The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has allowed unmarried women to apply for the National Defense Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy Exam. This was announced after the Supreme Court issued a directive permitting women to do so.
Youngsters aspiring to join the National Defense Academy (NDA) have to attempt the entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi. UPSC NDA & NA Exam (1) will be held on 10th April 2022. The exam will be conducted to fill 400 vacancies out of which 35 are for female candidates in the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA.
UPSC NDA Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2022
The UPSC schedules the examination twice a year in the months of April and September. The training at NDA is for three years which is split into six terms. After this the cadets head for further training at different academies depending on their choice of service before being commissioned as officers.
NDA Eligibility for Female Candidates 2022
The union government informed that the academy will be ready to welcome the first-ever batch of women cadets in January 2023, after they sit for the entrance exam in May 2022. NDA will now have to work on accommodation, training capacity, security and privacy arrangements, physical segregation of living quarters, associated physical and electronic surveillance measures, and additional gender specific requirements.
Entrance to the NDA is not only based on the entrance exams but also on the physical and mental fitness of the candidates. They should be fit according to the prescribed physical standards. Many candidates get rejected during the medical examination. so the aspirants are advised to get themselves examined before submitting the form for NDA. Let us have a look at the physical standards required by the female candidates.
Height and Weight Requirements for Female Candidates
The minimum required height for a female candidate for armed forces is 152 cm. However there are some exceptions:
- The female candidates from Ladakh region, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands are required to be at least 150 cm.
- The candidates who are Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaon or from Uttarakhand, Bhutan, Sikkim, and North East Region get the relaxation to be 147 cm.
- An allowance for growth of 2 cm will be made for candidates below 18 yrs at the time of examination.
The minimum required height for a female candidate for air force is 163 cm. The air force also requires other anthropometric standards like sitting height, leg length and thigh length.
- Leg Length: Min – 99 cm, Max -120 cm
- Thigh Length: Max – 64 cm
- Sitting Height: Min – 81.5 cm, Max – 96 cm
Height and weight requirement for female candidates for Indian Army / Air force is given in the table below:
| Height (in cm) | Weight(in cm) | |||
| 15 – 16 years 16 – 17 years 17 – 18 years 18 -19 years | ||||
| 147
148 149 150 152 155 157 160 162 165 167 170 173 175 178 180 183 |
38
39 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 48 49 51 52.5 54.5 56 58.5 61 |
40
40 41 41 42.5 43.5 45 46.5 48 50 51 52.5 54.5 56 58 60 62.5 |
41
42 42 43 44 45.3 47 48 50 52 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 |
42
43 43 44 45 47 48 49 51 53 54 56 58 60 62 64.5 66.5 |
Candidates who weigh more than that mentioned in the table will be accepted only in the case of those who have documented evidence of body building, wrestling and boxing at the national level. Under such circumstances, the following conditions should be satisfied:
- The waist to hip ratio should be below 0.8 for female candidates.
- Waist circumference should be less than 80 cm for females.
- Body Mass Index should be below 25.
- All biochemical metabolic parameters should be within normal limits.
- Female candidates will be examined by a female medical officer and a specialist. In case they are not available, they will be examined by the medical officer in the presence of the female attendant.
Height and weight requirement for female candidates for Indian Navy is given in the table below:
| Height (in cm) | Weight (in cm) | ||
| 16 Years 18 Years 20 Years | |||
| 152
155 157 160 162 165 168 170 173 175 178 180 183 |
44
45 46 47 48 50 52 53 55 57 59 61 63 |
45
46 47 48 50 52 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 |
46
47 49 50 52 53 55 57 59 61 62 64 67 |
Apart from height and weight, there are certain medical requirements which every candidate must be aware of before submitting the application form. Have a look at these guidelines:
- Permanent body tattoos are only allowed from the wrist to the inside of the elbow and on the hand’s backside. Tattoos on any other body part are not acceptable.
Candidates belonging to tribes who have tattoos/ marks on the face/ body as part of their custom/ traditions will be allowed on a special case basis. - Bones and joints should be fully developed and free from any impairment.
- Unoperated hernia will lead to disqualification. In the case of operated hernia, it should have been done a year before the final medical examination.
- The liver and spleen of the candidate should be of normal size.
- Blood Pressure should be normal.
- Candidates should be free of hydrocele, varicocele, piles or any kind of skin disease.
- The candidate should be able to hear a whisper with each ear at a distance of 610 cm.
- There should be no evidence of weak constitution, bodily defects or under weight. The candidate should not be overweight or obese.
Eligibility Based on Nationality, Educational Qualification, Marital Status, Age Criteria
The eligibility criteria for female candidates based on every other aspect is the same as that of male candidates. To read about the eligibility guidelines in detail, click the following link:
UPSC NDA 2020 Eligibility Criteria – Age limit, Education, Nationality
It has been a dream for several Indian girls to serve their motherland. Now that the gates of NDA are open for girls, grab the opportunity and turn your dreams into reality.
Download Entri app and start your preparation for the NDA exam
