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NDA

NDA Details And Selection Procedure

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the officer defence service training institute of the Indian Armed Forces, where only male cadets were given officer’s training. But in compliance with the interim direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, now women candidates have also been allowed to take part in the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination. In NDA, cadets of the three services i.e. the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force train together before they go on to respective service academy for further pre-commission training. The NDA is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It is the first tri-service academy in the world. To now more about NDA Eligibility Criteria:

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of India conducts NDA examination to select eligible candidates as Commissioned Officers in Indian Armed Forces. NDA selection process comprises two stages – 1. written exam and 2. Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. First, all candidates who fills NDA online registration form need to appear in the written exam. Candidates qualifying the written exam need to appear for SSB Interview for Intelligence and Personality Test.

NDA Notification 2022 - Important Dates

NDA (1) notification events NDA (1) notification dates
Release of NDA 1 notification
30-Dec-2021
Release of application form
30-Dec-2021
Last date to apply
19-Jan-2021
Written exam
18-Apr-2021
NDA (2) Notification events NDA (2) Notification dates
Release of notification
Jun-2022
Application form
July 2022
Admit Card
August 2022
Withdrawal of application form
Jul-2022
Written exam
November 2022

NDA-I Application Form 2022

Union Public Service Commission has released NDA (I) 2022 application form for men & women candidates. The unmarried candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria in terms of nationality, age, marital status, educational qualification, etc. as per the NDA (I) 2022 notification published on 30-12-2021, can apply for the exam. The physical standards and number of vacancies for women candidates will be informed later after it is notified by the Ministry of Defence. NDA application form comprises two parts, I & II. Candidates can check below the steps to fill the application form.
  • Registration for the exam by filling the required details
  • Choosing the preferred branches
  • Verifying the details
  • Generation of registration ID
  • Payment of application fee
  • Selecting the exam center
  • Uploading the signature and photograph

NDA Eligibility Criteria

Preparations are underway at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune) for the induction of women cadets. Training and administrative arrangements will be made at NDA for the future women cadets. The induction of women for the three-year training course at NDA is a major step in ensuring gender equality. Now women candidates can hold a permanent commission, combat, and command roles in the defence services.

Ministry of Defence will formulate age, nature of training, intake strength, training standards, medical and physical standards for women candidates. Besides, physical infrastructure such as residential quarters for women with strict physical separation, including separate bathroom cubicles, will be constructed. Equitation, swimming, games and sports facilities will be developed for the female cadets.

Nationality/ Citizenship

To apply for NDA, candidates must be
  • 1. A citizen of India or
  • 2. A subject of Nepal or
  • 3. A subject of Bhutan
  • 4. A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India or
  • 5. A person originally Indian who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
  • Provided that a candidate belonging to categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 must be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Indian government. Certificate of eligibility is not required for Gorkha candidates from Nepal.

Age Limit

The age limit of candidates should be as given below.
  • For NDA 2, candidates must have born not earlier than January 2, 2002, and not later than January 1, 2005
  • For NDA 1, candidates should be born not earlier than July 2, 2001, and not later than July 1, 2004
  • The commission will accept the date of birth that is entered into Class 10 or 12 certificates
  • Candidates need to submit these certificates after the declaration of the result of the written exam

Educational Qualification

The educational qualification prescribed for admission to the different academies is given below.
The Army wing of NDA Passed Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognized board
The Air Force and Naval wings of NDA and 10+2 Cadet entry scheme at INA
Passed Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics
  • Candidates who are appearing in Class 12 or equivalent examination can apply
  • Candidates appearing in Class 11 exam are not eligible

Marital Status

Only unmarried male and female candidates can apply for the exam. Candidates should not marry until they complete their training. Candidates who marry during the training will be discharged and have to refund all expenditure spend on them by the government.

Physical Standards

Candidates must be physically fit according to the physical standards for the NDA exam.

Height & Weight for Army and Air Force

The minimum height prescribed is 157 cms (For Air Force it is 162.5 cms). Certain exceptions are applicable for candidates based on the region from where they belong.
Height (in cms) Weight (in kgs)
16-17 years
17-18 years
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
For Gorkhas and candidates belonging to hills of North-Eastern areas of India, Garhwal, and Kumaon, the minimum height will be 5 cms less than the figure mentioned above. For candidates belonging to Lakshadweep, the minimum height standard is reduced by 2 cms.

Height and Weight requirements for Navy
Height (in cms) Weight (in kgs)
16 years
18 years
20 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
183
63
65
67
Candidates who wish to be pilot need to fulfill the following requirements.
  • Leg Length: The minimum of 99 cms and maximum of 120 cms
  • Thigh Length: Maximum of 64 cms
  • Sitting Height: The minimum of 81.50 cms and maximum is 96 cms

Visual Standards

  • The distance vision (corrected) of candidates should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye
  • Myopia should not be more than 2.5 D
  • Hyper metropia not more than 3.5 D including astigmatism
  • Air Force candidates must not wear spectacles

Candidates can check below the visual standards for Navy and Air Force.

Specification Naval Air Force
Uncorrected without glass
6/6
6/6, 6/9
Corrected with glass
6/6
6/6 (only for Hypermetropia)
Limits of Myopia
-0.75
Nil
Limits of Hypermetropia
+1.5
+2.00 D Sph
Limits of Colour Perception
I
Nil
Binocular Vision
III
Nil
Manifest Myopia
N.A.
Nil Re
Tinoscopic Myopia
N.A.
0.5
Colour Vision
N.A.
CP-I (MLT)
Astigmatism
N.A.
+0.75 Cyl (within + 2.0 D.Max)
Near Vision
N.A.
N-5 each eye

Candidates must not suffer from any of the following minor conditions.

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

Guidelines regarding Tattoos

  • Candidates must ensure that any permanent body tattoos should be present only on their inner side of forearm
  • Under no circumstances, UPSC accepts tattoos on the inside of the elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand
  • Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are also not acceptable
  • In case a candidate belongs to a tribe where it is customary to have tattoo, acceptance will be granted considering the traditions involved

Spinal Conditions

Candidates must not have the following diseases.
  • Granulomatous disease of spine
  • Arthritis/spondylosis (Rheumatoid arthritis and allied disorders / Ankylosing spondylitis/ Osteoarthrosis, spondylosis and degenerative joint disease / Non-articular rheumatism (e.g. lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago etc.) & Miscellaneous disorders including SLE, polymyositis, vasculitis
  • Spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis
  • Compression fracture of vertebrae
  • SC Heuerman’s disease (Adolescent kyphosis)
  • Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of cervical spine
  • Unilateral / Bilateral cervical ribs with demon stable neurological or circulatory deficit
  • Scoliosis more than 15 degree as measured by Cobb’s method
  • Degenerative Disc. disease
  • Presence of Schmorl’s nodes at more than one level
  • Atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial anomalies
  • Hemi vertebrae and/or incomplete block (fused) vertebrae at any level in cervical, dorsal or lumbar spine and complete block (fused) vertebrae at more than one level in cervical or dorsal spine
  • Unilateral Sacralisation or lumbarisation (Complete or incomplete) at all levels and bilateral incomplete sacralisation or lumbarisation
  • Any other abnormality if so considered by the specialist

X-Ray Exam

Any of the following conditions will disqualify the candidature of candidates.
  • Granulomatous disease of spine.
  • Arthritis / spondylosis
  • Scoliosis more than 15 degree as measured by Cobb’s Method (10 degree for Army and Navy).
  • More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis
  • Spondylolisthesis / Spondylosis / Spondylolysis
  • Herniated nucleus pulposes
  • Compression fracture of Vertebra
  • Sacralisation Disease
  • Cervical ribs with demonstrable neurological or Circulatory deficit
  • Presence of Schmorl’s node at more than one level
  • Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies
  • Incomplete Sacralisation Unilateral or Bilateral
  • Spina Bifida other than SV 1 and LV 5 if completely Sacralised
  • Any other abnormality, if so considered by specialist

Other medical conditions

  • There should not be any symptoms of the weak constitution or bodily defects
  • Candidates must have a well-developed chest
  • The function of the bones or joints should be good
  • No history of medical breakdown or fits
  • Candidates must have normal hearing capabilities
  • No impediment of speech
  • Normal blood pressure with no signs of heart disease or blood vessel disease
  • No liver or spleen enlargement
  • No abnormalities in urine
  • No skin diseases
  • No abnormalities in USG abdomen examination
  • A sufficient number of natural and sound teeth
  • Routine ECG for Air Force candidates must fall within normal limits