NDA Age Limit Eligibility Calculator 2026
Check if your exact Date of Birth falls within the strict eligibility brackets for UPSC NDA & NA Examination (I) and (II) 2026.
NDA Eligibility Calculator
Verify your Armed Forces entry eligibility
As recorded in your 10th / Matriculation Certificate.
No Category Relaxations
The NDA examination does NOT provide any age relaxations for SC, ST, OBC, or any other reserved categories. The rules are strict and universal.
What is the NDA Age Limit for 2026?
The National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination, conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), serves as the premier gateway for young candidates to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Unlike standard government exams that require candidates to calculate their age as of a specific "Crucial Date", the UPSC dictates strict Date of Birth brackets. To be eligible, your exact birth date must fall within (or exactly on) the specified dates.
The standard age requirement is generally between 16.5 years and 19.5 years at the time of commencement of the course.
NDA 1 2026 Age Eligibility
The NDA-I exam is the first cycle of the year. For the 2026 cycle, only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than 2nd July 2007 and not later than 1st July 2010 are eligible.
NDA 2 2026 Age Eligibility
The NDA-II exam is the second cycle. For the 2026 cycle, only unmarried male and female candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2008 and not later than 1st January 2011 are eligible.
Strict Rule: NO Age Relaxations
A critical point of confusion for many candidates is reservation-based age limits. The NDA examination does NOT provide any age relaxations. Whether you belong to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or Unreserved categories, the Date of Birth brackets remain identical for everyone. The armed forces require strict adherence to these limits without exception.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can female candidates apply for NDA?
Yes, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, unmarried female candidates are now fully eligible to apply for the NDA examinations. The age criteria and Date of Birth brackets are exactly the same for both male and female candidates.
2. What if my birthday is exactly on the cutoff date?
UPSC specifies that the Date of Birth brackets are "both dates inclusive". Therefore, if your birthday falls exactly on the start date (e.g., 2nd July 2007) or the exact end date (e.g., 1st July 2010), you are perfectly eligible.
3. Are married candidates eligible?
No, only unmarried male and female candidates are eligible for the NDA. Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. If a candidate marries during training, they will be discharged and must refund all expenditure incurred on them by the government.
Rohit Kushwaha
Software Engineer & Creator of mysalarycalculator.in
I'm Rohit Kushwaha, a Software Engineer with 3+ years of experience in developing web applications and digital solutions. By combining technology with practical financial tools, I built mysalarycalculator.in to help Indian professionals easily understand their salary, taxes, EPF, gratuity, and take-home income.
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