UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2022: Age Limit, Education, Female Eligibility

NDA eligibility criteria is specified by UPSC in the official notification of NDA. Women candidates are now allowed to take the NDA exam. Male and female eligibility criteria include nationality, age limit, educational qualification, physical and medical requirements. NDA age eligibility criteria states that candidates in the age group of 16 to 19 years are eligible to apply for NDA exam. NDA 2022 exam dates have been announced and NDA I 2022 is scheduled to be held on April 10, 2022.

This article contains detailed information about NDA eligibility criteria. Interested candidates can also check the detailed NDA Syllabus and NDA Salary in the linked articles.

NDA Medical Eligibility and Conditions 2022

There are certain medical conditions which are not acceptable and will lead to rejection of the application. Candidates should be aware of the following conditions in advance to avoid rejection.

• However, it should be ensured that the candidate is in good health.
• There should be no evidence of weak constitution, incomplete development of any system, any congenital deformity/disease/syndrome or deformity.
• No swelling, including a tumor/cyst/swollen lymph node/ anywhere on the body. No sinus/s or fistula/e anywhere on the body.
• No hyper or hypopigmentation or any other disease/syndrome/disability of the skin.
• There is no hernia anywhere on the body.
• No traces that can impair functioning and cause significant deformity.
• There is no arteriovenous malformation anywhere in the body.
• Any deformity of the head and face including asymmetry, deformity from fractures, or depression of the skull bones; Or scars indicating chronic operative intervention and malformations like sinus and fistula etc.
• No loss of vision including color perception and field of vision.
• No hearing impairment, deformity/disability in-ear vestibule-cochlear system.
• There is no speech impediment due to any etiology.
• No disease/disability/congenital anomaly/bone syndrome or disease of nasal cartilage, or palate, nasal polyps or nasopharynx, uvula and accessory sinus.
• There should be no nasal deformity and no features of chronic tonsillitis.
• There is no disease of the digestive system including any abnormality of liver, pancreas among endocrine, congenital, hereditary or genetic diseases/ syndromes and disabilities.
• No disease/syndrome/disability of any endocrine system, reticuloendothelial system.
• There is no disease / syndrome / dysfunction of the genitourinary system including malformations, atrophy / hypertrophy of any organ or gland.
• No active, latent or congenital sexual dysfunction.
• No history or evidence of mental illness, epilepsy, urinary incontinence or enuresis.
• No disease/deformity/syndrome of the musculoskeletal system and joints including skull, spine and limbs.
• There is no congenital or hereditary disease/syndrome/disability.

NDA Medical and Physical Criteria: Dental Conditions

The presence of any of these dental conditions will result in rejection of the application:

• Early pathological conditions of the jaw, which are progressive or recurrent.
• Significant jaw anomalies between the upper and lower jaw that may impede efficient chewing and/or speech will cause rejection.
• Symptomatic temporo-mandibular joint clicking and tenderness. Mouth openings of less than 30 mm are measured at the incision edges, displacement of the TMJ at the wider opening.
• All possible cancer conditions.
• Clinical diagnosis of submucous fibrosis with or without restriction of mouth opening.
• Poor oral health condition in the form of gross visible stones, periodontal pockets and/or bleeding gums.
• Loose teeth: More than two mobile teeth will make the candidate unsuitable.
• Candidates who have had cosmetic or post-traumatic maxillofacial surgery/trauma will be considered UNFIT for at least 24 weeks from the date of surgery/injury.

NDA Physical Criteria: Spine Condition

The presence of any of these conditions will immediately disqualify the candidate:

• Granulomatous disease of the spine.
• Arthritis/spondylosis (rheumatoid arthritis and associated disorders/ankylosing spondylitis/osteoarthritis, spondylosis and degenerative joint diseases/non-articular arthritis (eg lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago, etc.) and miscellaneous disorders including SLE, polymyositis, vasculitis.
• Spondylolisthesis / Spondylolysis
• vertebral compression fractures
• SC Huermann’s disease (adolescent kyphosis)
• Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with medically restricted movement of the cervical spine.
• Unilateral/bilateral cervical ribs with demon stable neurological or circulatory deficits.
• Scoliosis is greater than 15 degrees, as measured by Cobb’s method.
• degenerative disc. Disease.
• The presence of Schmorl’s nodes on more than one level.
• Atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial anomalies.
• Hemi vertebrae and/or incomplete block (fused) vertebrae at any level in the cervical, dorsal or lumbar spine and complete block (fused) vertebrae at more than one level in the cervical or dorsal spine.
• Unilateral sacralization or lumbarization (complete or incomplete) and bilateral incomplete saccharization or lumbarization at all levels.

Any other abnormalities if and so considered by the specialist.

NDA Physical Fitness: X-Ray Exam

X-ray will be done to detect any of the following conditions as the presence of any of these will disqualify the applicant for the Armed Forces posts:

• Granulomatous disease of the spine.
• Arthritis/spondylosis
• Scoliosis is greater than 15 degrees as measured by Cobb’s method (10 degrees for the Army and Navy).
• More than mild kyphosis/lordosis
• Spondylolisthesis / Spondylosis / Spondylolysis
• Herniated nucleus pulposus.
• Compression fracture of the vertebra.
• sanctification disease
• Cervical ribs showing neurological or circulatory deficits.
• The presence of Schmorl’s node on more than one level.
• Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies.
• Incomplete saccharification unilateral or bilateral
• Spina bifida other than SV 1 and LV 5 if completely sac
• Any other abnormality, if considered so by the specialist

NDA Physical Fitness: Visual Standards

• The distance vision (corrected) of the candidate should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the bad eye.
• Myopia should not exceed 2.5D and hypermetropia should not exceed 3.5D, including astigmatism.
• It should be remembered that internal NDA examination of the eye will be done through the ophthalmoscope to exclude any possibility of eye diseases.
• Candidates should have good binocular vision. There is a color vision standard (CP-III) for the military.
• The ability to recognize red and green colors is important.
• A certificate has to be submitted that neither the candidate nor any member of his/her family is suffering from congenital night blindness.
• Another noteworthy point is that candidates who have undergone radial keratotomy to improve their visual acuity, or laser surgery, will be permanently rejected for all services.

The vision level details for various posts are given below:

NDA Medical Standards & Procedures for Officers Entry into Navy

A candidate recommended by the Services Selection Board (SSB) will have to undergo NDA Medical Examination (Special Medical Board) by the Board of Service Medical Officers. Admission to the Academy will be given to only those candidates who are declared fit by the Medical Board.

However, the Chairman of the Medical Board will inform the disqualified candidates about their results and the process for Appeal Medical Board (AMB) will be completed within 42 days of the Special Medical Board at the Command Hospital or equivalent.

• Candidates declared ineligible by the Appellate Medical Board (AMB) can make a request to the Review Medical Board (RMB) within one day of the completion of the Appeal Medical Board.
• The following investigations will compulsorily be carried out during the Special Medical Board. However, a candidate may ask for any other test as required or indicated:

1. Complete Haemogram
2. Urine RE/ME
3. X-Ray chest PA views
4. USG abdomen & pelvis

NDA Medical Conditions During Examination

During NDA Medical Examination, candidates must be physically and mentally fit as per the statements given below.

• The candidate is mentally sound and intelligent. Hearing is good and there are no symptoms of any disease of ear, nose or throat.
• The vision in each eye is up to the expected standard. His/her eyes are bright, clear, and there is no obvious squint or abnormality. The movement of the eyeball should be complete and free in all directions.
• The speech is without interruption. There is no swelling in the glands.
• The chest is well maintained and his heart and lungs are healthy.
• The limbs of the candidates are well formed and fully developed.
• There is no evidence of a hernia of any degree or form.
• All couples have a free and perfect action. Feet and toes are well formed

Kerato Refractive Surgery: Candidates who have undergone any refractive surgery such as PRK/LASIK/SMILE may be considered fit in every branch except Submarine, Diving and Marco Cadre.

Ear, Nose and Throat Standards for NDA Exam

To avoid any last minute hustle and bustle one must know the essential parameters related to ear, nose and throat in advance. are the main requirements.

• The examinee should be able to hear a loud whisper along the examiner’s back at a distance of 610 cm from each ear separately.
• The operation of tympanoplasty with or without cortical mastoidectomy for dry central perforation of the tympanic membrane is considered curative once the graft is
• taken, provided the tympanic membrane is intact, mobile 45 apart with a free field hearing of 610 cm in each ear To and from a normal hearing threshold on pure tone audiometry.
• An interval of three months is considered sufficient after the operation of complete healing and graft immobilization.

medical qualification

NDA Medical Eligibility for Flying and Ground Duty Branches

This section will cover the medical standards required for the candidates to be eligible for commission in the Flying and Ground Duty branches in the Indian Air Force through the NDA. During their admission all candidates must meet basic physical fitness standards that will enable them to undergo training and subsequent service in different climates and work environments.

A candidate will not be assessed to be physically fit unless a complete examination shows that he is physically and mentally capable of withstanding severe physical and mental stress for a prolonged period.

General Physical Requirements for NDA in Air Force

Every candidate who is required to satisfy the below mentioned physical standards to become eligible for NDA exam will opt for Air Force. Following are the various physical standards.

• Spinal cord injury – cases of chronic spinal cord fractures are inadmissible. Any residual deformity of the spine or compression of the vertebrae will cause rejection.
• Nerve injuries – injuries involving the trunks of large nerves, resulting in loss of function, or neuroma formation, which causes significant tingling to pain, indicating unsuitability for employment in flight duties.
• Surgical scars – small healed scars eg. Any superficial surgery does not result in an indication of unsuitability for employment. Extensive scarring of a limb or torso that may cause a functional limitation or unsightly appearance should be considered inappropriate.
• Abnormal pigmentation as birthmark – hypo or hyper-pigmentation is not acceptable. Localized, congenital mole/navel, however, is acceptable provided its size is <10 cm. Congenital multiple umbilical or vascular tumors that impede function or are exposed to constant irritation are not acceptable.

NDA Height & Leg Length for Flying Branch

Candidates need a minimum height of 162.5 cm for the Flying Branch. The detailed requirements of leg, thigh & sitting length are as follows.

NDA Body Weight Parameters

Most bodyweight parameters are the same for flying and ground duty. But, there are some essential points about which candidates should be aware. these:

(a) BMI must be below 27.

(b) Waist to hip ratio should be less than 0.9 for men and 0.8 for women.

(c) Waist circumference should be less than 94 cms for men and 89 cms for women.

Candidates can click here to know the Body Weight Parameters in detail.

Height-Weight Parameters for Men

The weight criteria required for male candidates applying for Flying and Ground Duty are detailed below.

Height-Weight Parameters for Females

The female aspirants of flying and ground duty branches have to fill the following weight requirements based on their height to be eligible.

General Physical Standards for Officer Entry

The candidates willing to join as officers have to fulfill the following physical requirements. Failure to meet any of the criteria will result in immediate disqualification.

NDA Cardiovascular Parameters

There are various cardiovascular risk factors due to which candidates may face rejection in the medical round. As such, history of chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, syncope, dizziness, rheumatic fever, ankle swelling, chorea, recurrent sore throat and tonsillitis should be given due attention in evaluation of the cardiovascular system.

A person with a blood pressure consistently greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg will be rejected. If a person has had any heart surgery in the past, he/she will be considered unfit.

respiratory system requirements

Individuals should be aware of certain conditions based on the respiratory system due to which they may face rejection. A history of pulmonary tuberculosis, pleurisy with pleural effusion, frequent episodes of phlegm, hemoptysis, frequent episodes of bronchitis, asthma, spontaneous pneumothorax, and chest injuries should be obtained.

Any evidence of significant residual pleural thickening would be a reason for rejection. A person may face rejection in case of bronchial asthma/ wheezing/ allergic rhinitis in his past.

Other factors leading to rejection of the candidate are mentioned here.

Endocrine and Dermatological System Requirements

Candidates found to have Diabetes Mellitus will be rejected. A candidate with a family history of diabetes mellitus will be subjected to a blood glucose (after fasting and glucose load) and HbA1c assessment, which will be recorded.

Careful inquiry followed by NDA medical examination of the candidate’s skin is essential to get a clear picture of the nature and severity of any dermatological condition claimed or detected. Borderline skin conditions should be referred to a dermatologist. Any fungal infection of any part of the body (such as tinea cruris and tinea corporis) would be inappropriate. Scabies can be considered cured only when it is cured.

Required backbone conditions for NDA exam 2022

Past medical history of disease or injury to the spine or sacroiliac joints, which has prevented the candidate from successfully pursuing a physically active life, is a reason for rejection for commission.

History of recurrent lumbar/spinal fractures/prolapsed intervertebral disc and surgical treatment for these conditions will be declined. If candidates want to know about the mode of examination and other required spinal conditions, they can check from here.

Conditions affecting assessment of upper and lower limbs

Deformity of the upper limbs or their organs will cause rejection. Candidates having amputation of limb will not be accepted for admission. However, amputation of the terminal phalanx of the little finger on both sides is acceptable.

healed fracture

In the following situations, healed fractures of the upper limb are not acceptable:-

(i) Fractures involving articular surfaces. Neurovascular deficit associated fractures

(ii) Malnourished fracture. loss of function due to fracture

(iii) Fracture in-situ with implant. Fracture of the upper limb, presenting 06 months after the injury, as noted above, after evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon is not acceptable.

fingers and hands

Syndactyly and polydactyly shall be assessed as unfit, except when polydactyly has been excised. Distortions and limitations of movements will be considered inappropriate. Painless range of motion of the wrist will be assessed according to the degree of stiffness. Loss of dorsiflexion is more severe than loss of palmar flexion.

Further conditions affecting the assessment of the upper and lower limbs are discussed here.

Central Nervous System Acceptable/Not Acceptable Conditions

• Candidates with a history of mental illness/psychological suffering require detailed examination and psychiatric referral. Such cases should ordinarily be dismissed.
• Often history doesn’t happen voluntarily. The examiner should try to know the history by asking direct questions, which may or may not be fruitful.
• Each examiner must make a general impression of the personality of the candidate as a whole and can examine an individual’s stability and habitual reactions to difficult and stressful situations. Family history and prior history of drug use are also relevant.
• Insomnia, phobias, nightmares, or a history of frequent sleepwalking or bed-wetting, when repeated or persistent, will lead to rejection.
• Common types of recurrent headaches are those caused by a prior head injury or migraine. Other forms of occasional headache should be considered in relation to their possible cause.
• A candidate suffering from migraine, which was severe enough to force him to consult his doctor, should usually be a reason for rejection. Even a single attack of migraine with visual disturbances or migrainous epilepsy is unfit.

Other conditions which will lead to rejection of the candidate are mentioned here.

UPSC NDA Eligibility Criteria 2022: Miscellaneous Conditions

There are a few other physical conditions besides the above-mentioned criteria that candidates should fulfil.

• No signs of weak constitution or physical defects.
• a well developed chest; Fully expanded chest should not be less than 81 cms.
• The minimum extent of expansion after complete inspiration should be 5 cm.
• No defect or loss of function of bones or joints.
• There is no previous history of mental breakdown or fits. Normal Hearing Ability- Candidate should be able to hear loud whispers at a distance of 610 cm from each ear. in a quiet room.
• There is no obstruction in speech. Normal blood pressure with no symptoms of functional or organic disease of the heart and blood vessels.
• No enlargement of liver or spleen.
• No abnormality in urine test
• No presence of any skin disease likely to cause disability or deformity
• No abnormality in USG abdominal examination
• Adequate number of natural and healthy teeth.
• At least 14 dental points will be accepted.
• Routine ECG should be within normal limits for Air Force candidates.

Ineligibility for UPSC NDA Exam 2022

• If the candidates are married, they are not eligible to apply for the exam.
• If candidates have withdrawn or resigned from the Armed Forces Training Academies on disciplinary grounds, they cannot apply for NDA exam.
• Candidates, who have not cleared their PABT/CPSS exam, cannot apply for Air Force exam.
• If candidates are stopped by the Defense Ministry, NDA exam is not for them
• It is to be noted that the candidates studying in class 11 are not eligible to appear in the NDA exam.
• Those candidates who have previously failed INSB / PABT will not be considered eligible for recruitment in Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy.
• Those candidates, who are currently studying in Class 12 at the time of application, must submit proof of having passed the examination by the deadline. Request for extension of due date will not be entertained on any ground.

It is also to be noted that candidates who have been barred by the Ministry of Defense from holding any kind of commission in the Defense Services will be treated as ineligible for admission to the examination. Lastly, class 11th students cannot apply for NDA exam.