The NDA (1) 2023 for the 151st Course and 113th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) will take place on 16th April 2023, and the NDA (2) exam will be held on September 3rd, 2023, as stated in the notification. On December 21st, 2022, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the NDA 1 Notification 2023 for the course starting on January 2nd, 2024. The notification contains all the necessary information, such as registration dates, eligibility criteria, application fees, and other essential details.
Latest Update:
- 26th April, 2023 – NDA 1 2023 to be conducted
- 21st April, 2023 – NDA 2 2022 Results Out. click here
- 24 March, 2023 – Admit card released for NDA 1 Exam.
- 4 May 2023 – NDA NA (1) Result announced
What is NDA Exam?
UPSC conducts the NDA exam for admission of candidates in the defence forces of India, including the Army, Air Force, and Navy. It is a national-level defence examination conducted twice a year by UPSC. The first part of the exam is NDA 1, where the candidates have to qualify for a written test. The second part of the exam is the Interview, where candidates must prepare for a personality test and interview conducted by SSB (Service Selection Board).
- The UPSC NDA exam is held twice a year and consists of two selection processes: a written exam and an SSB interview.
- Candidates who pass both rounds and make the merit list are assigned to the National Defence Academy for training.
- Candidates are not considered commissioned officers until they have completed the three-year training program.
Read more about other Government exams in India.
NDA 1 Notification 2023
NDA-Notification-2023 || NDA Exam 2023
The notification for National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam 2023 was published on upsc.gov.in by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 21st December 2022. The commission has 395 seats for admission to the NDA’s Army, Navy, and Air Force wings for the 151st Course and the 113th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC), which begins on 02nd January 2024.
NDA 2023: Overview
| Exam Name | NDA |
| NDA Full Form | National Defence Academy |
| Conducting Body | UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) |
| No. of Vacancies | 395 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Frequency of Exam | Twice a year |
| Recruitment Process | NDA Written Test exam & SSB Interview |
| Age Limit | Candidates born not earlier than 02nd July 2004 and not later than 1st July 2007 |
| Exam Centers | 41 Cities across India |
| Language of Exam | English and Hindi |
| Duration of Exam | 5 hrs General Ability Test (2.5 hrs) Mathematics Test (2.5hrs) |
NDA Exam Dates 2023
| Events | NDA 1 2023 | NDA 2 2023 |
| NDA Notification 2023 | 21st December 2023 | 17th May 2023 |
| Starting of NDA Application form | 21st December 2023 | 17th May 2023 |
| End Date to Apply for NDA Exam | 12th January 2023 | 06th June 2023 |
| Starting of NDA Application Withdrawal | 18th January 2022 | 14th June 2022 |
| End Date of NDA Application Withdrawal | 24th January 2023 | To be notified |
| NDA Admit card | 24th March 2023 | August 2023 |
| NDA Written Test | 16th April 2023 | 3rd September 2023 |
| Declaration of NDA Written Result | 4th May 2023 | September 2023 |
| SSB Interview | To be notified | To be notified |
NDA Vacancy 2023
The total number of vacancies to be filled through the NDA exam has been released in conjunction with the official NDA Notification 2023. According to the notification, 395 vacancies will be filled for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA), with 370 going to the NDA and the remaining 25 going to the NA. The number of openings for female candidates has remained at 19. The table below shows the split of the vacancies announced:
Vacancies for NDA 1 Exam
| National Defence Academy | Army: 208 (including 10 female candidates) Navy: 42 (including 03 female candidates) Air Force: (i) Flying – 92 (including 02 for female candidates) (ii) Ground Duties (Tech) – 18 (including 02 for female candidates) (iii) Ground Duties (Non-Tech) – 10 (including 02 for female candidates) |
| Naval Academy | 25 (for male candidates only) |
| Total | 395 |
NDA Exam Eligibility Criteria 2023
Before applying for the NDA Exam, interested candidates should examine the qualifying requirements. The eligibility conditions are essential to the NDA exam; otherwise, the candidate’s application will be rejected. The NDA Eligibility Criteria are described in-depth below.
NDA Eligibility Criteria: Nationality
To be eligible for the NDA exam, candidates must be one of the following:
- Indian National
- A Nepalese or Bhutanese subject
- A Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before 01 January 1962, intending to remain permanently.
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia, or Vietnam, with the intention of settling permanently in India.
- Foreign nationals (except Gorkhas) will be required to produce a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
Relaxation of the NDA’s age limit
- Candidates born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2006, are eligible to take the NDA 1 2022 exam.
- Candidates born between 02 January 2004, and 01 January 2007, are eligible to take the NDA 2 2022 exam.
- The age of the applicant should be between 16.5 and 19.5 years.
- The date of birth must be written exactly as it appears on the matriculation certificate, secondary school leaving certificate, or any other equivalent certification recognized by the Indian University. The commission will not accept any other document verifying the date of birth.
NDA Eligibility Criteria: Sex and Marital Status
- Both male and female candidates must be single during the selection process and until the program is completed.
- An applicant will not be chosen if they marry before completing training.
- If a candidate marries while undergoing training, they will be fired and held accountable for the government’s entire training expense.
NDA Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications
- Candidates for the Army branch of the National Defence Academy must have completed their 12th grade under the 10+2 educational model from any state board or comparable test.
- Candidates for the National Defence Academy’s Air Force and Naval Wings must have a 12th-grade pass in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or be enrolled in one of 10+2 patterns of school education from any state board or equivalent.
Eligibility Criteria NDA Women: Height & Weight for NDA
| 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.l | 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.l |
| 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.l | 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 |
Eligibility Criteria NDA Men: Height & Weight for NDA
| 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.l | 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.l |
| 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.l | 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 Relaxation for Men in NDA
| Category | Min Height for Male |
| Tribals from Ladakh | 155 cm |
| Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Minicoy Islands | 155 cm |
| Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Uttarakhand | 152 cm |
| Bhutan, Sikkim & North East Region | 152 cm |
Height Relaxation for Women in NDA
| Category | Min Height for Female |
| Tribals from Ladakh | 150 cm |
| Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Minicoy Islands | 150 cm |
| Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Uttarakhand | 147 cm |
| Bhutan, Sikkim & North East Region | 147 cm |
NDA Application Form 2023
NDA Application Fees
Given below is the NDA application fee structure for online applications. The candidate needs to pay the fee online.
| Category | Amount |
| General Category / OBC Candidates | Rs.100 |
| SC/ST candidates/Sons of JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officers) /NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers) /ORs (Other Ranks of Army) and equivalent ranks in the Indian Navy/Indian Air Force | Exempted |
- Applicants who choose the “Pay by Cash” option should print the system-generated Pay-in-slip during Part-II registration and deposit the fee at the SBI Branch counter on the following working day only. The “Pay by Cash” mode will be deactivated at 23:59 hours on 11th January 2023, one day before the closing date.
- The fee is not refundable under any circumstances and cannot be held in reserve for any other examination or selection.
- Candidates from Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and those listed in the table above are exempt from paying any fees. All such candidates must obtain a certificate of eligibility for fee exemption from the Principals concerned individually and present it for verification at the time of the SSB Test/Interview by the candidates who are declared qualified for the SSB Test/Interview.
NDA Application Form Steps
Candidates must know the detailed NDA Eligibility before filling out the NDA Application Form. Only those who meet the required eligibility criteria can submit their NDA Online Form before 12th January 2022.
What is the process for completing the NDA Exam Application Form 2023?
The following are the procedures for filling out the NDA Application Form 2023:
A. Part 1 of NDA Application Form
Step 1: Visit the UPSC official website.
Step 2: Select “ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS UPSC EXAMINATIONS.”
Step 3: Fill out the registration form with your personal information, such as your name, father’s name, date of birth, phone number, and email address.
Step 4: Sort your branch preferences from one to four.
Step 5: Click Verify to validate your registration and make a note of the system-generated registration ID and Password.
B. Part 2 of NDA Application Form
Step 1: Log in to the UPSC NDA official website using your registration ID and password.
Step 2: Pay the UPSC NDA Exam application fee, if applicable.
Step 3: Choose the city in which you want your exam center to be located.
Step 4: Save your photograph, signature, and photo identity proof in the appropriate file size and format.
Step 4: Accept the declaration and submit your UPSC NDA Exam application form. Make a copy of the application form for future use.
Read More – NDA Notification 2022, Apply Online
Documents Required for Filling out the NDA Application Form
All candidates must ensure that they attach all of the following documents when filling out the NDA application form 2023:
- Class 10th Mark sheet
- Class 10+2 Mark sheet
- Photograph in passport size
- Signature of the candidate
- Certificate of Nationality
- Address verification
- Certificate of Caste
- Phone number
- Aadhar card
- Email ID
NDA 2023 Application Withdrawal
The Commission will provide a withdrawal option to candidates who do not wish to take the Examination. Candidates must provide the details of the registered application with the registration id that was finally completed and submitted. There is no way to withdraw any incomplete applications.
If candidates wish to withdraw because they do not wish to take the exam, they must follow the steps outlined below:
- Visit the official website of the NDA at upsconline.nic.in.
- To withdraw the application form, click on the NDA application.
- An OTP will be sent to the applicant’s registered email and mobile phone numbers.
- After validating the OTP, the request for NDA application withdrawal will be processed.
NDA Exam Admit Card 2023
NDA 1 Admit card was released on 24th March 2023. To appear for the NDA written test, candidates should possess a valid admit card. Candidates cannot sit in the examination hall without a UPSC NDA admit card. The conducting body has the NDA Admit Card on the official website three weeks before the exam. Candidates can access their Admit Card by entering their Registration ID or Roll Number, which was generated during registration. The following details are mentioned on the admit card:
| Student’s Name | Roll Number | Exam Centre |
| NDA Exam Date | Timing | Photo & Signature |
If candidates face any problems downloading the e-admit card for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (I) and (II), please get in touch with usnda-upsc@nic.in.
How to Download NDA Exam Admit Card 2023?
To download, follow the steps given below:
- Go to the official website of UPSC.
- Click on the ”Admit Card” section or direct link in ”What’s New.”
- Enter the registration/ roll number with the password and captcha code.
- Click on submit. The admit card can be seen on the screen.
- Download the admit card and take a printout for future reference.
NDA Exam Center 2023
During the application process, the candidates were given the option to select their preferred exam center cities. The following cities will host the UPSC NDA I Exam…
