 Years to 16 Years old children', as updated from time to time.

For Male Candidates

Note:

• The weight for height tables shown above apply to all personnel categories. The chart provides the minimum allowable weight for applicants of a certain height.
• Weights beyond the permitted limit will be accepted only for candidates who have proven documentation of weightlifting, boxing, or wrestling at the national level. In such circumstances, the following requirements must be satisfied:

1. The BMI should be less than 25.
2. Males should have a waist-to-hip ratio of less than 0.9 and girls should have a waist-to-hip ratio of less than 0.8.
3. Males should have a waist circumference of less than 90 cm and females should have a waist circumference of less than 80 cm.
4. All biochemical and metabolic parameters should be normal.

NDA Height & Weight Requirement - Air Force

NDA Height & Weight Requirement - Navy

NDA Medical Fitness: Visual Standard

The candidate's vision in either eye meets the acceptable threshold. His or her eyes must be bright, clear, and free of squints or other abnormalities. Eyeball movements should be complete and unrestricted in all directions.

• Candidates' corrected distance vision should be 6/6 in the better vision and 6/9 in the inferior eye.
• Myopia should not exceed 2.5 D.
• Not more than 3.5 D of hypermetropia, including astigmatism
• Candidates for the Air Force must not wear eyeglasses.
• Candidates can find the NDA vision criteria for the Navy and Air Force below.
• Candidates must have excellent binocular vision. Color vision standards in the Army are (CP-III).
• Candidates must be able to distinguish red and green colors.
• Candidates and members of their families will be required to provide a certificate stating they do not have congenital night blindness.
• Another significant aspect is that applicants who have undergone Radial Keratotomy to increase their eyesight will be irrevocably disqualified for all Armed Services.

Candidates can check the detailed visual standard for Army, Air Force, and Navy services below:

NDA Army Visual Requirement

NDA Air Force Visual Requirement

NDA Navy Visual Requirement

In what cases is the candidate ineligible for the UPSC NDA exam?

Candidates will be barred access to the UPSC NDA examination if they do not meet NDA eligibility requirements for the following reasons:

• Aspirants who are married will not be permitted to take the exam.
• Candidates who quit due to disciplinary reasons during training are ineligible.
• Applicants who did not pass the PABT/CPSS exam are ineligible for the Air Force.
• If the Defence Ministry rejects candidates,
• Candidates in Class 11 are not allowed to take the exam
• Candidates who have previously failed the INSB/PABT will not be considered for the Air Force.

Candidates are rejected if they do not fulfil certain medical conditions. Therefore, candidates must make sure they are physically fit for the position in the Indian Armed Forces.

Medical Conditions for UPSC NDA Exam

• There should be no signs of a weak body or physical issues.
• Candidates must have a strong and developed chest.
• The bones and joints should work properly.
• There is no history of physical malfunctions or convulsions.
• Candidates must be able to hear correctly.
• There is no speaking impairment.
• Normal blood pressure with no indications of heart or blood vessel illness
• There should be no enlargement of the liver or spleen.
• There are no abnormalities in the urine, and there are no skin problems.
• No abnormalities should be found during the USG abdominal evaluation 
• Candidates must have natural and strong teeth.
• Routine ECG reports must show parameters within normal limits for Air Force recruits.

Candidates are rejected if they have unnatural tattoos on their body. Candidates can check below to learn more about NDA guidelines regarding bodily tattoos:

NDA Guidelines Regarding Tattoos

• It is essential that candidates ensure any permanent body tattoos are only on the inward side of their forearms.
• UPSC does not approve tattoos on the inner elbow to wrist, nor on the opposite side of the palm or back of the hand.
• Permanent tattoos on any other area of the body are likewise prohibited.
• If the candidate belongs to a tribe where tattoo markings on the face or body are traditional, admission will be given on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the customs involved. In such cases, the judgment of the authorities would be definitive.

Conclusion

Candidates wanting a coveted career in the Indian Armed Forces must ensure they meet all qualifying requirements before the NDA SSB Interview phase, otherwise they may be disqualified. Services in the Indian Armed Forces are highly esteemed, and applicants are required to be disciplined during their training period and afterwards.