UPSC NDA/NA examination stands for National Defence Academy Entrance Exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission, UPSC twice a year for the candidates. It is a national-level entrance test that enables candidates to build their careers in the field of defense services for the nation. UPSC NDA/NA examination is to recruit candidates for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. NDA examination is conducted twice a year. In this article, we will discuss NDA 2024: Notification, Exam Date, Application, Pattern, Syllabus, etc.
UPSC NDA/NA Examination-I Vacancy
| National Defence Academy | Vacancy |
| Army – | 208 (including 10 for female candidates) |
| Navy | 42 (including 03 for female candidates) |
| Air Force | Flying – 92 (including 02 for female candidates)Ground Duties (Tech) – 18 (including 02 for female candidates)Ground Duties (Non-Tech) – 10 (including 02 for female candidates) |
| Naval Academy | Vacancy |
| (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme) | 30 (for male candidates only) |
NDA 2024 Eligibility Criteria
The following are the eligibility criteria that a candidate must follow to take part in the NDA entrance examination-
Nationality
- Candidate must be an Indian Citizen
- A subject of Nepal/a subject of Bhutan or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to permanently settle here can also apply
Age Criteria
- The candidate must be in between 16.5 years to 19.5 years of age
- Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 02nd July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2006 are eligible
Education Qualification
For Indian Air Force and Indian Navy
- The candidate is required to have cleared the 12th examination or equivalent examination with Mathematics and Physics subjects from a recognized State Education Board/ University
- The candidate who is appearing in the qualification exams can also apply
For Indian Army
- The candidate is required to have cleared the 12th examination or equivalent examination from a recognized State Education Board/ University
- The candidates who are appearing in the qualification exams can also apply
Physical Standards
The candidate must be Physically Fit must have a set physical standard in terms of Height, Weight, and Eyesight. The following are the physical standards that candidate must have-
Height Weight for Army (Male)
| 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) | 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 |
| 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 Weight for Navy and Airforce (Male)
| Height (cms) | Weight (kgs) | ||
| 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 |
| 167 | 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 |
Height, Sitting Height, Leg Length, and Thigh Length for Male Candidates (Airforce-Male)
The Minimum height for Flying Branch is 162.5 cm. The acceptable measurements of leg length, thigh length and sitting height for the aircrew is as follows-
| Height Standards | length | |
| 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 acceptable stands for height is 157cm however, the following category candidates will be provided with special consideration-
| Sn.No | Category | Minimum Height for Male Candidates |
| (i) | Tribals from Ladhakh Region | 155 cm |
| (ii) | Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands | 155 cm |
| (iii) | Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Uttarakhand | 152 cm |
| (iv) | Bhutan, Sikkim & North East Region | 152 cm |
Height/Weight for NDA Army (Female)
| 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) | 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 and Weight Standards for Female Candidates joining NDA (Air Force)
The Minimum height for Flying Branch is 162.5 cm. The acceptable measurements of leg length, thigh length and sitting height for the aircrew is as follows-
| Height Standards | length | |
| 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 acceptable height is 152 cm however, there are some special considerations for the following candidates-
| Srl No. | Category | Minimum Height for Female Candidates |
| (i) | Tribals from Ladhakh Region | 150 Cm |
| (ii) | Aandaman& Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands | 150 Cm |
| (iii) | Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Uttarakhand | 147 Cm |
| (iv) | Bhutan, Sikkim &North East Region | 147 Cm |
Eyesight Criteria for both Male and Female
| Uncorrected without glass | 6/6 |
| Corrected with glass | 6/6/ |
| Limits of Myopia | -0.75 |
| Limits of Hypermetropia | +1.5 |
| Limits of color perception | I |
| Binocular vision | III |
Medical Examination Standards
the following are the medical examination standards that the candidate participating must meet in order to get selected in the medical round-
Medical Examination Of Male Candidates
The candidates are required to go through a certain medical examination to be declared fit for the services. The following are the medical stands for recruitment into the armed forces-
- The candidate must have a good physical and mental health and free from any disease/syndrome/disability likely to interfere with the efficient performance of military duties
- The candidate must not free form any diseses or weak constitution, imperfect development of any system, any congenital deformities/diseases/syndrome or malformation. There should not be any conditions that could affect the candidates health.
Unfit Candidate
The candidate will be rejected if the following medical conditions are present-
- The candidate will be rejected if Musculo-skeletal deformities of spine, chest and pelvis, limbs e.g. scoliosis, torticollis, kyphosis, deformities of vertebrae, ribs, sternum, clavicle, other bones of skeleton, mal-united fractures, deformed limbs, fingers, toes and congenital deformities of spine.
- Deformities of Limbs: Deformed limbs, toes and fingers, deformed joints like cubitus valgus, cubitus varus, knock knees, bow legs, hyper mobile joints, amputated toes or fingers and shortened limbs.
- Vision and eye: Myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, lesions of cornea, lens, retina, squint and ptosis.
- Hearing, ears, nose and throat: Sub standard hearing capability, lesions of pinna, tympanic membranes, middle ear, deviated nasal septum, and congenital abnormalities of lips, palate, peri-auricular sinuses and lymphadenitis/ adenopathy of neck. Hearing capacity should be 610 cm for Conversational Voice and Forced Whispering for each ear
- Any Dental conditions like Incipient pathological conditions of the jaws, which are known to be progressive or recurrent. Significant jaw discrepancies between upper and lower jaw which may hamper efficient mastication and/or speech will be a cause for rejection
- Chest: Tuberculosis, or evidence of tuberculosis, lesions of lungs, heart, musculo skeletal lesions of chest wall
- Abdomen and genitor-urinary system: Hernia, un-descended testis, varicocele, organomegaly, solitary kidney, horseshoe kidney & cysts in the kidney/liver, Gall bladder stones, renal and ureteric stones, lesions/deformities of urogenital organs, piles, sinuses and lymphadenitis/pathy.
- Nervous system: Tremors, speech impediment and imbalance.
- Skin: Vitiligo, haemangiomas, warts, corns, dermatitis, skin infections growths and hyperhydrosis.
- Complex ovarian cyst of any size, Simple ovarian cyst more than six cm, Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, Submucous fibroid of any size, Broad ligament or cervical fibroid of any size causing pressure over ureter
Under certain consideration the following conditions will be declared as fit:-
- Unilocular clear ovarian cyst up to six cm.
- Minimal fluid in pouch of Douglas.
- Medical fitness after laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy. Candidates reporting after undergoing cystectomy or myomectomy will be accepted as fit if she is asymptomatic, ultrasound pelvis is normal, histopathology of tissues removed is benign and per operative findings are not suggestive of endometriosis.
Medical Examination Of Female Candidates
The examination process and principle will be the same for female candidates as that of male candidates, however, the following are special points pertaining to the medical examination of the female candidates-
- The candidate has to fill a details menstrual, gynaecological and obstetric history questionnaire form
- A Lady Medical Officer or Gynecologist will examin the candidates physical examination which includes the examination of the following-
- External genitalia.
- Hernial orifices and the perineum.
- Any evidence of stress urinary incontinence or genital prolapsed outside introitus.
- Evidence of lump breast and galactorrhoea
- For unmarried female candidates, speculum or per vaginal examination will not be carried out
- The candidates has to go though mandatory Ultrasound scan of the abdomen and pelvis duing the initial medical examination
- Any abnormality of external genitalia will be considered on merits of each case. Significant hirsutism especially with male pattern of hair growth along with radiological evidence of PCOS, will be a cause for rejection.
Unfit Female Candidate
The Following conditions will entail female candidates being declared unfit:
- Primary or secondary amenorrhoea
- Severe Menorrhagia or/ and severe dysmenorrhea
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Congenital elongation of cervix or prolapsed which comes outside the introitus
- even after corrective surgery
- Pregnancy. Pregnancy will be a cause of rejection for NDA entry
UPSC NDA/NA 2024 Important Dates
For NDA I
| Notification will be released | December 2023 |
| Application Form Available | December 2023 |
| Last date to submit the Application | January 2024 |
| Announcement of Admit card | 3 weeks before the exam |
| Exam Date | April 2024 |
For NDA II
| Notification will be released | 2nd week of June 2024 |
| Application Form Available | 2nd week of June 2024 |
| End date to submit the Application | 4th week of June 2024 |
| release the Admit card | 1 or 2 weeks before the exam |
| Declare Exam Date | 1st week of September 2024 |
How to Apply for NDA 2024?
The following are the steps that the candidate must follow to apply for the NDA which is as follow-
- Visit the official website of the UPSC-www.upsc.gov.in
- Navigate to the tab “Active Examination” and click on NDA/NA Entrance examination
- Now read the instruction on the screen and click Ok.
- The application form will appear, you have to fill the application form
- Some of the details that you must fill on the application form are Date of Birth, Category, Nationality, qualification details such as Year of Passing, Percentage of marks, etc, details to contact, and choice for the exam center.
- Now click on the proceed button
- Now upload the necessary documents mentioned below
- A payment page asking for paying the application fee will appear. You can pay your application fee using a credit/debit card, UPI, Bank Challan, etc.
- A confirmation page will appear that you have to download the payment fee confirmation as well as the application fee for future use
Document Required for Applying NDA
The following are the necessary document that you must upload on the website while filling the application-
- Passport size Photograph of the candidate should be in JPG/JPEG format
- The signature of the candidate should be in JPG/JPEG format
- Left-Hand Thumb Impression of the candidate should be in JPG format
- Class 10th and 12th Certificate of the candidate should be in JPG format
- The Scanned image of Post Card size Photograph of the candidate should be in JPG format
NDA Examination Pattern
The following are the examination pattern for the NDA entrance test-
| Subject | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Mathematics | 01 | 2½ Hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test | 02 | 2½ Hours | 600 |
| Total | 900 | ||
| SSB Test/Interview: | 5 Days Recruitment Drive | 900 |
Subject wise NDA 2024 Syllabus
The following are the NDA Entrance exam syllabus that is different for different courses-
- Mathematics
- General Ability Test
Mathematics
- Algebra
- Matrices and Determinants
- Trigonometry
- Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimensions
- Differential Calculus
- Integral Calculus and Differential Equations
- Vector Algebra
- Statistics and Probability
- General English
General Ability Test
- General Knowledge (GK)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- General Science
- History, Freedom Movement, etc.
- Geography
- Current Events
Downloading NDA 2024 Admit Card
The admit card is the most important document, without this the candidates will not be allowed to give the NDA exam. You can download the NDA admit card from the official website of UPSC. The date for downloading NDA admit card will be released later and you can keep checking our website. The following are the steps for downloading NDA admit card which is as follows-
- Visit the official website of the UPSC
- Log in to your account user ID and Password
- Navigate to the download admit card button. After the page opens fill in your roll number along with other details and press enter
- A new window with your admit card will open take a printout and carry it with you to the examination center
UPSC NDA/NA Examination-I Centres
The following are the examination centers for UPSC NDA/NA Exams-
- AGARTALA
- GHAZIABAD
- PANAJI (GOA)
- AGRA
- GORAKHPUR
- PATNA
- AJMER
- GURGAON
- PORT BLAIR
- AHMEDABAD
- GWALIOR
- PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD)
- AIZAWL
- HYDERABAD
- PUDUCHERRY
- ALIGARH
- IMPHAL
- PUNE
- ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND)
- INDORE
- RAIPUR
- ANANTPUR (ANDHRA PRADESH)
- ITANAGAR
- RAJKOT
- AURANGABAD
- JABALPUR
- RANCHI
- BENGALURU
- JAIPUR
- SAMBALPUR
- BAREILLY
- JAMMU
- SHILLONG
- BHOPAL
- JODHPUR
- SHIMLA
- BILASPUR
- JORHAT
- SILIGUDI
- CHANDIGARH
- KOCHI
- SRINAGAR
- CHENNAI
- KOHIMA
- SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND)
- COIMBATORE
- KOLKATA
- THANE
- CUTTACK
- KOZHIKODE (CALICUT)
- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
- DEHRADUN
- LEH
- TIRUCHIRAPALLI
- DELHI
- LUCKNOW
- TIRUPATI
- DHARWAD
- LUDHIANA
- UDAIPUR
- DISPUR
- MADURAI
- VARANASI
- FARIDABAD
- MUMBAI
- VELLORE
- GANGTOK
- MYSORE
- VIJAYAVADA
- GAYA
- NAGPUR
- VISHAKHAPATNAM
- GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR NAVI MUMBAI
- WARANGAL
NDA Selection Process
The selection process will be done by the UPSC. A merit list will be prepared based on the written exam and the shortlisted candidates will be invited for SSB interviews. If the candidate successfully passed the SSB interview then the candidate will have to go through a medical test and document submission process.
UPSC NDA & NA (I) 2024 SSB Interview
After clearing the written examination the candidates should log on to the following websites for their SSB center & date of interview.
www.careerindianairforce.cdac.in
SSB Interview is organized by the NDA to finalize the candidates who can be selected for the defense services. This interview is conducted for five days and the candidate must attend all five interview sessions.
On the first day, psychological tests will be done. The second-day test will be of situation reaction test, word association test, self-description test, and thematic apperception test.
On the third day, the Military Planning Exercise, Group Discussion Test, Intergroup Obstacle race, Lecturettes, Snake Race, Progressive Group Task, command task & personal interview, half group task will be done.
On the fourth and fifth day of the test, tests will be done related to Final Group Task, Individual Obstacles, and Interview for remaining candidates, final board conference & announcement of results.
For more details on SSB Interview check out SSB Interview 2024, NDA 1 & 2 Exam Date, SSB Registration & Procedure, etc.
Priya Bansal is a seasoned education writer with a passion for creating insightful and engaging content. With a background in education and a knack for research, she excels at producing articles, blogs, and resources that inform and inspire. Priya’s work contributes to the enrichment of educational discourse and empowers learners of all ages.
