UPSC NDA & NA Exam 2024 Eligibility Criterion
The National Defence Academy (NDA) is one of the premier military training academies in India. It provides training to the cadets for becoming officers in the Indian Armed Forces, i.e., the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The NDA & NA conducts entrance exams twice a year for the selection of cadets.
What are the eligibility criteria for the NDA & NA Exam 2024?
Nationality -
To be eligible, an applicant must be unmarried, male or female, and one of the following:
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An Indian citizen; or
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A subject of Nepal; or
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An individual of Indian ancestry who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the East African nations of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia; or
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Vietnam with the purpose of living permanently in India.
As long as the applicant falls under categories (ii) or (iii), the Indian government must have granted an eligibility certificate in their favour. Candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal will not, however, require a certificate of eligibility.
Age Limits, Sex, and Marital Status -
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Male and female candidates who are not married and who were born between 02 July 2005, and 01 July 2008, are the only ones who qualify.
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The date of birth accepted by the Commission is the one listed on the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate, on a document recognized by an Indian university as being equivalent to the Matriculation, on an extract from a register of matriculants kept by a university that must be authenticated by the appropriate university authority, or on the certificates for the Secondary School Examination or an equivalent examination. Once the written portion of the exam results has been announced, these certificates must be presented.
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Horoscopes, affidavits, birth certificates from municipal corporations, service records, and other documents pertaining to age are not acceptable.
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In the event that a candidate accidentally, unintentionally, or typographically enters the wrong date of birth in the online application form, the candidate may submit a request to the Commission for a subsequent correction together with supporting documentation.
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Candidates must agree not to marry until they have completed their full training. Regardless of success at this or any future Examinations, a candidate who marries after the date of their application will not be chosen for training. An applicant who gets married while in training will be discharged and would have to reimburse the government for all of its expenses.
Educational Qualifications -
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For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or comparable examination held by a State Education Board or a University.
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For the Air Force and Naval Wings of the National Defence Academy, as well as the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: 12th Class pass in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from a State Education Board or a University, or equivalent.
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Candidates who are in the 12th grade under the 10+2 school education pattern or an equivalent examination can also apply for this examination.
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Candidates who passed the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview but were unable to present a copy of their matriculation, 10+2, or equivalent certificate in person should send duly attested photocopies to the Directorate General of Recruiting at Army Headquarters in West Block III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi, 110066, or for Naval Academy candidates, to Naval Headquarters, DMPR, OI&R Section, Room No. 204, 'C' Wing, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi-110011, by 24 December 2024, or else their candidature would be revoked.
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All other candidates are not required to submit their matriculation and 10+2 pass or equivalent certificates to Army HQ or Naval HQ, depending on the circumstance, if they presented them in original at the time of attending the SSB interview and had them validated by the SSB officials.
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In rare circumstances, the Commission may consider a candidate who does not meet any of the requirements outlined in this rule to be educationally qualified if he or she meets standards that, in the Commission's opinion, justify admission to the test.
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Candidates who are already enrolled in the 11th grade are ineligible for this examination.
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Candidates who are permitted to appear in the UPSC Examination but have not yet passed the 12th grade or an equivalent exam should be aware that this is simply a unique exception made for them. By the specified date (i.e., 24 December 2024) they must provide documentation proving they passed the 12th grade or an equivalent exam.
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Candidates who have been forbidden from holding any form of commission in the Defense Services by the Ministry of Defence are not entitled to sit for the exam, and if they are admitted, their candidature will be revoked.
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Candidates who previously failed the CPSS/PABT are now eligible to join the Air Force in the Ground Duty branches if they indicate their interest in doing so on the online application form that is accessible on the Commission's website.
Physical Standards - Candidates for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination must be physically fit according to physical norms.
