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NDA 1 2027 Age Limit: Date of Birth Window, Notification and Exam Date

Cadets on parade at the passing out parade of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla
Passing out parade of the 134th course, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (30 May 2018). Photo: President's Secretariat, via Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India.

Notification

2 December 2026

Last date to apply

22 December 2026

Exam date

11 April 2027 (Sunday)

Expected DOB window

1 Jul 2008 to 1 Jul 2011 (projected)

Table of Contents

Every year around this time, the same quiet panic sets in. A student types their date of birth into a calculator three times, a parent counts months on their fingers at the dinner table, and somebody asks the question nobody wants to get wrong: am I still eligible for NDA?

If you are aiming for NDA (I) 2027, this guide gives you the honest answer as of 6 November 2026. You will find the official dates, the exact date-of-birth windows UPSC used in the last two notifications, and what that pattern means for you. We will also be clear about the one thing nobody can confirm yet: the NDA (I) 2027 notification itself only comes out on 2 December 2026.

NDA 2027 Dates at a Glance

These dates are from the UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027, published on 20 May 2026:

ExamNotificationLast date to applyExam date
NDA & NA (I) 20272 December 202622 December 202611 April 2027 (Sunday)
NDA & NA (II) 202712 May 20271 June 202719 September 2027 (Sunday)

UPSC’s calendar itself notes that these dates are liable to alteration, so treat them as firm plans rather than promises. The application window for NDA (I) 2027 is only about three weeks long, and it overlaps with school pre-boards for many Class 12 students. Put 22 December 2026 in your phone today.

How UPSC Sets the NDA Age Limit

UPSC does not publish the NDA age limit as “16.5 to 19.5 years” in the notification. It publishes an exact date-of-birth window, and only that window counts. Here is what the two most recent notifications said:

NotificationCourseBorn not earlier thanBorn not later than
NDA (I) 2026 (dated 10 Dec 2025)157th NDA course, commencing 1 January 20271 July 20071 July 2010
NDA (II) 2026 (dated 20 May 2026)158th NDA course, commencing 1 July 20271 January 20081 January 2011

Notice the pattern. Each cycle, the window moves forward by exactly six months, in step with the course start date.

NDA cadets receiving medals at the passing out parade at Khadakwasla
Award winners at the NDA passing out parade, Khadakwasla (28 November 2015). Photo: Ministry of Defence, via Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India.

Expected Date of Birth Window for NDA (I) 2027

Following that six-month pattern, we expect the NDA (I) 2027 notification to allow unmarried candidates born not earlier than 1 July 2008 and not later than 1 July 2011.

Please read this carefully: this is our projection from the last two official notifications, not an official figure. UPSC will publish the actual window on 2 December 2026. Until then, nobody can promise it, and you should be wary of anyone who claims otherwise.

A few examples, if the projection holds:

  • Born 15 March 2009: comfortably inside the window.
  • Born 1 July 2011: eligible, just. The boundary dates have been inclusive in recent notifications.
  • Born 20 June 2008: outside the window for NDA (I) 2027. If this is you, NDA (II) 2026 was likely your last NDA chance, and it is worth looking at CDS or AFCAT after graduation.

You can check your exact age on any date with our age calculator.

Other Eligibility Rules (From the Latest Notification)

These rules come from the NDA (II) 2026 notification. They have stayed stable across recent cycles, but confirm them in the NDA (I) 2027 notice:

  • Marital status: only unmarried male and female candidates can apply.
  • Army wing: Class 12 pass under the 10+2 pattern, or equivalent, from a State Education Board or University.
  • Air Force and Naval wings, and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at INA: Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
  • Still in Class 12? You can apply while appearing for your Class 12 exams.
  • Proof of age: UPSC accepts only the date of birth recorded in your Matriculation or Secondary School certificate, or an equivalent certificate. Horoscopes, affidavits and municipal birth extracts are not accepted, and a date of birth cannot be changed once submitted.

That last point catches people every year. If the date on your Class 10 certificate is different from the one your family celebrates, the certificate wins. Check it now, not on 21 December.

What to Do Before 2 December 2026

  • Check your Class 10 certificate and note your official date of birth.
  • Keep your documents ready: the last notification asked for a photograph plus a live photo captured while filling the form, your signature (signed three times on plain white paper) and the details of a valid photo ID such as Aadhaar or a school photo ID.
  • Decide your service preference (Army, Navy or Air Force). If you want the Air Force or Navy, make sure you have PCM in Class 12.
  • Plan your preparation backwards from 11 April 2027. That gives you roughly five months for Mathematics and the General Ability Test.

If you are not sure how many attempts you have left, our guide on NDA attempt limits and eligibility walks through it. If you want structured preparation, our NDA coaching in Dehradun page lists the current batches and fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

As per the UPSC calendar published on 20 May 2026, the NDA & NA (I) 2027 exam is on 11 April 2027. The notification is due on 2 December 2026, with applications closing on 22 December 2026.

UPSC will publish the exact date-of-birth window on 2 December 2026. Based on the last two notifications, it is expected to be born between 1 July 2008 and 1 July 2011, but this is a projection, not an official figure.

Yes. The latest NDA notification allows unmarried male and female candidates who meet the age and education conditions.

Yes. Candidates appearing in Class 12 can apply, and must produce their pass certificate later as the notification specifies.

Preparing for NDA (I) 2027?

Talk to Noval Doon Defence Academy, Dehradun about NDA written exam and SSB preparation, batches and fees.

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Sources

All facts were checked on 6 November 2026.

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