must be checked by the candidates before applying. The candidates who want to join National Defense Academy (NDA) have to appear in the entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi.

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The authority schedules the examination two times within a year in . All the aspirants are suggested to check the prescribed eligibility mentioned here. Only candidates who meet the eligibility will be allowed to fill application form.

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NDA 2025 will be conducted for the All India candidates whose desire is to join Indian Defense forces. Through NDA, the candidates are recruited in Air Force, Navy, and Army.

The interested candidates can fill NDA 2025 application form from (for NDA I) and from(for NDA II).

Before applying, must ensure your eligibility as only those who have satisfying the eligibility condition are eligible to write the exam. Confirm your eligibility from here. The NDA 2025 eligibility criteria are given below:

Candidates other than the citizen of India and Gorkha subjects of Nepal have required a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

The DOB mentioned in the Matriculation/Higher Secondary Examination Certificate available or an equivalent certificate will be considered by the commission.

Candidates are informed not to marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application though successful at this or any subsequent exam will not be selected for training. A candidate who marries during the training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him by the Government.

The minimum qualification required for Indian Army wing, Navy, and Air Force is as follows:

Students who have debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of Commission in the Defence Services are not eligible to apply. Those candidates have failed INSB/PABT earlier are not eligible for Air Force.

The detailed physical standards are mentioned here:

Candidates are required to rectify minor defects/ailments in order
to speed up finalization of a medical examination conducted at the Military Hospital after being recommended at the SSB. A few of such commonly found defects/ailments are listed below:

The minimum height required for entry into the Armed Forces for female Candidates is 152 cm. Gorkhas and candidates belonging to Hills of North Eastern region of India, Garhwal and Kumaon will be accepted with a minimum height of 148 cm. An allowance for growth of 02 cm will be made for candidates below 18 yrs at the time of examination. The minimum height requirement for the Flying Branch is 163 cm. Flying Branch also requires other anthropometric standards like sitting height, leg length and thigh length.

“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 a thin build but otherwise healthy this may be given some relaxation on merit.

Height relaxation is up to 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 is as follows:

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.

Past medical history of diseases or any injury of the spine or sacroiliac joints, either with or without objective signs which have prevented the candidate from successfully following a physically active life, is a cause for rejection for commissioning in IAF. History of spinal fracture/prolapsed intervertebral disc and surgical treatment for these conditions will entail rejection. Any of the following conditions detected radiologically during medical exam will disqualify a candidate for Air Force:

Mild Kyphosis or Lordosis where deformity is barely noticeable and there is no pain or restriction of movement will not preclude acceptance.

In case of noticeable Scoliosis or suspicion of any other abnormality or spinal deformity, more than mild, appropriate X-rays of the spine are to be taken and the Examinee referred for specialist’s advice.

Any of the following conditions detected at the time of X-Ray examination will be disqualified for Armed Forces:

• More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis
• Spondylolisthesis/Spondylosis/Spondylolysis
• Herniated nucleus pulposes.
• Compression fracture of Vertebra.
• Sacaralisation 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 Sacaralisation Unilateral or Bilateral
• Spina Bifida other than SV 1 and LV 5 if completely Sacralised
• Any other abnormality, if so considered by specialist

The distance vision (corrected) should be 6/6 in better eye (6/9 in worse eye). Myopia should not be more than 2.5 D and hypermetropia not more than 3.5 D including Astigmatism. Internal examination of the eye will be done by means of opthalmoscope to rule out any disease of the eye. A candidate should have good binocular vision. The color vision standard will be (CP-III) for Army.

A candidate should be able to recognize red and green colors. Candidates will be required to produce certificates that neither he nor any member of his family has suffered from congenital night blindness. Candidates who have undergone or have the evidence of having undergone Radial Keratotomy, to improve the visual acuity will be permanently rejected for all the Services. Candidates who have undergone Laser Surgery for correction of refractive error are also not permitted to defence services. The detailed eyesight eligibility is given below:

Eyesight Eligibility for Naval Candidates:

Eyesight Eligibility for Air Force Candidates:

Maddox Rod Test

The details of Maddox Rot Test are as the following:

Candidates wear the spectacles habitually then not eligible for AF. Hand held Stereoscope–All of BSV grades Convergence–Up to 10 cm Cover test for distant and near-Lateral divergence/convergence recovery rapid and complete Radial Keratotomy, Photo Refractive Keratotomy/laser in Situ, Keratomileusis (PRK/LASIK) surgeries for correction of refractive errors are not accepted for any Air Force duties.

In case of any doubt or query regarding NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025, you may ask us by commenting below.