Thousands of NDA aspirants waste 6+ months preparing, only to discover they don’t meet NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria—costing them an entire exam cycle and crushing their defence dreams. 25–30% of NDA rejections happen at eligibility verification, not exam performance or SSB interviews. One wrong assumption about age, education, or medical fitness, and your application is rejected before you even see the exam hall.
This complete guide breaks down every NDA eligibility requirement so you know exactly whether you qualify before investing time, money, and effort. We cover age limits (16.5–19.5 years), educational qualification (12th pass mandatory), citizenship rules (Indian only), medical fitness standards, character verification, and category-wise relaxations (OBC, SC/ST, EWS, PWD).
Are you actually eligible for NDA 2026? Don’t guess. Read this before applying—save 6 months of wasted preparation. Your NDA journey starts with knowing if you qualify.
NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To participate in the NDA 2026 exam, you must meet specific eligibility criteria, including age, completion of 12th grade, Indian citizenship, medical fitness, character, and required documents. Missing any of these will disqualify you from the attempt.
NDA Age Limit 2026 (The Most Critical Requirement)
For NDA 2026, your age must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years on the exam date, not the application date—this tight window makes age the most critical NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria. Even 1 day over 19.5 years disqualifies you instantly. “Age on exam date” means if the NDA 1 2026 exam falls in April 2026 and you’re born 15 January 2007, you’re 19 years 3 months—eligible. Born 1 June 2006? You crossed 19.5 years by exam date—ineligible. Service wards get 21 years maximum; verify exact notification dates.
| Category | Min Age | Max Age | Who Qualifies | Common Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/OBC | 16.5 yrs | 19.5 yrs | Born ~Jul 2007–Jan 2010 | Application date confusion |
| SC/ST | 16.5 yrs | 19.5 yrs | Same as General | Assuming relaxations |
| Service Wards | 16.5 yrs | 21 yrs | Ex-servicemen children | Missing proof |
Age matters because NDA cadets commit to 15+ years of service, requiring peak physical fitness for combat training. Cross-check DOB on Aadhaar/matric certificate against official notification. Don’t guess—calculate your NDA 2026 age eligibility in 30 seconds → [NDA Age Calculator].
Fun fact: NDA has India’s strictest armed forces age limit. Navy cuts even tighter at 19 years for some trades.
Educational Qualification for NDA 2026 (12th Pass Mandatory)
Educational qualification for NDA 2026 requires a 12th pass with final marks secured. Any stream—Science, Commerce, Arts—all equal. No minimum percentage required (pass marks = eligible). This simple rule trips thousands because aspirants misunderstand “pass,” uploading expected marks when final results are mandatory. Your 12th board exam must be completed + marks published + certificate issued. Ongoing exams make you ineligible—wait for results. All Indian boards accepted equally (CBSE, ICSE, state boards, NIOS ✓). International boards (IB, A-Levels) are usually not accepted.
| Requirement | Eligible | Not Eligible | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Status | Completed + final marks | Pending/expected marks | UPSC verifies final certificate |
| Stream | Science/Commerce/Arts | N/A (all equal) | No stream restrictions |
| Board | CBSE/ICSE/state/NIOS | IB/A-Levels | Indian boards only |
| Percentage | Any pass marks | N/A | No minimum threshold |
| Certificate | Original, 300 DPI scan | Blurry/wrong board name | OCR verification fails |
UPSC cross-checks uploaded marks against the certificate. Mismatch = rejection at document stage. Common errors: predicted marks, “Central Board” instead of CBSE, decimal typos (68.5% → 58.5%). Get the original mark sheet, scan it clearly, and copy the details exactly.
Citizenship & Nationality (Indian Citizen Only)
NDA citizenship requirement is absolute: Indian citizen ONLY. No eligibility for NRI, OCI, PIO, or foreigners—this NDA 2026 Eligibility Criteria disqualifies applicants instantly during verification. Your loyalty must be exclusively to India, as NDA cadets commit to mandatory 15+ years service in the Indian armed forces with salary, pension, and security clearance tied to the Indian government. Foreign allegiance conflicts with the military oath and national security.
Proof required: Aadhar card serves as primary citizenship proof, passport confirms Indian domicile as secondary, PAN card provides supporting evidence, and birth certificate works if others are unavailable.
| Status | Eligibility for NDA | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Citizen | ✅ ELIGIBLE | Not a citizen status |
| NRI | ❌ INELIGIBLE | Can serve the Indian armed forces |
| OCI | ❌ INELIGIBLE | Not full Indian citizen |
| PIO | ❌ INELIGIBLE | Not a full Indian citizen |
| Foreigner | ❌ INELIGIBLE | No citizenship rights |
| Dual Citizen | ⚠️ VERIFY | Check UPSC notification |
UPSC cross-checks the Aadhar database at the application. Police verification in hometown post-SSB. NRI/OCI status triggers automatic disqualification. Check Aadhar citizenship status, confirm passport Indian domicile, and upload Aadhar as the primary document.
Medical Fitness & Physical Requirements
NDA medical fitness requirements are non-negotiable—compulsory for all SSB-selected candidates at UPSC-approved centres after the written exam merit list, before SSB. Failure disqualifies you even if you pass SSB. Height minimum: Males 162 cm, females 157.5 cm (Navy stricter at 165 cm+). No waivers. Eyesight: 6/9 each eye, uncorrected (glasses allowed in the Army, not the Navy). Colour blindness disqualifies via the Ishihara test. LASIK is acceptable if >1 year post-op.
Disqualifiers: Asthma (any history), diabetes (Type 1/2), persistent hypertension, epilepsy, hearing impairment (audiometry fail), flat feet, family psychiatric history flagged. Tests include a 1.6 km run, push-ups, 5 cm chest expansion, and body composition. Combat fitness demands 15+ years of endurance training, which is intensely physical, not desk jobs.
| Parameter | Requirement | Flexibility | Disqualifies If |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height (Male) | ≥162 cm | Navy/Air Force stricter | <162 cm |
| Height (Female) | ≥157.5 cm | Some branches lenient | <157.5 cm |
| Eyesight | 6/9 each eye | Glasses in some services | <6/9 corrected |
| Color Blindness | None | No flexibility | Ishihara test fail |
| Asthma/Diabetes | None | Zero flexibility | Any history |
| Hearing | Normal | No flexibility | Audiometry fail |
Prepare: Baseline medical checkup, measure height multiple times, consult an optometrist, and take a civilian fitness test. [NDA Medical Examination Full Guide → What happens at medical exam] – coming soon
Character & Personal Eligibility (Criminality, Morality)
NDA character eligibility is absolute: any criminal conviction disqualifies you permanently, even minor crimes like petty theft or assault. Pending cases disqualify upon conviction. Police verification reveals all past records during hometown checks post-SSB. Character certificate required from school principal or employer, certifying no conviction and good moral character—verified at document stage and police investigation.
Marital status carries no restriction: single, married (provide certificate), divorced/separated (legal documents), or even with children (declaration needed). Tattoos are controversial—small, respectful ones are usually acceptable, offensive/extremist disqualifying. Face/neck tattoos face stricter scrutiny; the Navy is the strictest, while the Army is the most lenient. Debts no automatic bar but must be disclosed. False claims trigger disqualification.
| Criterion | Acceptable | Disqualifying | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Record | None | Any conviction | Police verification |
| Marital Status | All (single/married/divorced) | Lying about status | Marriage/divorce docs |
| Tattoos | Small/respectful | Offensive/extremist | Medical inspection |
| Character Cert | From school/employer | N/A | Document verification |
| Pending Cases | Disclosed honestly | Conviction later | Post-SSB police check |
Prepare now: Obtain a character certificate, disclose marital status accurately, check tattoo guidelines, and prepare for thorough police verification. Lying about anything = permanent ban.
Category-Specific Eligibility (OBC, SC/ST, EWS, PWD, Service Candidates)
NDA 2026 category eligibility follows standard criteria with specific document requirements. General category gets no relaxations (16.5–19.5 years, 12th pass, Indian citizen). OBC requires family income <₹8 lakh annually (creamy layer rule)—above this, apply as General. OBC certificate valid within 3 years; income proof mandatory (ITR, salary slips). SC/ST needs a valid caste certificate (typically 3 years old) from the district authority—no income restriction. EWS demands <₹8 lakh income with a state-issued certificate; cannot claim both OBC + EWS. PWD requires ≥40% disability certificate from a UPSC-approved centre—service compatibility varies by type. Service candidates (ex-servicemen wards) get an age of up to 21 years with parent service proof.
⚠️ Creamy layer mistake costs thousands annually: ₹7.99 lakh income = OBC-eligible. ₹8.01 lakh = General only. Verify income carefully.
| Category | Age Limit | Education | Income/Proof | Certificate | Key Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 16.5–19.5 yrs | 12th pass | None | None | Standard criteria |
| OBC | 16.5–19.5 yrs | 12th pass | <₹8 lakh (creamy layer) | Valid 3 yrs old | Income verification |
| SC/ST | 16.5–19.5 yrs | 12th pass | None | Caste cert (3 yrs) | Certificate validity |
| EWS | 16.5–19.5 yrs | 12th pass | <₹8 lakh | State-issued | Cannot claim OBC |
| PWD | 16.5–19.5 yrs | 12th pass | None | ≥40% disability | Service fit |
| Service | 16.5–21 yrs | 12th pass | None | Ex-serviceman proof | Parent verification |
Unsure about the creamy layer? → [OBC Calculator] Verify certificates before applying—all claims cross-checked during verification.
NDA 2026 Eligibility Verification Checklist (Use This Before You Apply)
Before filling the form, run through this quick NDA 2026 eligibility checklist so you don’t waste six months on an ineligible attempt. In under 30 seconds, you should be able to confirm your status across age, education, citizenship, medical fitness, character, and category. If even one point doesn’t fit, pause and verify with documents or UPSC rules before applying.
Key Takeaways – Confirm Your NDA 2026 Eligibility TODAY
Eligibility verification takes under 2 hours. Skipping it costs you 6+ months. NDA 2026 eligibility criteria require age 16.5–19.5 years on exam date, 12th pass from any stream, Indian citizenship only, medical fitness (males ≥162 cm, females ≥157.5 cm, 6/9 eyesight, no asthma/diabetes), clean character record, and valid category documents. OBC needs <₹8 lakh creamy layer income; SC/ST requires a 3-year certificate; EWS demands income proof.
Ineligibility means waiting 6 months for the next exam—thousands waste years discovering this post-SSB. Verify today before applying to avoid rejection heartbreak.
You’re equipped to confirm NDA 2026 eligibility confidently. Download the checklist above, gather Aadhar/12th certificate/category docs, secure character certificate, and bookmark the UPSC notification. Start verification now—don’t delay your NDA dream.
Next: [NDA 1 2026 Application Form: 7 Mistakes Guide →]
Good luck, future NDA officer! 🎖️
