Age calculator of NDA: enter your date of birth and this NDA age calculator shows, in one step, every NDA (I) and NDA (II) exam you are old enough — and still young enough — to sit. UPSC's rule is 16½ to 19½ years on the day the course starts, published as a birth-date window: for NDA (II) 2026 you must be born between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2011, both inclusive. The next exam, NDA (I) 2027, is projected for births from 1 July 2008 to 1 July 2011.
NDA age limit 2026–2029 (2027 onward projected)
| Exam | Born not earlier than | Born not later than |
|---|---|---|
| NDA (I) 2026 | 1 July 2007 | 1 July 2010 |
| NDA (II) 2026 | 1 January 2008 | 1 January 2011 |
| NDA (I) 2027 | 1 July 2008 | 1 July 2011 |
| NDA (II) 2027 | 1 January 2009 | 1 January 2012 |
| NDA (I) 2028 | 1 July 2009 | 1 July 2012 |
| NDA (II) 2028 | 1 January 2010 | 1 January 2013 |
| NDA (I) 2029 | 1 July 2010 | 1 July 2013 |
| NDA (II) 2029 | 1 January 2011 | 1 January 2014 |
How to use this NDA age calculator
- Enter your date of birth exactly as it appears on your class 10 (Matriculation/Secondary School) certificate.
- The calculator checks it against the window for each upcoming NDA (I) and NDA (II) exam and marks each one Eligible, Too young or Over age.
- It also shows your first and last possible attempt and your exact age today.
- Before you apply, confirm the window in the official UPSC notice for that cycle.
How the NDA age limit is calculated
You must be 16½ to 19½ years old on the first day of the course the exam feeds into. NDA (I), held around April, leads to the course starting the following January, so the window runs from 1 July (19 years before) to 1 July (16 years before). NDA (II), held around September, leads to a July course, so its window runs from 1 January to 1 January (both dates inclusive in the 2026 notifications).
For example, NDA (I) 2026 was held on 12 April 2026 for the course commencing 1 January 2027, and NDA (II) 2026 on 13 September 2026 for the course commencing 1 July 2027. In formula form, for an exam in year Y:
- NDA (I) Y: born 1 July (Y − 19) to 1 July (Y − 16)
- NDA (II) Y: born 1 January (Y − 18) to 1 January (Y − 15)
The pattern is not guaranteed: the NDA (I) 2025 notice started its window on 2 July, not 1 July. That is why years after 2026 are labelled projected.
Worked examples
Born 15 March 2009: eligible for NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027.
Born 1 July 2010: eligible for NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027, NDA (I) 2028, NDA (II) 2028, NDA (I) 2029.
Born 20 December 2007: eligible for NDA (I) 2026.
The second example sits exactly on the last day of the NDA (I) 2026 window, so it counts — both ends of every window are inclusive. The third gets a single attempt, NDA (I) 2026, because the NDA (II) 2026 window only opens at 1 January 2008.
Which NDA can I write? Eligibility by birth date
| Born on | Eligible NDA cycles, 2026–2029 |
|---|---|
| 15 February 2007 | none of these cycles |
| 15 September 2007 | NDA (I) 2026 |
| 15 February 2008 | NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026 |
| 15 September 2008 | NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027 |
| 15 February 2009 | NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027 |
| 15 September 2009 | NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027, NDA (I) 2028 |
| 15 February 2010 | NDA (I) 2026, NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027, NDA (I) 2028, NDA (II) 2028 |
| 15 September 2010 | NDA (II) 2026, NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027, NDA (I) 2028, NDA (II) 2028, NDA (I) 2029 |
| 15 February 2011 | NDA (I) 2027, NDA (II) 2027, NDA (I) 2028, NDA (II) 2028, NDA (I) 2029, NDA (II) 2029 |
| 15 September 2011 | NDA (II) 2027, NDA (I) 2028, NDA (II) 2028, NDA (I) 2029, NDA (II) 2029 |
Cycles after 2026 follow the projected pattern above.
Other NDA eligibility conditions
- Marital status: unmarried; you must not marry until training is complete.
- Education: 12th pass (10+2) for the Army wing; 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for the Air Force and Naval wings and the Indian Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry. Candidates appearing in 12th may apply; class 11 students may not.
- Nationality: Indian citizen, or subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with intent to settle permanently (certificate of eligibility needed, except Gorkha subjects of Nepal).
- Physical & medical standards as laid down by the services in the notice's appendix.
- Not eligible: anyone who resigned or was withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from an armed forces training academy.
NDA exam pattern, vacancies and fee
| Stage | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (paper 1) | 2½ hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test (paper 2: English 200, General Knowledge 400) | 2½ hours | 600 |
| SSB test / interview | — | 900 |
Both written papers are objective with negative marking, and calculators are not allowed. Each 2026 notice listed about 394 vacancies (370 male, 24 female) across the Army, Navy and Air Force wings and the Naval Academy. The fee is Rs 100, waived for SC/ST candidates, female candidates and eligible wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs.
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong date of birth. UPSC accepts only the date on your Matriculation or equivalent certificate. If your Aadhaar or birth certificate differs, the school certificate wins, and the date can't be changed after you apply.
- Counting age on the exam date. The 16½–19½ rule is measured at the course start, which is 8–10 months after the exam; the birth-date window already accounts for this.
- Assuming a 1 July birthday is out. Both window ends are inclusive in the 2026 notices.
- Missing the certificate deadline. If you apply while in 12th, proof of passing is due by the date in the notice, with no extensions.
When not to rely on this calculator
The calculator checks age only. It cannot tell you whether you meet the medical and physical standards, whether your board result will arrive before the certificate deadline, or whether UPSC has changed the window in a new notice. If your date of birth is within a day or two of a window edge, read the exact wording of that cycle's notice before you pay the fee.
2026 dates are taken from the UPSC notifications; later years are projected from the same pattern until UPSC publishes them. Always confirm in the official notice for your cycle before applying. Need your exact age for another form? Use the age calculator, or count down to the exam date with the days from today calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How does the age calculator of NDA work?
It compares your class 10 date of birth with the UPSC birth-date window for each NDA cycle — for example 1 January 2008 to 1 January 2011 for NDA (II) 2026 — and marks each exam Eligible, Too young or Over age. It also counts your attempts and shows your exact age today.
What is the age limit for NDA?
Candidates must be between 16½ and 19½ years old on the date the course begins. UPSC publishes this as a birth-date window for each exam, for example NDA (I) 2026: born between 1 July 2007 and 1 July 2010 (both dates inclusive), and NDA (II) 2026: 1 January 2008 to 1 January 2011.
How many times can I appear for NDA?
There is no fixed attempt limit; you can appear in every NDA cycle (two per year) while your date of birth falls inside the window. That is normally 6 attempts (7 if you were born on 1 January or 1 July).
Can I apply for NDA after 12th?
Yes. Students appearing in 12th can apply, but must submit the passing certificate by the date specified by UPSC — 10 December 2026 for NDA (I) 2026 and 10 June 2027 for NDA (II) 2026. Students in class 11 are not eligible.
Are girls eligible for NDA?
Yes. The UPSC notifications admit unmarried male and female candidates with exactly the same birth-date window. Merit lists for men and women are prepared separately against separate vacancies.
Is there any age relaxation in NDA?
No. Unlike many exams, NDA has no age relaxation for any category, including SC/ST/OBC.
Which document proves my date of birth for NDA?
Only the date of birth in your Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate (or an equivalent certificate) is accepted. Horoscopes, affidavits, municipal birth extracts and service records are not accepted, and the date cannot be changed later.
Can I get married after applying for NDA?
No. Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries after applying will not be selected, and one who marries during training is discharged and must refund the training cost.
What is the NDA exam pattern?
Two objective papers of 2½ hours each: Mathematics (300 marks) and the General Ability Test (600 marks), for 900 marks in total, followed by an SSB test and interview of 900 marks. Wrong answers carry negative marking.
What is the NDA application fee?
Rs 100. SC and ST candidates, female candidates, and eligible wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs studying in Military or Sainik Schools are exempt. OBC and EWS candidates pay the full fee (NDA II 2026 notice, section 4).
What is the NDA age limit for 2027?
Projected from the 2026 pattern: NDA (I) 2027 for candidates born 1 July 2008 to 1 July 2011, and NDA (II) 2027 for 1 January 2009 to 1 January 2012. UPSC confirms the exact window in each notice, so treat these as estimates until then.
Can I apply for NDA at 20?
No. You must be no older than 19½ on the first day of the course, and the birth-date window already reflects that. A 20-year-old is over age for every NDA cycle.
Do I need Physics, Chemistry and Maths for NDA?
Only for the Air Force and Naval wings and the Indian Naval Academy 10+2 Cadet Entry. The Army wing accepts 12th class pass in any stream.
Sources & method
- UPSC — NDA & NA Examination (I) 2026 notice No. 3/2026 (age, eligibility, scheme)
- UPSC — NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026 notice No. 10/2026 (age, eligibility, scheme, fee)
- UPSC — NDA & NA Examination (I) 2025 notice (earlier 2 July window start)
- Join Indian Army — NDA entry
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.