UPSC NDA 2026 Eligibility: Age Limit & Qualification

From the official Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) documents · last checked 18 October 2026

Age limit

For NDA & NA (II) 2026, only unmarried men and women born not earlier than 1 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011 can apply. The same age window applies to every wing (Army, Navy, Air Force) and to the Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme). Your date of birth is taken only from your Matriculation/Secondary School certificate or an equivalent. Horoscopes, affidavits and municipal birth extracts are not accepted.

Educational qualification

Nationality & other conditions

• You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has moved from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia, or Vietnam to settle in India permanently. The second and third groups need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India. Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need this certificate.
• Marital status: only unmarried men and unmarried women can apply. You must not marry until you finish your full training. A candidate who marries after applying will not be selected. A cadet who marries during training is discharged and must repay the money spent on training.
• Men and women are separate entries. Their written results and final merit lists are made separately, as per the vacancies for each.
• Service preferences: you must list the services (1 to 4) you want, in order of preference. You are considered only for the services you list, and you cannot change them after submitting the form.
• Physical standards (short note): you must be physically and mentally fit. Medical standards follow the Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces (1st Edition), available on joinindianarmy.nic.in. The notification advises fixing common minor problems early, such as ear wax, deviated nasal septum, hydrocele/phimosis, overweight or underweight, under-sized chest, piles, gynaecomastia, tonsillitis and varicocele.
• Permanent tattoos are allowed only on the inner forearm (inside of elbow to wrist) and the back of the hand. Tribal tattoos as per custom are considered case by case.
• Air Force: a candidate who has failed CPSS/PABT before cannot apply for the flying branch, but can now be considered for Air Force Ground Duty branches if willing.
• Application fee: Rs 100. SC/ST candidates, female candidates and wards of serving or ex-JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military Schools or Sainik Schools pay no fee. OBC and EWS candidates must pay the full fee.
• Candidates who resigned or were withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from any armed forces training academy cannot apply. Candidates removed from NDA or INA earlier for lack of officer-like qualities or on disciplinary grounds will not be admitted. Those who left on medical grounds or voluntarily can be admitted if they meet the rules.
• Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any commission in the Defence Services cannot apply.