National Defence Academy
& Naval Academy

1. National Defence Academy Examination

The candidates wish to join National Defence Academy (NDA) have to appear in the entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi. The authority schedules the examination two times in a year in the month of April and September.

The candidates joining Indian Naval Academy is a Technical Branch ofthe Navy. The candidates Joining Indian Naval Academy would undergo 4 years B.Tech course and would be given an opportunity to join Executive and Technical Branches of the Navy subject to availability of vacancies.

Vacancies are provisional and may be changed depending on the availability of training capacity of National Defence Academy

Stages Of Selection Process

  1. Written Exam
  2. SSB Interview
  3. Medical Test
  4. Merit List

2. Educational Qualification

For Army Wing of National Defence Academy : 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University. Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination.

Those candidates who have yet to qualify in the 12th class or equivalent examination are allowed to appear in the UPSC Examination should note that this is only a special concession given to them.

Candidates who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of Commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible for admission to the examination and if admitted, their candidature will be canceled.

3. Centers Of Examination

Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bareilly, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharwad, Dispur, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jorhat, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji (Goa), Patna, Port Blair, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Udaipur, Vishakhapatnam

4. Conditions of Eligibility

Physical Standards

  1. NATIONALITY : A CITIZEN OF INDIA
  2. AGE LIMITS, MALE Gender AND MARITAL/UNMARITAL STATUS : 16 1/2 TO 19'/2 Years.
Notification 2018 2019 2020 2021
NDA - 1 02 July 1999 to 01 July 2002 02 July 2000 to 01 July 2003 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2004 02 July 2002 to 01 July 2005
NDA - 2 02 Jan 2000 to 01 Jan 2003 02 Jan 2001 to 01 Jan 2004 02 Jan 2002 to 01 Jan 2005 02 Jan 2003 to 01 Jan 2006

Candidates must be physically and mentally fit as per the physical standards maintained by the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination

Candidates are rewired to avoid the following minor defects at the time of Medical Examination

  • Wax (Ears)
  • Deviated Nasal Septum
  • Hydrocele / Phimosis
  • Overweight / Underweight
  • Under Sized Chest
  • Piles
  • Tonsillitis
  • Gynaecomastia
  • Varicocele

5. Body Tattoos

Permanent body tattoos are accepted only on inner face of forearm. Tattoos on the inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of hand/Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable. Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing custom and traditions will be permitted on a case to case basis. Comdt Selection Centre will be competent auth for clearing such cases.

6. Height & Weight Standards

The Minimum Height Measurement is 157 cms (162.5 cms. for Air Force). For Gorkhas and belonging to hills of North-Eastern areas of India, Garhwal and Kumaon, the Minimum heights will be 5 cms. less. In case of candidates from Lakshadweep the Minimum Height can be reduced by 2 cms.

Height & Weight Standards for Army / Air Force

Height (cms)
(without shoe)
Weight in Kgs
(16 - 17 Years)
Weight in Kgs
(17 - 18 Years)
Weight in Kgs
(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

Height & Weight Standards for Navy

Height (cms)
(without shoe)
Weight in Kgs
(16 - 17 Years)
Weight in Kgs
(17 - 18 Years)
Weight in Kgs
(18 - 19 Years)
152 44 45 46
155 45 46 47
157 46 47 49
160 47 48 50
162 48 50 52
165 50 52 53
167 52 53 55
170 53 55 57
173 55 57 59
175 57 59 61
178 59 61 62
180 61 63 64

Note - 1 :

"Individual's weight is considered normal if it is within ±10% departure from average given weight". However, In Individuals with heavy bones and broad build as well as individuals with thin build but otherwise healthy this may be given some relaxation on merit.

Note - 2 :

Height relaxation is upto 2.5 cm. (5 cm. for Navy) may be allowed where the Medical Board certifies that the candidate is likely to grow and come up to the required standard on completion of his training.

There will be some extra physical requirements as a pilot in the Air Force. The acceptable length are as follows

Minimum Maximum
Leg Length 99.00 cms 120.00 cms
Thigh Length - 64.00 cms
Sitting Height 81.50 cms 96.00 cms

7. Other Physical Standards

Candidates recommended by the Services Selection Board will go through a medical examination by Board of Service Medical Officers. Candidates who are declared fit by the Medical Board will be admitted to the academy.

  1. The candidate should be in good physical & mental health and free from any kind of disease/disability which is likely to interfere with the efficient performance of Military duties.
  2. There should be no symptoms of weak constitution, bodily defects or underweight. The Candidate should not be over weighted or obese.
  3. Well developed chest. Fully expanded chest should not be less than 1cms. The minimum range of expansion after full inspiration should be 5 cms. Chest X-Ray is compulsory and will be taken to rule out any chest diseases.
  4. No maldevelopment or impairment of function of the bones orjoint
  5. No past history of mental breakdown or fits.
  6. The hearing should be normal. A candidate should be able to hear a forced whisper with each ear at a distance of 610 cms. in aquiet room. There should be no evidence of present or past disease of the ear, nose and throat. Audiometric test will be done for AF. Audiometric hearing loss should not be greaterthan 20 db in frequencies between 250 and 8000 Hz. There is no impediment of speech.
  7. Blood Pressure should be normal with no signs of functional or organic disease of the heart and blood vessels.
  8. There should be no enlargement of liver or spleen. There will be not any evidence of disease of internal organs of the abdomen.
  9. Un-operated hernias will make a candidate unfit. In case of Hernia which has been operated, a minimum of 6 months must have passed prior to final medical examination before commencement of the course.
  10. No hydrocele, varicocele or piles.
  11. Urine examination will be done and any abnormality if detected will be a cause for disqualification.
  12. Any kind of skin diseases which is likely to cause disability or disfigurement will also be a cause for rejection
  13. USG abdomen examination will be carried out and any congential structural anomaly or disease of the abdominal organs will be a cause for rejection in Armed Forces.
  14. Candidates should have sufficient number of natural and sound teeth. A minimum of 14 dental points will be accepted. When 32 teeth are present, The total dental points are 22. A candidate should not be suffering from severe pyorrhoea.
  15. Routine ECG for Air Force candidates must be within normal limits.