NDA & NA (I) and (II) Exam

What is NDA & NA (I) and (II) Exam?

The NDA exam is conducted by UPSC for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA. This exam is a gateway for candidates looking forward to joining Defence Forces including Army, Navy and Air Force.

This is a national level exam conducted twice a year: NDA I and NDA II to help candidates make a career in Defence services. National Defence Academy & Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Examination will be a two-step process where candidates first need to take the exam and then qualify the personality test or interview conducted by the Service Selection Board (SSB). The UPSC is solely responsible for issuing guidelines for selection and the final conduct of the entrance examination.

Supreme Court Allows Women To Appear For UPSC NDA Exam

On August 18, the Supreme Court has passed an interim order to allow women to join UPSC National Defence Academy & Naval Academy (NDA & NA) exam. The apex court has directed the concerned authority to make necessary arrangements that allow women to sit for the UPSC NDA (II) exam 2021 scheduled on November 14.

NDA & NA (I) 2022

The Commission will release the NDA & NA (I) 2021 notification on 22 December, 2021. The online applications will be accepted until January 11, 2022. The notification will release for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 147th Course, and for the 109th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from January 2022. The number of vacancies are given below for NDA & NA (I) 2022. 

Note: Candidates should note that the 120 vacancies under Air Force including 28 for Ground Duties. 

NDA & NA (II) 2022

The Commission will release the NDA & NA (II) 2022 notification on May 18, 2022. The online applications will be accepted until June 14, 2022. The notification was released for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 146th Course, and for the 108th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from 2nd June 2022. The approximate number of vacancies are given below for NDA & NA (II) 2022. 

NDA Notification 2022

Every year, the UPSC releases the NDA exam notification to shortlist the candidates for the courses in National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA). Candidates who are aspiring for the Defence Services are advised to download NDA notification pdf. The recruitment NDA exam notification contains all the details such as application process, eligibility, exam pattern and selection process. Explore the NDA notification 2022 pdf below. 

NDA Application Form 2022

The first step of the selection process will begin with the NDA registration. After checking all the details meticulously in the NDA notification, candidates should start registering for the exam. The NDA exam application form will be available only on the official website of the UPSC. Candidates are advised to explore the complete details about NDA application form steps below.  

• Visit the official website of UPSC
• Go to the ''Apply Online'' tab
• Select the ''Online Application for Various Examinations''
• Click on the ''ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS OF UPSC''
• Start the NDA registration process with Part-I.
• Fill-up all the details
• Pay the NDA application fee. 
• Upload the scanned photograph and signature 
• Agree to the declaration 
• Submit the application. 
• Download the NDA application form for future reference. 

Eligibility Criteria

1. Physical Criteria

   Candidates must be physically and mentally fit for admission to National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination (I) & (II), 2022. Every year, many candidates fail to qualify in the medical test. Hence, candidates are advised to get themselves medically examined before applying for the examination. 

   Aspirants are also advised to rectify a few minor defects/ ailments such as Wax (ears), Deviated Nasal Septum, Hydrocele/Phimosis, Overweight/Underweight, Under Sized Chest, Piles, Tonsillitis and Varicocele. 

   Height And Weight Standard

   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.

   Height & Weight Standards for Female Candidates Joining NDA (Army) :

   Age (Yrs)	Minimum Weight for all Ages	Age : 17 to 20 Yrs	Age : 20+01 day-30 Yrs	Age : 30+01 Day-40 Yrs	Age : Above 40 Yrs
   Height (CMS)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)
   140	35.3	43.1	45.1	47.0	49.0
   141	35.8	43.7	45.7	47.7	49.7
   142	36.3	44.4	46.4	48.4	50.4
   143	36.8	45.0	47.0	49.1	51.1
   144	37.3	45.6	47.7	49.8	51.8
   145	37.8	46.3	48.4	50.5	52.6
   146	38.4	46.9	49.0	51.2	53.3
   147	38.9	47.5	49.7	51.9	54.0
   148	39.4	48.2	50.4	52.6	54.8
   149	40.0	48.8	51.1	53.3	55.5
   150	40.5	49.5	51.8	54.0	56.3
   151	41.0	50.2	52.4	54.7	57.0
   152	41.6	50.8	53.1	55.4	57.8
   153	42.1	51.5	53.8	56.2	58.5
   154	42.7	52.2	54.5	56.9	59.3
   155	43.2	52.9	55.3	57.7	60.1
   156	43.8	53.5	56.0	58.4	60.8
   157	44.4	54.2	56.7	59.2	61.6
   158	44.9	54.9	57.4	59.9	62.4
   159	45.5	55.6	58.1	60.7	63.2
   160	46.1	56.3	58.9	61.4	64.0
   161	46.7	57.0	59.6	62.2	64.8
   162	47.2	57.7	60.4	63.0	65.6
   163	47.8	58.5	61.1	63.8	66.4

   Height & Weight Standards for Male Candidates joining NDA (Army)

   Age Yrs	Minimum Weight for all ages	Age : 17 to 20 Yrs	Age : 20+01 day-30 Yrs	Age : 30+01 day-40 Yrs	Age : Above 40 Yrs
   Height (CM)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)	Weight (Kg)	(Kg)
   140	35.3	43.1	45.1	47.0	49.0
   141	35.8	43.7	45.7	47.7	49.7
   142	36.3	44.4	46.4	48.4	50.4
   143	36.8	45.0	47.0	49.1	51.1
   144	37.3	45.6	47.7	49.8	51.8
   145	37.8	46.3	48.4	50.5	52.6
   146	38.4	46.9	49.0	51.2	53.3
   147	38.9	47.5	49.7	51.9	54.0
   148	39.4	48.2	50.4	52.6	54.8
   149	40.0	48.8	51.1	53.3	55.5
   150	40.5	49.5	51.8	54.0	56.3
   151	41.0	50.2	52.4	54.7	57.0
   152	41.6	50.8	53.1	55.4	57.8
   153	42.1	51.5	53.8	56.2	58.5
   154	42.7	52.2	54.5	56.9	59.3
   155	43.2	52.9	55.3	57.7	60.1
   156	43.8	53.5	56.0	58.4	60.8
   157	44.4	54.2	56.7	59.2	61.6
   158	44.9	54.9	57.4	59.9	62.4
   159	45.5	55.6	58.1	60.7	63.2
   160	46.1	56.3	58.9	61.4	64.0
   161	46.7	57.0	59.6	62.2	64.8
   162	47.2	57.7	60.4	63.0	65.6
   163	47.8	58.5	61.1	63.8	66.4
   164	48.4	59.2	61.9	64.6	67.2
   165	49.0	59.9	62.6	65.3	68.1
   166	49.6	60.6	63.4	66.1	68.9
   167	50.2	61.4	64.1	66.9	69.7
   168	50.8	62.1	64.9	67.7	70.6
   169	51.4	62.8	65.7	68.5	71.4
   170	52.0	63.6	66.5	69.4	72.3
   171	52.6	64.3	67.3	70.2	73.1
   172	53.3	65.1	68.0	71.0	74.0
   173	53.9	65.8	68.8	71.8	74.8
   174	54.5	66.6	69.6	72.7	75.7
   175	55.1	67.4	70.4	73.5	76.6
   176	55.8	68.1	71.2	74.3	77.4
   177	56.4	68.9	72.1	75.2	78.3
   178	57.0	69.7	72.9	76.0	79.2
   179	57.7	70.5	73.7	76.9	80.1
   180	58.3	71.3	74.5	77.8	81.0
   181	59.0	72.1	75.4	78.6	81.9
   182	59.6	72.9	76.2	79.5	82.8
   183	60.3	73.7	77.0	80.4	83.7
   184	60.9	74.5	77.9	81.3	84.6
   185	61.6	75.3	78.7	82.1	85.6
   186	62.3	76.1	79.6	83.0	86.5
   187	62.9	76.9	80.4	83.9	87.4
   188	63.6	77.8	81.3	84.8	88.4
   189	64.3	78.6	82.2	85.7	89.3
   190	65.0	79.4	83.0	86.6	90.3
   191	65.7	80.3	83.9	87.6	91.2
   192	66.4	81.1	84.8	88.5	92.2
   193	67.0	81.9	85.7	89.4	93.1
   194	67.7	82.8	86.6	90.3	94.1
   195	68.4	83.7	87.5	91.3	95.1
   196	69.1	84.5	88.4	92.2	96.0
   197	69.9	85.4	89.3	93.1	97.0
   198	70.6	86.2	90.2	94.1	98.0
   199	71.3	87.1	91.1	95.0	99.0
   200	72.0	88.0	92.0	96.0	100.0
   201	72.7	88.9	92.9	97.0	101.0
   202	73.4	89.8	93.8	97.9	102.0
   203	74.2	90.7	94.8	98.9	103.0
   204	74.9	91.6	95.7	99.9	104.0
   205	75.6	92.5	96.7	100.9	105.1
   206	76.4	93.4	97.6	101.8	106.1
   207	77.1	94.3	98.6	102.8	107.1
   208	77.9	95.2	99.5	103.8	108.2
   209	78.6	96.1	100.5	104.8	109.2
   210	79.4	97.0	101.4	105.8	110.3

   Height, Sitting Height, Leg Length & Thigh Length for Male Candidates.

   The minimum height for entry to Ground Duty branches will be 162.5 cm. Acceptable measurements of leg length, thigh length and sitting height for such aircrew will be under:-

   Sitting Height	Minimum - 81.5 Cm
   	Maximum - 96.0 Cm
   Leg Length	Minimum - 99.0 Cm
   	Maximum - 120.0 Cm
   Thigh Length	Maximum - 64.0 Cm

   The minimum height for entry into Ground Duty branches will be 157.5 cm. For Gorkhas and individual belonging to North - Eastern regions of India and hilly regions of Uttarkhand, the minimum acceptable height will be 5 cm less (152.5 cm). In case of candidates from Lakshadweep the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cm (155.5 Cm).

   Height & Weight Standard for Female Candidates joining NDA (Air Force)

   Minimum Height for Flying Branch will be 162.5 cm. Acceptable measurements of leg length and sitting height for such aircrew will be as under :-

   Sitting Height	Minimum - 81.5 cm
   	Maximum - 96.0 cm
   Leg Length	Minimum - 99.0 cm
   	Maximum - 120.0 cm
   Thigh Length	Maximum - 64.0 cm

   The Minimum height for entry into Ground Duty branches will be 152 cm. For Gorkhas and individual belonging to North-Eastern regions of India and Hilly regions of Uttarkhand.The minimum acceptable height will be 5 cm less (147 cm). In case of candidates from Lakshadweep the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cm (150 cm).

   Vision Standard 

   ARMY Candidates

   Parameter	Standards : 10+2 entries, NDA (Army), TES & Equivalent	Graduate & equivalent : CDSE, IMA, OTA, UES, NCC, TGC & Equivalent	Post Graduate & equivalent entries: JAG, AEC, APS, RVC, TA, AMC, ADC, SL & Equivalent.
   Uncorrected Vision (Max Allowed)	6/36 & 6/36	6/60 & 6/60	3/60 & 3/60
   BCVA	Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6	Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6	Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6
   Myopia
   Hypermetropia	<+2.5 D Sph, (Including max astigmatism <+/-2.0 D Cyl)	<+3.5 D Sph (Including max astigmatism <+/-2.0 D Cyl)	<+3.50 D Sph (Including max astigmatism <+/-2.0 D Cyl)
   Lasik/equivalent Surgery	Not Permitted	Permitted*	Permitted*
   Colour Perception	CP-II	CP-II	CP-II

   Physical Conditioning 

   The aspiring candidates are advised to be in the good physical condition by following the routine mentioned below. 

   1. Running 2.4 km in 15 minutes

   2. Skipping

   3. Pushups and sit ups (minimum 20 each)

   4. Chin ups (minimum 08)

   5. Rope climbing 3-4 metres. 

2. Nationality:

   A candidate must be either:

   (i) a Citizen of India, or
   (ii) a subject of Nepal, or
   (iii) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

   Note:

   • Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India
   • Certificate of eligibility will not, however, be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

3. Educational Qualification:

   1. For Army Wing of National Defence Academy:
   
      The candidates must have the Class 12 pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
   
   2. For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy:
    
      The candidates must have the Class 12 pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

   Note:

   • 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. Such candidates who qualify the SSB interview but could not produce Matriculation/10+2 or equivalent certificate in original at the time of SSB interview should forward duly self-attested Photocopies.
   • Candidates appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible for this examination
   • Those candidates who have yet to qualify in the 12th class or equivalent examination and are allowed to appear in the UPSC Examination should note that this is only a special concession given to them. They are required to submit proof of passing the 12th class or equivalent examination by the prescribed date of UPSC (i.e. for NDA (I) is December 24, 2022, and for NDA (II) is June 24, 2023) and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of Board/University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground whatsoever.
   • 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 cancelled.
   • Those candidates who have failed CPSS/PABT earlier are not eligible for Air Force in Ground Duty branches if they fill their willingness in the Online Application Form available at the Commission's website.

4. Age Limit :

   Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status:

   For NDA & NA (I):

   Age Limit: Only unmarried male / female candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2003, and not later than July 1, 2006, are eligible.

   For NDA & NA (II):

   Age Limit: Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2004, and not later than January 1, 2007, are eligible.

   Note:

   • The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University which must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Secondary School or an equivalent examination certificates.
   •  Candidates should note that only the date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate available or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of applications will be accepted by the Commission and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.
   • Candidates should also note that once a date of birth has been claimed by them and entered in the records of the Commission for the purpose of admission to an examination, no change will be allowed subsequently or at any subsequent examination on any ground whatsoever.
   • The candidates should exercise due care while entering their date of birth in the respective column of the Online Application Form for the examination. If on verification at any subsequent stage any variation is found in their date of birth from the one entered in their matriculation or equivalent examination certificate, disciplinary action will be taken against them by the Commission under the Rules.
   • Candidates should also note that no addition/deletion/any changes are allowed in online application form in the NDA & NA Examination in any circumstances once it is submitted.
   • Candidates must undertake 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 Examination will not be selected for training. A candidate who marries during training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him by the Government.

Roles and Responsibilities

• On reporting to the Academy, a cadet is allotted to one of the 18 Squadrons, which becomes his home-away-from-home for the next three years. The Squadrons are named as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hunter, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Panther, Quebec, and Romeo. No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Battalions have four squadrons each while No. 5 has 2 squadrons. Each squadron has approximately 100 to 120 cadets drawn from senior as well as junior courses under training in the Academy
• They earn INR 21,000 as stiffened. After completing three years training in Pune, they will obtain a degree from JNTU in computer science/ B.A. after that trade training is given and their career starts in Indian army lieutenant. And navy candidates can start their career as a sub-lieutenant and those who selected air force start their career flying officer