NDA exam is conducted by UPSC. This exam is for those candidates who are looking forward to join national defense academy of defense forces ,I.e., Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian airforce.

You can give NDA exam as you're appearing for 12th class examination. Following criteria you should have  for being eligible for the examination. The eligibility criteria for girls appearing in the examination is same as the eligibility  for boys. As you know in 2021 Suprem Court of India allows girls to appear in the examination. So eligibility,separate hostel,bathroom etc are going to be  in the Academy strictly for girls only. But till then these are the criteria for both male and female candidates.

Eligibility:-

1. A citizen of India

2. A subject of Nepal or Bhutan

3. A Tibetan refugee who moved to India, before January 1, 1962, with the intention of settling here permanently

4. PIO (Person of Indian origin) is someone who has migrated from the countries specified below, with the intention of permanently settling in India. The nationals from the following countries would fall under this category such as Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (Formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar ), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam.

Age Limit:- Minimum 16 years of age

Maximum 19 years of age

Educational qualification:-

(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy :—12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent  examination conducted by a State Education Board or a university.

(ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy :— 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent  conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination.

Such candidates who qualify the SSB interview but could not Produce Matriculation/10+2 or equivalent certificate in original at the time of SSB interview should forward duly self attested Photocopies to ‘Directorate General of Recruiting, Army HQ, West Block.III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066’ and for Naval Academy Candidates to ‘Naval Headquarters, DMPR, OI&R Section, Room No. 204, ‘C’ Wing, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi-110011.

NOTE 1 : Candidates appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible for this examination.

NOTE 2 : Those candidates who have yet to qualify in the 12th Class or equivalent examination and are allowed to appear in the UPSC Examination should note that this is only a special concession given to them. They are required to submit proof of Passing the 12th class or equivalent examination by the prescribed Date which is given in the NDA exam notification and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of Board/University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground.