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NDA 2 - Eligibility Criteria

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2

Form Date: 17 May - 06 Jun 2027

Pen & Paper Mode

Form Date: 17 May - 06 Jun 2027

NDA 2023 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Qualifications, Marital Status, Height/Weight/Visual Requirements

Updated On - March 09 2023 by Divyansh K

NDA 2023 Eligibility Criteria: NDA stands for National Defence Academy. NDA 2023 will be held for applicants from all around India who want to join the Indian Defense Forces. Candidates are recruited for the Air Force, Navy, and Army through the NDA.

Interested applicants can apply for NDA 2023 starting December 22, 2021 (for NDA I) and May 18, 2023 (for NDA II) (for NDA II).

Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements, as only individuals who meet these requirements are entitled to take the exam. From here, you may confirm your eligibility. The following are the eligibility criteria for the NDA 2023.

NDA Eligibility Criteria

Nationality
  1. The aspirant must be an Indian, Nepalese, or Bhutanese citizen.
  2. Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of becoming permanent residents are likewise eligible.
  3. A person of Indian heritage who has migrated to India permanently from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam is also eligible to apply.
  4. Candidates who are not Indian citizens or Nepalese Gorkha subjects needed a certificate of eligibility from the Indian government.
Age Limits, Gender, and Marital Status
  1. For NDA (1) 2023: candidates with a DOB between July 2, 2003, and July 1, 2006 are eligible to take the exam. If you were born between July 2, 2003, and July 1, 2006, you are not eligible to take the NDA (1) 2023 exam.
  2. For NDA (2) 2023: Those whose DOB falls between the 2nd January 2004 and the 1st January 2007 are eligible to take the exam for NDA (2) 2023. Candidates who were born between the 2nd of January 2004 and the 1st of January 2007 are not eligible to take the exam.
  3. The NDA examination will only be open to unmarried male candidates. Female candidates who are married would be also able to take the NDA II entrance exam.
Note-1: The commission will consider the DOB listed on the Matriculation/Higher Secondary Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate.
Note-2: Candidates are advised not to marry until they have completed all their training requirements. An applicant who marries after submitting his application, despite passing this or any future exam, will not be considered for training. A candidate who marries while undergoing the training program will be discharged and needs to reimburse the government for all expenses incurred on his behalf.

Criteria for selection

For Indian Army
  1. Candidates interested in joining the Indian Army must have finished their 12th (10+2 pattern) or comparable test from a well-recognized board.
  2. Candidates who are appearing can also apply.
Eligibility for the Indian Navy and Air Force
  1. Applicants must have completed their 12th/appearing (10+2 pattern) from a recognised board or university, with Physics and Mathematics as a compulsory subject.
Note: Students who have been forbidden from holding any form of commission in the Defence Services by the Ministry of Defence are not eligible to apply. Candidates who have previously failed the INSB/PABT are ineligible for the Air Force.

Physical Standards

  1. Candidates must be physically and mentally fit according to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2023 physical standards.
  2. A candidate who has resigned or been dismissed from any of the Armed Forces' training academies due to disciplinary reasons is ineligible to apply.

The following are the detailed physical standards:

Candidates must correct minor flaws/ailments to expedite the completion of a medical examination at the Military Hospital following their recommendation at the SSB. The following are a few of the more frequent defects/ailments:

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

Body Tattoos

  1. Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on the inner face of the forearm. Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not permitted on the inside of the elbow to the wrist, and on the reverse side of the palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand.
  2. Tribes that have tattoos on their faces or bodies because of their current customs and traditions will be allowed on a case-by-case basis.
  3. For such circumstances, the Comdt Selection Centre shall be the appropriate authority.

Height and Weight Requirements

  1. A minimum height of 157 cms is required (162.5 cms. for Air Force).
  2. Gorkhas and people from the hills of India's north-eastern regions, such as Garhwal and Kumaon, will have a minimum height of 5 cms.
  3. The minimum height requirement for candidates from Lakshadweep can be decreased by 2 cm.

Army/Air Force Height/Weight Standards

The following are the specific height/weight requirements:

Heights (in cm)
Weight (in kg)

 

 

(without shoe)
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

46.5

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

Navy Height/Weight Requirements

Heights (in cm)
Weight (in kg)

 

 

 (without shoe)
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

168

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

Note-1: "If an individual's weight is within 10% of the average given weight, it is deemed normal." Individuals with heavy bones and a broad build, as well as those who are underweight but otherwise healthy, may be afforded considerable leeway on this basis.
Note-2: When the Medical Board certifies that the candidate will develop and meet the requisite standard upon completion of his training, a height relaxation of up to 2.5 cm (5 cm for Navy) may be authorised.

As a pilot in the Air Force, you'll have to meet some additional physical criteria. The following is a list of allowable lengths:

 
Minimum
Maximum
Leg Length

99.00 cms

120.00 cms

Thigh Length

 –

64.00 cms

Sitting Height

81.50 cms

96.00 cms

Other Physical Requirements

  1. Board of Service Medical Officers will conduct a medical assessment on candidates recommended by the Services Selection Board. Candidates will be admitted to the academy if the Medical Board finds them fit.
  2. The candidate must be in good bodily and mental condition, and free of any disease or impairment that would make it difficult to fulfil military responsibilities effectively.
  3. There should be no signs of a weak constitution, physical deformities, or an underweight condition. The candidate must not be fat or overweight.
  4. Chest muscles are well developed. The chest should not be less than 81cms when completely inflated. After full inspiration, the minimum range of expansion should be 5 cms. A chest X-ray is required to rule out any chest illnesses.
  5. There are no abnormalities in the growth or function of the bones or joints.
  6. There is no history of mental illness or fits.
  7. It is expected that your hearing will be normal. In a silent setting, a candidate should be able to hear a forced whisper with each ear at a distance of 610 cms. There should be no signs of ear, nose, or throat disease, either current or previous. For AF, an audiometric test will be performed. In the range of 250 to 8000 Hz, audiometric hearing loss should not exceed 20 decibels. There is no speaking impairment.
  8. Blood pressure should be normal, with no symptoms of heart or blood vessel disease, either functional or pathological.
  9. There should be no spleen or liver enlargement. There will be no signs of sickness in the abdomen's interior organs.
  10. Candidates with untreated hernias will be ruled ineligible. In the case of a hernia that has been surgically repaired, a minimum of 6 months must have passed since the last medical evaluation before beginning the course.
  11. There are no piles, hydrocele, or varicocele.
  12. A urine examination will be performed, and any abnormalities found will result in disqualification.
  13. Any skin problem that is likely to result in impairment or disfigurement will result in rejection.
  14. Any congenital structural defect or sickness of the abdominal organs will be a reason for rejection in the Armed Forces.
  15. Candidates must have enough healthy natural teeth. A total of 14 dental points is required. The total dental points are 22 when 32 teeth are present. A candidate should not have a severe case of pyorrhoea.
  16. For Air Force recruits, routine ECGs must be within normal parameters.

Condition of the Spine

Past medical history of disorders or injuries to the spine or sacroiliac joints, with or without objective indications, that have hindered the candidate from leading a physically active life is grounds for rejection for commissioning in the IAF. Rejection is likely if you have a history of spinal fractures or a prolapsed intervertebral disc, as well as surgical therapy for these diseases. A candidate for the Air Force shall be disqualified if any of the following conditions are identified radiologically during the medical examination:

  1. Spinal granulomatous disease
  2. Rheumatoid arthritis and associated disorders/ Ankylosing spondylitis/ Osteoarthrosis, spondylosis, and degenerative joint disease/ non-articular rheumatism (e.g. rotator cuff lesions, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago, etc.) & Miscellaneous disorders such as SLE, polymyositis, and vasculitis
  3. Spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis.
  4. Vertebral compression fracture.
  5. Scheuerman's disease (Adolescent kyphosis)
  6. When there is a loss of cervical lordosis, there are clinically restricted motions of the cervical spine.
  7. Cervical ribs on one side or both sides with a demon strable neurological or circulatory impairment.
  8. Cobb's technique indicates a scoliosis of more than 15 degrees.
  9. Degenerative Disc Disease
  10. The presence of schmorl's nodes on multiple levels.
  11. Anomalies of the atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial regions.
  12. Hemivertebrae and/or incomplete block (fused) vertebrae at any level of the cervical, dorsal, or lumbar spine, as well as complete block (fused) vertebrae at multiple levels of the cervical or dorsal spine.
  13. At all levels, there is unilateral sacralisation or lumbarisation (full or incomplete) and bilateral incomplete sacralisation or lumbarisation.
  14. Any other irregularity that the physician deems necessary.
NOTE: Acceptance will not be hampered by mild Kyphosis or Lordosis where the deformity is scarcely evident and there is no pain or restriction of movement.

If there is any suspicion of Scoliosis or any other abnormalities or spinal deformity that is not mild, suitable X-rays of the spine should be performed, and the Examinee should be referred to a specialist for consultation.

X-Ray Inspection

Any of the following conditions discovered during an X-Ray test will exclude you from joining the Armed Forces:

  1. Granulomatius disease which is a type of spine illness.
  2. Arthritidies/spondylosis
  3. Cobb's Method-measured scoliosis of greater than 15 degrees (10 degree for Army and Navy).
  4. More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis
  5. Spondylolisthesis/Spondylosis/Spondylolysis
  6. Nucleus pulposes herniated.
  7. Vertebral compression fracture.
  8. Sacaralization disease
  9. Cervical ribs that show signs of neurological or circulatory problems.
  10. Schmorl's node found on multiple levels.
  11. Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies.
  12. Incomplete Sacaralisation Unilateral or Bilateral
  13. Spina Bifida other than SV 1 and LV 5 if completely Sacralised
  14. Any other abnormality, if so, considered by specialist

Visual Requirements

Distance vision (corrected) in the better eye should be 6/6 (6/9 in the worse eye). Myopia should not exceed 2.5 diopters, and hypermetropia should not exceed 3.5 diopters, including astigmatism. To rule out any eye disease, an opthalmoscope will be used to examine the inside of the eye. Binocular vision should be good in a candidate. For the Army, the colour vision standard will be (CP-III).

A candidate should be able to distinguish between red and green. Candidates must show proof that neither he nor any member of his family has ever suffered from congenital night blindness. Candidates who have had or have proof of having had Radial Keratotomy to increase their visual acuity will be permanently disqualified from all services. Candidates who have had laser surgery to address refractive error are likewise ineligible for military service. The detailed eligibility requirements for vision are given below:

Eligibility for Naval Candidates' Eyesight

Uncorrected without glass

6/6

Corrected with glass

6/6

Limits of Myopia

-0.75

Limits of Hypermetropia

+1.5

Limits of Colour Perception

I

Binocular Vision

III

 

Eligibility for candidates for the Air Force in terms of vision

Uncorrected without glass

6/6, 6/9

Corrected with glass

6/6 (only for Hypermetropia)

Limits of Myopia

Nil

Limits of Hypermetropia

+2.00 D Sph

Manifest Myopia

Nil Re

Tinoscopic Myopia

0.5

Colour Vision

CP-I (MLT)

Astigmatism

+0.75 Cyl (within + 2.0 D.Max)

Near Vision

N-5 each eye

 

Maddox Rod Test

The following are the specifics of the Maddox Rot Test:

At 6 meters

Exo-6 prism D

 

Eso-6 prism D

 

Hyper-1 prism D

 

Hypro-1 prism D

At 33 cms

Exo-16 prism D

 

Eso-6 prism D

 

Hyper-1 prism D

 

Hypo-1 prism D

 

  1. Candidates who wear spectacles on a regular basis are not eligible for AF. All BSV grades can be seen using a hand-held stereoscope. Up to 10 cm of convergence Cover test for distant and near-Lateral divergence/convergence recovery, quick and complete Radial Keratotomy, Photo Refractive Keratotomy/laser in Situ, Keratomileusis (PRK/LASIK) procedures for refractive defects correction are not acceptable for any Air Force jobs.
  2. Candidates who have had cataract surgery, either with or without IOL implants, are likewise ineligible to apply.
  3. Candidates must be able to see clearly through both eyes (fusion and stereopsis with good amplitude and depth).
  4. Candidates who have had LASIK surgery are not eligible for a permanent commission in the IAF's flying branch.

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Form Start Date:

17 May 2023

Form End Date:

06 Jun 2027

Number of days left to submit the form:

913

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Examination Date (Online):

03 Sep 2023

Application Fees:

₹ 100

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