NDA Eligibility for Female: The esteemed National Defence Academy of India (NDA) is a dream organization for aspirants willing to fulfil their career in the shoes of the Army, Navy or Air Force from the country’s forefront. After the Supreme Court's judgement, girls have also been allowed to join NDA. Around 2.5 lakh aspirants batten down to avail admissions to this joint-defence training institute under the Indian Armed Forces. However, the situation used to be a catch for women candidates as the UPSC NDA Recruitment only allowed for their male counterparts. But, that is no longer the case.

Continue reading this article to know the right answers to this socially relevant issue.

NDA Eligibility for Female

Women aspirants wanting to join the NDA workforce can now apply, following the new decision by the Supreme Court. The detailed UPSC NDA selection process includes a preliminary written test, followed by the SSB round, which comprises intensive physical and medical tests, psychological screening, and more. These stages are conducted with the same standards previously applied only to male candidates. Those interested must also meet the prescribed qualification for Indian Navy for female, which includes specific educational criteria and physical standards aligned with naval requirements.

The NDA Eligibility Criteria for girls are largely the same that for boys. Check out the prescribed eligibility criteria for girls below

• Candidates must be Indian citizens or a subject of Bhutan or Nepal.
• Only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 2006 and not later than 01st July, 2009 are eligible.
• The candidate must have passed 12th examination or its equivalent with Physics and Mathematics as subjects.
• The candidate must meet the physical standards prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission
• Only unmarried male/female candidates are eligible to apply for NDA.
• The candidate must meet the medical standards prescribed by the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Other than that a good character and conduct as well as passing a series of psychological and intelligence tests are necessary for a candidate to be eligible for the NDA.

Candidates can Check NDA Previous Year Question Paper.

NDA Age Limit for Girls

Key points regarding the NDA age limit for girls applying for the exam:

• The age limit for female candidates applying for the National Defense Academy entrance exam is between 16.5 and 19.5 years.
• Female applicants must be within this age bracket from 16.5 to 19.5 years old on the 1st of July of the year of examination in order to be eligible for the NDA exam.
• The upper and lower age limits apply equally to both girls and boys intending to sit for the National Defense Academy selection test.
• Not meeting the minimum or maximum age eligibility will make a candidate ineligible to appear for the NDA entrance examination, regardless of gender.
• The minimum age criterion ensures that candidates have physical and mental maturity for entry into the defense forces. The maximum age limit is to ensure selection of physically fit and young trainees.
• Both female and male applicants are judged on an equal footing with regard to age eligibility for competitive selection through the NDA test. Gender is not a consideration in setting the age bracket.

NDA Educational Qualification for Girls

Academic qualifications vary greatly depending on the position for which applicants have applied. In the following paragraph, we will discuss the educational requirements for the various positions.

• Candidates must pass the reformed board and university’s 12th certification.
• Candidates must have passed the state education board and the university’s 12th class exams in the fields of physics and maths.
• It should be noted that applicants in the eleventh grade are not eligible to take the examination.
• If an applicant has previously failed the INSB / PABT, he or she will be ineligible for air force recruiting.
• You must have documentation of finishing the 12th examination by the deadline if you are currently studying in class 12th while filling out the allocation form 2025. There will be no requests to extend the deadline accepted.
• It should also be noted that applicants who have been disqualified from holding any form of commission in the defence service by the Ministry of Defence would be considered ineligible for admission.
• Candidates who have quit or withdrawn from any army training academy due to disciplinary reasons would not be eligible to enroll for NDA.

Medical/Physical Criteria For Girl Cadets In NDA

For both male and female cadets, the NDA imposes severe medical and physical requirements to make sure they can handle the demands of military training and service. We have given the data in a table format to make it easier to access and comprehend the information. The chart lists the fundamental physical and medical requirements that female cadets must fulfil in order to be accepted into the NDA.

Medical/Physical Criteria for Female Cadets in NDA:

Note: These criteria are subject to change, and the NDA reserves the right to alter the criteria based on operational requirements and the availability of resources.

NDA Physical Fitness for Girls

Female candidates who wish to join NDA after the 12th must stick to the guidelines released by the UPSC. All height and weight requirements guidelines for female candidates are depicted in the following points and table:

• Weights below the minimum specified will not be acceptable.
• Weights higher than the acceptable limit will be acceptable only in the case of candidates with documented evidence of bodybuilding, wrestling, and boxing at the National level. In such cases, the following criteria will have to be met.

1. The BMI (Body Mass Index) should be less than 25.
2. Should have a weight-hip ratio of less than 0.8.
3. Should have a waist circumference of less than 80 cm.
4. All biochemical and metabolic parameters should be normal.

NDA Height and Weight Requirements for Girls

Candidates must be aware of the height and weight requirements for girls trying to get into the NDA. Below, we have mentioned the height and weight requirements for NDA Females:

NDA Vision Standards for Girls

NDA vision standards for girls are similar to male candidates. They must meet all the following criteria to be finally selected for NDA. Below, we have mentioned the NDA vision standards for girls in the list.

• Deformity or morbid condition of the eye or eyelids that is liable for aggravation or recurrence
• Manifest squint of any degree.
• Active trachoma or its complication or sequelae.
• Visual acuity below prescribed standards.

Notes:

1. Visual standards for NDA/ NA entry are as follows:

2. Kerato Refractive Surgery: Candidates who have undergone any Refractory Surgery (PRK/LASIK/SMILE) can be considered fit in all branches (except submarine, diving and MARCO cadre) subject to the following conditions:

• Uncomplicated surgery at least 12 months before examination (Certificate mentioning the type of refractive surgery, date of surgery and pre-operative refractive error from concerned eye centre is to be produced by the candidate at the time of recruitment medical examination).
• Post LASIK Standards. Candidate will be considered Fit if Axial Length by IOL Master is equal to or less than 26 mm and Central Corneal Thickness is equal to or more than 450 microns.
• Residual refraction less than or equal to +1.0 D Sph or Cyl, provided within the permissible limit for the category applied for. However, for Pilot and Observer entries, the residual refraction should be nil.
• Pre-operative refractive error not more than +/- 6.0 D.
• Normal retinal examination.

3. Kerato-Refractory Surgery: (PRK, LASIK, SMILE) is not acceptable for special cadres such as submarine, diving and MARCO. Candidates who have undergone Radial Keratotomy are permanently unfit for all branches.

(i) Ptosis:

• Candidate will be considered fit post-operative provided there is no recurrence one year after surgery, visual axis is clear with normal visual fields and upper eyelid is 02 mm below the superior limbus.
• Candidates who have not undergone surgery for the condition, would be considered fit if they meet any of the following criteria:
  • Mild ptosis
  • Clear visual axis
  • Normal visual field
  • No sign of aberrant degeneration/head tilt

(ii) Exotropia: Unfit
(iii) Anisocoria:

• If size difference between the pupils is >01mm, candidate will be considered unfit.

(iv) Heterochromia Iridum: Unfit
(v) Sphincter Tears:

• Can be considered fit if size difference between pupils is <01mm, pupillary reflexes are brisk with no observed pathology in cornea, lens or retina.

(vi) Pseudophakia: Unfit
(vii) Lenticular Opacities

• Any lenticular opacity causing visual deterioration, or is in the visual axis or is present in an area of 07 mm around the pupils, which may cause glare phenomenon, should be considered Unfit.
• The propensity of the opacities not to increase in size or number should also be a consideration when deciding fitness.
• Small stationary lenticular opacities in the periphery like congenital blue dot cataract, not affecting the visual axis/visual field may be considered by specialist (Should be less than 10 in number and central area of 04 mm to be clear).

(viii) Optic Nerve Drusen: Unfit
(ix) High Cup Disc Ratio:

• Candidate will be considered fit if the ratio is <0.2 with normal visual fields with no other evidence of glaucoma.
• Candidates with high cup disc ratio (>0.2)/Abnormal RNFL study/Visual Field Defect detected by Visual Field Analyzer will be considered Unfit.

(x) Keratoconus: Unfit
(xi) Lattice

• The following lattice degenerations will render a candidate Unfit:
  • Single circumferential lattice extending more than two clock hours in either or both eyes.
  • Two circumferential lattices each more than one clock hour in extent in either or both eyes.
  • Radial lattices.
  • Any lattice with atrophic hole/flap tears (Unlasered).
  • Lattice degenerations posterior to equator.
• Candidates with lattice degeneration will be considered Fit under the following conditions:
  • Single circumferential lattice without holes of less than two clock hours in either or both eyes.
  • Two circumferential lattices without holes each being less than one clock hour in extent in either or both eyes.
  • Post Laser delimitation single circumferential lattice, without holes/flap tear, less than two clock hours extent in either or both eyes.
  • Post Laser delimitation two circumferential lattices, without holes/flap tear, each being less than one clock hour extent in either or both eyes.

NDA Selection Process for Girls

The NDA selection process for both male and female candidates are the same and is based on merit. It involves the following steps:

• Written Examination: Candidates have to appear for the NDA written examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• Physical Fitness Test (PFT): Candidates who clear the written examination are required to undergo a physical fitness test (PFT).
• Interview/Personality Test: Candidates who clear the PFT are required to appear for an interview/personality test conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).

The final selection is based on the combined scores of the written examination, PFT, and interview/personality test. There is no gender-based discrimination in the selection process for NDA.

NDA Eligibility for Female: Know the Women Personalities in NDA

It takes a special amount of grit and determination to shine in a field that has been biased over the other gender. But that is where these extraordinary women came to the forefront and rolled the question “Can girls apply for NDA?” on its head. Here is a list of such brave names who created milestones in the Indian Armed Forces and should give a current force to the present women aspirants wanting to outshine in this Defence sector.

1. Punita Arora – The first Indian woman to achieve the rank of Lieutenant General in the Indian Armed Forces and the first female Vice-Admiral in the Indian Navy. In her 37 years of service, she achieves 37 medals for her outstanding leadership.
2. Harita Kaur Deol – The 22-year old prodigy who also became the first woman to fly without a co-pilot at a height of 10,000 ft. in the Indian Air Force.
3. Divya Ajith Kumar – The first woman to receive the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ who beat 244 fellow cadets in several academic and physical tests.
4. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay – Holding the rank of first woman Air Marshal of Indian Air Force, she is also the first Indian woman to conduct an extreme acclimatization experiment on the freezing North Pole.

For a detailed syllabus refer to UPSC NDA Syllabus

NDA Exam Application Form For Women

The application form can be easily downloaded from the web platform by interested and eligible individuals. First and foremost, you must go to the official website that we mentioned previously. After that, look for the form’s link and click on it to download it. Then you must select the choice by clicking on it. Candidates must also pay the registration cost on the internet. Finally, scan and upload the signature and passport-size photo.

NDA for Girls - Journey Until Now!

In March 2021, an advocate filed a petition highlighting the exclusion of eligible women candidates solely based on their sex.

The petition argued that, "The act of the respondents to categorically exclude eligible and willing female candidates from appearing for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination over the years, solely on the ground of sex, is a violation of the fundamental right of equality before the law and equal protection of the law,"

• The Issue: While NDA falls under the Armed Forces, the entrance exam is conducted by UPSC. Excluding women candidates is discriminatory based on gender.
• The Defence Minister's Stand: The Defence Minister highlighted the importance of allowing women candidates to join NDA to serve the country alongside men.
• The Current Status: As of now, women are eligible to join the National Defence Academy based on the ruling by the Supreme court on 17th August 2021. .

Prepare online with NDA Mock test to crack the NDA Exam!

We hope we have successfully acknowledged and testified on the role and importance of entry of women in the Defence sector. To know more about such contemporary issues that lead to the importance of competitive exams in India, download the Testbook App for free and lead your way into knowledge and success.