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NDA Exam Eligibility 2026: For this year, the NDA 1 2026 notification has been released, and the eligibility criteria are announced. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the conducting body of the National Defence Academy Exam (NDA Exam). The NDA eligibility includes information about the required educational qualifications of candidates, nationality, marital status, and physical and mental health.
Candidates who tick all the boxes of NDA Exam Eligibility can appear in one of the toughest upcoming government exams. It is known to all that only eligible candidates can apply for this National Defence Academy exam. In this blog, we have mentioned the point-wise eligibility for the NDA exam 2026.
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NDA Exam Eligibility 2026
The UPSC conducts the NDA Exam twice a year. The only purpose of conducting this exam is to select young officers for our defence forces. UPSC makes sure that the responsibility of defense should be in the hands of eligible candidates, so they create strict NDA Eligibility. According to the rule, candidates who have completed their 12th can apply for this exam. Check the table below for NDA Dates 2026
| Particulars | Dates |
| NDA 1 Notification | December 10, 2025 |
| NDA 1 Application Form | December 10, 2025, to December 30, 2025 |
| NDA 1 Exam | April 12, 2026 |
| NDA 2 Notification | Expected on May 20, 2026 |
| NDA 2 Application Form | May 20, 2026, to June 9, 2026 (tentative) |
| NDA 2 Exam | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
Also Read: 50 Sports GK Questions For AFCAT, CDS and NDA
What is NDA Exam 2026 Eligibility
We have mentioned point-wise NDA exam eligibility below:
- NDA Age Limit- An unmarried male/female who applied for the exam must be older than 16.5 years and younger than 19.5 years.
- Educational Qualification- Candidates must have completed their 12th before applying for the exam. However, candidates need to complete 12th board with Physics, Chemistry and Maths for Airforce and Navy.
- Nationality- Undoubtedly, candidates should be Indian and they need to have valid documents to prove their eligibility. Keep in mind, that eligibility extends to refugees from Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet who came to India before 1 January 1962.
- Physical Test- According to NDA Exam eligibility, candidates need to meet standards of physical fitness. This test includes height, weight, chest measurement, and eyesight criteria. Keep in mind that, if you fail to meet any single criteria then you’ll get disqualified.
- Medical Examination- It is known to all that candidates need to be overall fit, and for that, you need to go through a medical test. In this test, the candidate’s musculoskeletal, dental, spinal, and central nervous system conditions will be examined.
NDA Age Limit
The age limit is one of the major eligibility for the NDA Exam 2026. Only unmarried male and female candidates between 16.5 to 19.5 years are eligible to apply for the exam. Candidates are not allowed to marry until they complete their training period. Candidates who do not fall within this age limit will be disqualified.
Also Read: How to Prepare for NDA: Strategy, Pattern, Reference Books
Educational Qualification of NDA
We have mentioned point-wise information about the required educational qualification to appear in NDA Exam 2026.
| Academy | Educational Qualifications |
| Army Wing of National Defence Academy | Qualification: 12th Class Minimum Percentage: 60% or above for NDA Exam Eligibility |
| Air Force, and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy | Qualification: 12th Class pass Subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Minimum Percentage: 60% or above for NDA Exam Eligibility |
Height & Weight for NDA Exam 2026
Again, an important point of NDA Exam Eligibility 2026 is the height and weight of candidates. Below, we have mentioned the ideal height and weight ratio.
| Height (in cms) | Weight (in kgs) | ||
| _ | 16-17 years | 17-18 years | 18-19 years |
| 152 | 42.5 | 44.0 | 45.0 |
| 155 | 43.5 | 45.3 | 47.0 |
| 157 | 45.0 | 47.0 | 48.0 |
| 160 | 46.0 | 48.0 | 49.0 |
| 162 | 48.0 | 50.0 | 51.0 |
| 165 | 50.0 | 52.0 | 53.0 |
| 167 | 51.0 | 53.0 | 54.0 |
| 170 | 52.5 | 55.0 | 56.0 |
| 173 | 54.5 | 57.0 | 58.0 |
| 175 | 56.0 | 59.0 | 60.0 |
| 178 | 58.0 | 61.0 | 62.0 |
| 180 | 60.0 | 63.0 | 64.5 |
| 183 | 62.5 | 65.0 | 66.5 |
FAQs
There is no limit to applying for the NDA exam. If a candidate fulfills the NDA eligibility then they can apply for the test.
According to the official notification, we have mentioned the eligibility for the National Defence Academy Exam
–NDA Age Limit- 16.5 years to 19.5 years.
–Nationality- Indian
–Educational Qualification– 12th pass
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will be releasing the notification of the National Defence Academy Exam (NDA Exam 2), expectedly on 20 May 2026. The NDA exam 1 notification is already released in December 2025.
Related Blogs
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