NDA 2 Eligibility 2026: Age Limit, Qualification, Physical Standards

The NDA 2 Eligibility Criteria 2026 include requirements for age limit, date of birth, nationality, marital status, educational qualification, gender, and physical and medical fitness, for admission to the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy. For NDA 2 2026, both unmarried male and female candidates can apply. Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the Class 12 exam. The Army Wing accepts candidates with the Class 12 qualification, whereas the Air Force and Naval Wings, including the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy, require Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as subjects at the Class 12 level. Candidates’ age must fall within 16.5 and 19.5 years. Alongside, they must also be physically and medically fit for the Academy.

For NDA 2 2026, UPSC has scheduled the NDA exam 2026 for September 13, 2026. The notification was released on May 20, 2026, and the application deadline was extended to June 11, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The examination has 394 vacancies across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy.

NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview

The eligibility requirements differ slightly depending on the NDA wing selected. The Army Wing accepts candidates from any Class 12 stream, whereas the Air Force and Naval Wings require PCM in Class 12.

UPSC's official NDA II 2026 schedule confirms the September 13 examination date and 394 vacancies.

NDA Age Limit 2026

The NDA Age Limit 2026 is determined through the candidate's date of birth. Therefore, candidates should check whether their DOB falls within the eligibility range specified in the NDA 2 notification 2026 before applying. For NDA 2 2026, only unmarried male and female candidates born within the prescribed date-of-birth range are eligible to apply.

NDA 2 2026 Age Limit

Therefore:

• A candidate born before January 2, 2008 is not eligible for NDA 2 2026.
• A candidate born between January 2, 2008 and January 1, 2011 is eligible, subject to the other conditions.
• A candidate born after January 1, 2011 is not eligible.

Which Document Is Used for NDA Age Verification?

UPSC considers the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate, or an equivalent recognised certificate, for age verification. Candidates should ensure that the DOB entered during registration matches the information in their qualifying certificate, as any discrepancy can lead to disqualification.

NDA Age Limit: NDA 1 vs NDA 2 2026

The eligibility window changes between the two annual NDA examinations because each examination is for a different course intake.

UPSC's examination archive lists NDA 1 2026 for April 12 and NDA 2 2026 for September 13.

NDA Marital Status Requirement 2026

For NDA 2 2026, only unmarried male and female candidates who meet the other prescribed eligibility conditions can apply. Candidates must also undertake to remain unmarried until they complete their full training at the National Defence Academy or Naval Academy.

A candidate who marries after submitting the UPSC NDA Form 2026, even after qualifying the written examination or subsequent stages, will not be selected for training. Similarly, a candidate who marries during the training period will be discharged and can be required to refund the expenditure incurred by the Government on their training.

NDA Educational Qualification 2026

The NDA educational qualification 2026 depends on the wing or academy for which the candidate is applying.

The Army Wing does not require Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Candidates can apply after Class 12 irrespective of their stream, provided they satisfy the remaining eligibility requirements.

For the Air Force and Naval Wings, PCM is compulsory.

Can Class 12 Appearing Students Apply for NDA 2026?

Yes, candidates who are appearing in or have appeared for the Class 12 or equivalent examination can apply for NDA 2026. This provision applies even if the Class 12 result or certificate is not available at the time of application. However, candidates appearing in the Class 11 examination are not eligible.

For NDA 2 2026, candidates who qualify for the subsequent stages but are unable to produce their Class 12 or equivalent certificate at the time of the SSB interview must submit proof of passing by June 10, 2027. Failure to provide the required proof by the prescribed date can lead to cancellation of candidature.

NDA Eligibility 2026: Nationality

The NDA nationality criteria allow Indian citizens and certain specified categories of foreign nationals/persons of Indian origin to apply, subject to the prescribed conditions.

Candidates who require a Certificate of Eligibility must obtain it from the Government of India. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from this certificate requirement under the prescribed rules.

NDA Eligibility 2026: Physical Standards

Meeting the educational and age requirements does not guarantee final admission. Candidates must also satisfy the physical and medical standards prescribed for NDA and the Naval Academy.

The medical examination is conducted later in the selection process. Candidates recommended by the SSB are required to undergo medical assessment before final selection.

UPSC's NDA rules advise candidates to ensure that they are physically fit before applying because medical unfitness can prevent admission even after success in the written examination and SSB.

Common Medical Factors Checked

The prescribed medical assessment covers areas such as:

• Height and weight
• Eyesight and colour vision
• Hearing
• Dental health
• Chest and respiratory fitness
• Bones and joints
• Overall physical fitness
• Other conditions specified in the NDA medical standards

Candidates should not treat the absence of a fixed minimum height in the general eligibility section as automatic medical clearance. Wing-specific and service-specific medical standards apply during selection.

NDA Height and Weight Requirements 2026

There is no single height-and-weight figure that applies identically to every NDA candidate and every service. The medical standards depend on factors including the service/wing and prescribed defence medical rules.

Therefore, candidates should avoid relying on generic online tables claiming that one fixed height or weight guarantees NDA eligibility.

The final assessment is made under the medical standards applicable to the candidate's entry and service.

NDA Vision Requirements 2026

The NDA Vision Requirements 2026 form part of the medical standards for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy. Candidates must meet the required standards for visual acuity, refractive error, colour vision and overall eye health. The vision requirements vary depending on the branch for which a candidate is being considered.

NDA Tattoo Rules 2026

Candidates should also check the prescribed tattoo restrictions before appearing for medical examination.

Permanent tattoos are generally permitted only in specified locations, including the inner face of the forearm and the back of the hand, subject to the applicable defence rules. Tattoos outside permitted areas can result in medical rejection.

Candidates with tattoos should therefore verify the latest medical instructions in the official NDA notification before proceeding.

Who is Not Eligible for NDA 2 2026?

Meeting the basic age and educational criteria does not automatically make a candidate eligible for final admission.

Candidates may be disqualified at later stages if they:

• Fail to meet the prescribed medical standards.
• Fail to satisfy the required educational qualification.
• Provide incorrect information in the application.
• Fail to produce the required certificates.
• Do not satisfy the marital-status condition.
• Have been withdrawn from specified Armed Forces training establishments on disciplinary grounds, where the NDA rules make them ineligible.

Candidates must ensure that all information entered in the application matches their official documents.

NDA Eligibility 2026: Selection Process

Eligibility is checked across multiple stages rather than only during application.

NDA Selection Stages

Written Examination → SSB Interview → Medical Examination → Final Merit List

The written examination is followed by the SSB Intelligence and Personality Test for candidates who qualify the written stage. Medical fitness is then assessed before final merit and admission.

Therefore, a candidate who meets the NDA age limit and educational qualification but fails the prescribed medical standards cannot secure final admission.

NDA Eligibility 2026: Important Documents

Candidates should keep the following documents ready for verification:

The Class 10 certificate is particularly important for date-of-birth verification. Candidates should ensure that the DOB entered in the NDA application exactly matches the certificate.

NDA Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs