Registration Open For NDA
NDA for girls: a real career, with its own merit list
Girls can now join the National Defence Academy straight after Class 12 and train to become officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force. They write the same UPSC exam and face the same SSB as boys. The difference is that women are selected on a separate merit list against a small number of seats. That makes every mark in the written exam and every task at the SSB count.
At Noval Doon Defence Academy (NDDA), girls prepare for both stages under one roof on our Sahastradhara Road campus in Dehradun. Classes cover NDA Maths, GAT and English, alongside daily PT and full SSB training. Girls stay in a separate girls hostel with mess food and 24/7 CCTV security.
Seats for women in NDA
The UPSC NDA & NA Examination-II 2026 notification lists these approximate vacancies (UPSC says they are provisional):
| Wing / Service | Women | Men | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA – Army | 10 | 198 | 208 |
| NDA – Navy | 5 | 37 | 42 |
| NDA – Air Force (Flying) | 2 | 90 | 92 |
| NDA – Air Force (Ground Duties Tech) | 2 | 16 | 18 |
| NDA – Air Force (Ground Duties Non-Tech) | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry) | 3 | 21 | 24 |
| Total | 24 | 370 | 394 |
Source: UPSC Examination Notice No. 10/2026-NDA-II dated 20.05.2026, upsc.gov.in.
NDA eligibility for girls
- Marital status: unmarried female candidates.
- Age: roughly 16½ to 19½ years on the course start date. For NDA-II 2026 the birth window was 1 January 2008 to 1 January 2011. Check the exact window in each notification, or use our age calculator.
- Army wing: Class 12 pass in any stream.
- Air Force, Navy and Naval Academy: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
- Class 12 students who are appearing in their board exams can also apply.
- Physical and medical standards for women are listed in the UPSC notification. Read our guide to NDA height, weight and eyesight.
NDA exam pattern
| Stage | Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written (UPSC) | Mathematics | 2½ hours | 300 |
| Written (UPSC) | General Ability Test (English + GK) | 2½ hours | 600 |
| SSB | Intelligence & Personality Test / Interview | 5 days | 900 |
How NDDA prepares girls for NDA
Written exam
Experienced subject teachers cover NDA Maths, GAT, English and GK, with weekly tests, previous-year paper discussions and separate doubt-clearing sessions.
SSB interview
Our SSB wing is led by Col. Karuna (Retd.), a former SSB assessor & GTO, with a team of ex-defence psychologists. Girls practise the screening test, psychology tests (TAT, WAT, SRT), GTO tasks and the personal interview. See SSB coaching at NDDA.
Physical training
Daily morning PT and running practice on our 400-metre track, obstacle course training and outdoor ground activities, so that fitness is never the reason you miss a seat.
A safe girls hostel
- Separate girls hostel on campus
- 24/7 security and CCTV surveillance
- Nutritious mess food with a balanced diet
- Study rooms and library access
- Regular parent communication and progress updates
See the full hostel and campus facilities.
Courses girls can join
| Course | Who it is for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| NDA Foundation (Class 11–12) | After Class 10: schooling plus NDA & SSB preparation | From ₹1,50,000 / year |
| NDA Course – 6 months | Class 12 students and passouts | ₹45,000 (₹87,000 with hostel) |
| NDA Course – 1 year (till selection) | Class 12 students and passouts | ₹70,000 (₹1,54,000 with hostel) |
| NDA Crash Course – 2 months | Final revision before the exam | ₹15,000 (+ hostel ₹9,000 / month) |
| SSB Interview – 15 days | Girls who cleared the written exam | ₹20,000 (₹25,000 with hostel) |
All fees are on the fee structure page. Girls preparing for the CDS (OTA) can see CDS coaching in Dehradun.
NDA for Girls – FAQs
Can girls join the NDA?
How many NDA seats are there for women?
Is there a separate hostel for girls at NDDA?
Which stream do girls need for NDA?
When is the NDA (I) 2027 exam?
What is the fee for NDA coaching for girls at NDDA?
Admissions open for the NDA (I) 2027 batch. Visit the campus with your parents and see the girls hostel.