Candidates must satisfy the eligibility conditions prescribed by UPSC. These conditions include nationality, age, marital status, educational qualification and physical fitness.
Nationality
A candidate must satisfy the nationality conditions specified in the official notification. Eligible categories generally include:
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A citizen of India.
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A subject of Nepal.
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A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to the prescribed eligibility and certificate requirements.
Candidates who require an eligibility certificate must follow the conditions mentioned in the UPSC notification.
Marital Status
Only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible to apply for the NDA & NA examination.
Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete the prescribed training. A candidate who marries after submitting the application but before or during training may be subject to disqualification or other action under the applicable rules.
Educational Qualification
The educational qualification depends on the service or academy for which a candidate is applying.
| Academy / Wing | Required Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| NDA – Army Wing | Class 12 or equivalent examination passed from a recognised board |
| NDA – Navy Wing | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) |
| NDA – Air Force Wing | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) |
| Indian Naval Academy | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) |
Candidates appearing in Class 12 or equivalent examinations may also apply provisionally, subject to the conditions and deadlines mentioned in the notification.
Candidates should note that the Army Wing does not require Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, whereas the Navy, Air Force and Indian Naval Academy entries require the prescribed PCM qualification.
Age Limit for NDA
UPSC does not prescribe a simple fixed age range that can be applied to every NDA examination. Instead, each notification specifies an exact date-of-birth window.
For NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026, candidates had to be born within the date range prescribed in the official notification. Candidates should check the relevant notification carefully because the eligible date-of-birth window changes with each examination cycle.
Important: Candidates should not rely only on their age in completed years. The date of birth recorded in the prescribed matriculation or equivalent certificate is used to determine eligibility.
Physical and Medical Fitness
Candidates must satisfy the physical and medical standards prescribed for admission to the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy.
The standards include:
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Required height and weight.
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Acceptable eyesight and vision standards.
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Proper hearing ability.
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Healthy cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
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No disqualifying medical condition.
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Fitness for military training and service duties.
Physical and medical standards may differ according to service, gender, age and entry. Candidates should consult the official notification and applicable medical standards rather than relying on general height or weight charts.
UPSC NDA & NA Selection Process 2026
The NDA selection process is conducted in multiple stages. Candidates must qualify in the written examination and the Services Selection Board assessment and meet the prescribed medical standards.
Stage 1: Written Examination
The first stage is the UPSC NDA written examination. It consists of two papers:
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Mathematics
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General Ability Test (GAT)
The written examination carries a total of 900 marks.
Candidates who obtain the required marks are shortlisted for the SSB interview.
Stage 2: Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview
Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for the SSB interview.
The SSB process evaluates a candidate's intelligence, personality, leadership qualities, communication skills, decision-making ability and suitability for a career as an officer in the armed forces.
The SSB assessment is generally conducted over five days.
Stage 3: Medical Examination
Candidates recommended by the SSB are required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the authorised military medical authorities.
The medical examination checks whether candidates meet the required physical and medical standards for the selected service.
Stage 4: Final Merit List
The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the written examination and SSB interview, subject to medical fitness, eligibility and available vacancies.
The maximum marks are:
| Selection Stage | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|
| Written Examination | 900 |
| SSB Interview | 900 |
| Total | 1,800 |
Candidates are allocated to the available services and academies according to merit, preferences, eligibility, medical fitness and vacancy requirements.