NDA After 12th
Uttarakhand Defence Academy
NDA After 12th
NDA Age Limit Criteria for 2026 Aspirants
The candidates must have attained 16.5 years of age and be less than 19.5 years of age. For NDA II 2026, the candidate must have been born not earlier than 02nd January 2008 and not later than 01st January 2011. For NDA I 2027, the candidate must have been born not earlier than 02nd July 2008 and not later than 01st July 2011. Here we have given the detailed NDA age limit criteria as prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission.
Key Instructions for NDA Age Criteria and Eligibility
- The date of birth mentioned during the application form filling must be the same as the date of birth given in the matriculation or secondary school leaving certificate.
- Only unmarried candidates (male and female) can apply for the NDA examination.
- The candidates born between 02nd January 2008 to 01st January 2011 (NDA II 2026) and between 02nd July 2008 to 01st July 2011 (NDA I 2027) are eligible.
- No relaxation in age limit is permitted under any circumstances by UPSC.
- The age eligibility is strictly verified at the SSB Interview and medical stage, and any mismatch may lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Candidates must ensure they are physically and medically fit as per NDA standards along with meeting the age criteria.
Uttarakhand Defence Academy
NDA Educational Qualification 2026
The interested candidates must meet the educational qualification prescribed by UPSC to get eligible for NDA. Check the educational criteria given below in the table before applying for NDA:
| Posts | Required Educational Criteria |
|---|---|
| Army Wing | Passed Class 12 (10+2) via a recognized board or University in any stream. |
| Air Force and Naval Wings | Passed Class 12 (10+2) via a recognized board or University with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. |
| 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy | Passed Class 12 (10+2) via a recognized board or University with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. |
NDA Nationality
The candidates must fulfill the nationality criteria laid out by UPSC for NDA 2026, as failing to do so can result in cancellation of candidature at any stage. Eligible categories include:
- Citizens of India
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan refugees who settled permanently in India before 1st January 1962
- Persons of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or designated East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam) intending to permanently settle in India.
Candidates qualifying under refugee or migrant categories (other than Gorkha subjects of Nepal) must present a valid Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India. This is exempted only for Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
NDA 2026 Selection Process
| Stage | NDA Selection Process |
|---|---|
| Written Exam | Question Type: Objective Type Exam Mode: Offline Medium: Hindi and English Sections: Mathematics & General Ability Test Maximum Marks: 900 Duration: 2½ hours for each paper |
| SSB Interview | Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT) Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests & Conference Maximum Marks: 900 |
| Medical Examination | Conducted after SSB recommendation Must meet prescribed physical & medical standards (AFMS/UPSC) |
| Final Merit List | Prepared on the basis of Written Exam + SSB (out of 1800 marks) Medical fitness is compulsory for final selection |
NDA 2026–27 Exam Pattern
The NDA exam pattern for 2026–27 is outlined clearly in the notification released by the Union Public Service Commission. It provides insights into the exam structure, question types, number of sections, mark distribution, and time duration. Check the detailed NDA 2026–2027 exam pattern below:
- The NDA 2026–2027 Written Exam will be conducted offline and consists of objective-type (MCQ) questions.
- The exam will be administered in English and Hindi.
| NDA Exam Pattern 2026-27 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject / Stage | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Mathematics (Paper I) | 2½ Hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test (GAT) (Paper II) | 2½ Hours | 600 |
| Total (Written Exam) | – | 900 |
| SSB Interview / Personality Test | – | 900 |
NDA 2026-27 Syllabus
The recruitment authority releases the NDA Syllabus 2026–27 through the official notification. It provides insights into the topics that can be asked in the written exam. As per the notification issued by the Union Public Service Commission, the NDA exam syllabus is divided into two subjects, i.e., Mathematics and the General Ability Test. Check the subject-wise NDA 2026–27 syllabus below.
| NDA (I) 2026 Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| Subject | NDA Syllabus 2026 |
| Mathematics |
|
| General Ability Test (GAT) |
|
NDA 2026 Physical Standards
The candidates must be physically and medically fit as per the physical standards for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2026. Candidates must meet both fitness and medical requirements to qualify. The criteria are as follows:
Physical Fitness Requirements :
- Running: 2.4 km in 15 minutes
- Skipping
- Pushups & Sit-ups: Minimum 20 each
- Chin-ups: Minimum 08
- Rope Climbing: 3.4 meters
Height & Weight Standards :
- Army and Air Force: Minimum height – 157 cm
- Navy: Minimum height – 157 cm
- Flying Branch: Minimum height – 163 cm
- Weight must be proportionate to height and age as per UPSC medical standards
Chest Standards:
- Chest should be well developed
- Minimum expansion: 5 cm
Eyesight Standards:
- For Army: 6/6 vision in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6
- For Navy: 6/6 both eyes (uncorrected)
- For Air Force: 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6
- Myopia should not exceed –2.5D, Hypermetropia not more than +3.5D
Other Medical Requirements:
- No history of mental breakdown or chronic diseases
- Normal hearing capacity and free from ear/nose/throat defects
- Good physical and mental health with no disabilities or deformities
- Teeth should be in good condition with a minimum of 14 dental points