Can you tell me about the eligibility requirement for applying for National Defence Academy (NDA) Examination conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)?

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the joint services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together before they go on to respective service academies for further pre-commissioning training. It is the first tri-service academy in the world.


NDA Criteria for Nationality

A candidate must be either one of the following:

A citizen of India
A subject of Nepal
A subject of Bhutan
A Tibetan refugee who moved to India, before January 1, 1962 with the intention of settling here permanently
A PIO (Person of Indian origin) is someone who has migrated from the countries specified below, with the intention of permanently settling in India. The nationals from following countries would fall under this category.
Pakistan
Burma
Sri Lanka
East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (Formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia
Vietnam


Age Limits, Gender & Marital Status:

The minimum age limit to be eligible for NDA is 16.5 years while the maximum age limit is 19.5 years. The commission will accept the date of birth that is entered in the Class 10 or 12 certificates.

Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for NDA examination. Girls are not allowed for the NDA entrance examination.


NDA Eligibility - Educational Qualification

1. 10+2 for the Army Wing or the National Defence Academy

2. 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics for Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) at the Indian Naval Academy.

Candidates appearing/passing class 11 exams are not eligible for the exam.


Physical Standards

1. One must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/disability which is likely to interfere with the efficient performance of Military duties.

2. The minimum acceptable height is 157 cms (162.5 cms. for Air Force). Chest should be well developed. Fully expanded chest should not be less than 81 cms. The minimum range of expansion after full inspiration should be 5 cms.

3. Distance Vision (Corrected): Better Eye 6/6; Worse Eye 6/9. Myopia should not be more than -2.5D including astigmatism and manifest hypermetropia not more than +3.5D including Astigmatism. The Colour vision standard will be CP-III (Defective Safe).


Selection Process

UPSC NDA exam will consist of 2 stages, i.e., written exam and SSB Interview. UPSC prepares a list of candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the written examination as fixed by the Commission at their discretion.

Such candidates shall appear before a Services Selection Board (SSB) for Intelligence and Personality Test where candidates for the Army/Navy wings of the NDA and 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of Indian Naval Academy will be assessed on Officers Potentiality and those for the Air Force in addition to the above will have to qualify Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS).