NDA Age Limit 2025 – UPSC NDA Eligibility, Birth Date Criteria & Relaxations
Check the latest NDA Age Limit for 2025. Know minimum and maximum age, birth date ranges, relaxations, eligibility for Army, Navy, Air Force wings. Includes tables, FAQs & official links.
what is the Full form of nda or nda full form
Full form of NDA is National Defence Academy (NDA) , this exam conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission).
The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of the most prestigious defence entry gateways in India. After qualifying, candidates undergo training for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, eventually becoming commissioned officers.
Despite being India’s most popular defence exam, most students get confused about NDA age limit, especially the:
- Exact minimum & maximum age
- Birth date range
- Difference between NDA 1 & NDA 2 age limits
- Gender eligibility (after NDA becomes co-ed)
- Permanent commission age rules
- Medical eligibility related to age
- Whether class 12 appearing students are eligible
- What happens if DOB is even 1 day outside the range
This complete guide covers everything: simple explanations, 4 helpful tables, examples, FAQs, and common mistakes.
NDA Age Limit 2025 – Basic Criteria
Minimum Age: 16.5 years
Maximum Age: 19.5 years
This means a candidate must be between 16½ and 19½ years old on the date of commencement of the NDA course.
This eligibility applies to both boys and girls, since NDA is now open to female candidates as per court + Ministry of Defence orders.
NDA Age Limit Summary
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 16.5 years |
| Maximum Age | 19.5 years |
| Gender | Male & Female |
| Marital Status | Unmarried only |
| As per Authority | UPSC + Ministry of Defence |
| Age Counted On | Date of commencement of the course |
| Attempts Limit | No limit (till age range) |
NDA 1 & NDA 2 Age Limit – Difference Explained
UPSC conducts NDA twice a year:
- NDA 1 (April Exam) → Course starts in January
- NDA 2 (September Exam) → Course starts in July
Both have separate birth-date ranges.
These birth-date ranges are released officially in UPSC notification on the government website.
NDA 1 & NDA 2 – General Age Rule
| NDA Exam | Course Start | Age Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| NDA 1 | January | 16.5 – 19.5 years |
| NDA 2 | July | 16.5 – 19.5 years |
The ONLY difference is the DOB window, which depends on the course start date.
NDA Age Limit 2025 (Expected Birth Date Range)
The official birth-date range will be released in the UPSC notification on:
👉 Official Govt Site: upsc.gov.in
However, based on previous patterns (for many years consistently), the expected birth-date range for NDA 1 & NDA 2 can be described accurately.
NDA 1 2025 Expected Age Range
For the January 2026 course, typical DOB range:
- Not earlier than: 2 July 2006
- Not later than: 1 January 2009
(Exact dates will be confirmed by UPSC notification.)
NDA 2 2025 Expected Age Range
For July 2026 course, typical DOB range:
- Not earlier than: 2 January 2007
- Not later than: 1 July 2009
(Exact dates will be confirmed by UPSC notification.)
Expected NDA 2025 Birth Date Range (Reference Pattern)
| NDA Exam | Expected Earliest DoB | Expected Latest DoB |
|---|---|---|
| NDA 1 2025 | 2 July 2006 | 1 January 2009 |
| NDA 2 2025 | 2 January 2007 | 1 July 2009 |
⚠️ Final confirmation will come only from official UPSC age limit notification.
Why NDA Calculations Are Strict?
NDA is a defence entry at a young age. Training standards require candidates to be within physical and mental developmental range.
Hence:
- Even 1 day outside the DOB range makes a candidate ineligible.
- Age is checked using matriculation certificate only (no alternative proof accepted).
- No relaxation is provided except for minor administrative cases.
- Female and male candidates have the same age limit.
Eligibility Requirements Linked to Age
Your age alone is not enough. You must fulfil:
✔ Educational Eligibility
- 12th pass / appearing
- For Air Force & Naval Wing: Physics + Maths mandatory
- For Army Wing: any stream acceptable
✔ Marital Status
- Must be unmarried
- Married candidates are strictly ineligible
✔ Citizenship
Must be:
- Indian citizen
OR - Subject of Nepal
OR - Bhutan
OR - Tibetan refugee (with specific dates)
✔ Physical Standards (Age-dependent)
You must meet the Ministry of Defence medical norms.
Government link:
👉 joinindianarmy.nic.in
Height Requirements (Important Age Connection)
| Wing | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| Army | 157 cm |
| Navy | 157 cm |
| Air Force | 162.5 cm |
Age affects height expectations — UPSC considers bone growth parameters for 16.5–19.5 year candidates.
NDA Age Limit for Girls (Female Candidates)
Ever since Supreme Court allowed women to appear for NDA, both genders share the same age requirements:
- Minimum: 16.5 years
- Maximum: 19.5 years
Female candidates must also meet:
- UPSC educational eligibility
- MoD medical standards (with separate parameters for female candidates)
NDA Age Limit for Army, Navy & Air Force
There is no separate age limit for different wings.
All wings follow: 16½ to 19½ years.
However, educational eligibility differs:
- Army → any stream
- Navy/Air Force → Physics + Maths
NDA Age Limit for Class 12 Students
Yes, class 12 appearing (current year) students are eligible.
They must:
- Meet age range
- Pass class 12 before the date mentioned by UPSC
Age limit remains the same.
NDA Age Limit – Common Mistakes Students Make
❌ Relying on coaching-made charts
❌ Miscalculating age as on exam day (instead of course-start date)
❌ Believing NDA gives age relaxation (it does not)
❌ Assuming girls have different age limits
❌ Using Aadhaar DOB instead of 10th certificate
❌ Thinking Air Force Wing has higher age limit
❌ Confusion between NDA and CDS age rules
Examples of NDA Age Eligibility (Very Important)
Example 1:
DOB: 1 July 2006
Eligible for NDA 1 2025?
→ YES (DOB is not earlier than 2 July)
Example 2:
DOB: 1 July 2006
Eligible for NDA 2 2025?
→ NO (DOB is too old for NDA 2 range)
Example 3:
DOB: 15 February 2009
Eligible for both?
→ YES (DOB within both expected ranges)
Example 4:
DOB: 1 December 2005
Eligible for NDA?
→ NO, because candidate will cross 19.5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the minimum age for NDA?
16.5 years.
2. What is the maximum age for NDA?
19.5 years.
3. Is there age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC candidates?
❌ No age relaxation is provided in NDA.
4. Can girls apply for NDA?
Yes — girls/women can apply under the same age criteria.
5. Does height affect age eligibility?
Indirectly, yes — height and physical growth standards matter in medical examination.
6. What happens if DOB is off by 1 day?
You become ineligible — UPSC rules are strict.
7. Can I apply for NDA while in class 12?
Yes, class 12 appearing/ongoing students can apply.
8. Is there an attempt limit in NDA?
No attempt limit — you can attempt as long as you remain within age range.
9. Which government websites to check NDA updates?
- UPSC Notification → upsc.gov.in
- Defence medical standards → mod.gov.in
- Army recruitment → joinindianarmy.nic.in
- Air Force selection board → afcat.cdac.in
10. Do female candidates have different age limits?
No — same 16.5 to 19.5 years.
Conclusion
NDA remains one of India’s most sought-after defence entry exams. While the syllabus and selection stages are important, the NDA Age Limit is the first and most crucial eligibility check. Even being one day outside the DOB range can make a candidate ineligible.
Keep in mind:
- Check age precisely using your 10th certificate
- Match DOB with the exact UPSC notification
- NDA 1 and NDA 2 have different DOB windows
- No age relaxation exists
- Both males and females follow equal age rules
With this detailed guide, every aspirant — Army, Navy or Air Force — can confidently verify eligibility and plan attempts accordingly.
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