Instantly check your eligibility for NDA, CDS, AFCAT and other defence exams. Simply enter your date of birth to see your age, remaining attempts, and eligibility status.
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Based on official age criteria from UPSC, AFCAT, SSC & Defence recruitment notifications
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Whether you are eligible, underage, or overage for your selected exam, our defence career experts will guide you with the right preparation strategy and alternative career pathways.
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Instantly verify eligibility for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF, SSC GD, Agniveer and other defence exams as per official cut-off dates.
Use Age Eligibility CalculatorDefence Exam Age Limit & Eligibility FAQs (NDA, CDS, AFCAT)
The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam is generally open to candidates aged 16.5 to 19.5 years. UPSC specifies the exact birth date range in every notification. Candidates must fall strictly within that range as on the prescribed cut-off date.
The CDS (Combined Defence Services) age limit varies depending on the academy:
- IMA: Typically 19–24 years
- INA: Typically 19–24 years
- AFA: Typically 20–24 years
- OTA: Typically 19–25 years
Exact eligibility is defined in the official UPSC notification for each cycle.
For AFCAT:
- Flying Branch: Generally 20–24 years
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical): Usually 20–26 years
The Indian Air Force notification provides the exact birth date criteria for each entry.
Age is calculated based on the cut-off date mentioned in the official notification, not on the exam date or application date. The calculation is done using your Date of Birth as recorded in your Class 10 certificate.
No. Defence exams follow strict eligibility rules. Even exceeding the upper age limit by one day can make you ineligible.
There is no fixed attempt limit, but since these exams have upper age limits, the number of attempts depends on your age eligibility window.
Using a Defence Exam Age Calculator helps you:
- Instantly verify eligibility
- Avoid application rejection
- Plan your preparation timeline
Understand how much time remains before crossing the age limit
Age relaxation is generally limited and varies depending on the exam and category. Candidates should always refer to the official UPSC or AFCAT notification for accurate details.