Starting a career in the government sector, especially in the armed forces, is a rewarding opportunity for many Indians. The NDA offers a respected path for those who wish to serve the country at a higher level.
The NDA is the premier joint services academy that trains future officers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. While joining the National Defence Academy is a dream for many, it is important to clearly understand the eligibility criteria and qualification requirements.
In this blog, explore the NDA full form and learn about its eligibility, age limit, and selection process to begin your journey toward becoming a future officer.
What is an NDA?
The NDA full form is National Defence Academy, the world’s first joint academy where candidates are trained for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This premier tri-service training institute is located in Pune, which fosters unity among services. Along with physical training, every candidate is integrated into academic and military training.
The trainees undergo a three-year training program at the National Defence Academy, followed by pre-commission training at IMA, INA, or AFA. Since 2021, women candidates have been eligible, which allows them to expand opportunities while upholding rigorous standards. NDA shapes candidates into leaders to defend India’s borders by demonstrating discipline and patriotism.
Selection Criteria
To apply for NDA 2026, candidates must meet the standard parameters of UPSC, such as nationality, marital status, age, education, and physical fitness. The candidates must be unmarried and ensure that they focus intensively on the training phase. They should hold Indian citizenship and pass the medical standards. Any violation can disqualify your application. So double-check all the criteria before applying for NDA training.
| Category | Requirements |
| Nationality | Indian or specialized equivalent |
| Marital Status | Unmarried male or female |
| Physical Fitness | Height, vision, and nonchronic issues. |
Age Limit
For NDA full-form training, the academy follows strict standards in age limits. A candidate’s age ranges from 16.5 to 19.5 years.
To join the first NDA batch of 2026, the candidates born between July 2, 2007, and July 1, 2010, can apply. For NDA 2 shifts, candidates can apply in a range from January 2, 2008, to January 1, 2011. With the structured training and no relaxation or exception for even a day, cadets are ensured to remain youthful yet mature in mind and take the leadership roles.
Educational Qualification
- According to candidate-specific job applications in the NDA force, the educational requirements vary.
- For the army wings, candidates with a 12th pass certificate from a recognized board can be accepted.
- For Navy and Air wings, the candidate must have a 12th pass with Physics and Mathematics.
- The art and commerce candidate can apply for the army, while the science students are open to all wings. Even the minimum pass-scored candidates are also sufficient, but they need a strong academic score in the NDA exams.
Physical And Medical Fitness
Beyond the height and weight eligibility, candidates needed physical and medical fitness to pass through the NDA. Candidates need a minimum of 14 dental points and no gynecomastia, piles, or hydrocele issues. Tattoos are allowed only on the inner forearm and the reverse areas of the hand for tribal culture.
Female candidates must meet the same prescribed physical and medical standards as per UPSC and SSB guidelines. They need to understand a regular fitness routine, such as running 2.4 km in 15 minutes and doing 40+ push-ups, to build readiness.
Exam Stages Guidance
As the saying goes, “a good beginning is half done,” candidates need to make a strong foundation to build their career in NDA services. Here they are
- Written Exam: The candidate needs to pass the UPSC written examination on mathematics (300 marks for 2.5 hours) and GAT (600 marks: English 200 and GK 400 for 2.5 hours). Candidates need to stay aware that each wrong question holds negative marks of one-third of the marks allotted to the question.
- SSB Interview: This interview is conducted for 5 days and tests the candidate’s Psychological response, test, and conference.
Day 1: screening (OIR, PPDT)
For Days 2-4: TAT, WAT, SRT, group tasks, lectures, and interviews
And Day 5: Conference
Medical Board: From head to toe, candidates must undergo thorough checkups. The fitness record of designated hospitals ensures that candidates pass or fail.
Merit List: Top-rank positions are allotted to branches by preference or vacancy available (~400 seats)
Preparation Strategies
- Plan your study plan with NCERT class 11-12 books and start practicing your learning with 10+ years of papers.
- Focus on advanced Math, English, GK, and physics and chemistry lessons.
- Learn daily current affairs and practice your knowledge with mock tests to upgrade your skills.
Final Takeaway
The NDA Academy helps shape young aspirants into confident leaders and officers who serve the nation. By understanding the NDA full form, eligibility rules, and selection stages, candidates can prepare better for the written exam and SSB interview. Visit the UPSC official website to stay informed and take the first step toward your dream service wing.
