How Many Attempts for NDA After 12th? Know Your Chances and Plan Smartly
- Surinder Chhabra
- Jul 4
- 4 min read
If you're a defence aspirant wondering how many times you can attempt the NDA exam after Class 12, you're not alone. It's one of the most common — and important — questions students ask while planning their defence career.
The National Defence Academy (NDA) is your gateway to a prestigious career in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, and every attempt matters. In this blog, we’ll break down:
✅ NDA attempt eligibility
✅ How many attempts you can give after Class 12
✅ Best age to start preparing
✅ How to plan your attempts smartly
Let’s get started.
🎯 First Things First – Who Can Apply for NDA?
To be eligible for the NDA exam, you must:
Be a male or female candidate
Be an unmarried Indian citizen
Have passed Class 12 (or appearing for Class 12)
Fall within the age limit of 16.5 to 19.5 years
Meet the physical standards set by UPSC & respective services
These criteria decide how many NDA attempts you can actually make.
🕒 What is the Age Limit for NDA?
UPSC mentions the age limit for NDA in terms of birthdate ranges in each notification. However, the fixed age criteria is:
📌 Minimum Age: 16.5 years 📌 Maximum Age: 19.5 years
This means:
You must be at least 16.5 years old when the course begins at NDA (not when you give the exam).
You must not have attained 19.5 years at the beginning of the course (usually Jan or July session of NDA).
⚠️ Important: Even if you crack the NDA written + SSB, you cannot join NDA if you don’t meet the age limit by the course joining date.
🔁 So, How Many Attempts Can You Give After Class 12?
Let’s break this down with an example:
📌 Suppose your Date of Birth is 1st January 2008
You can attempt NDA as follows:
Attempt | NDA Exam | Approx Age at Exam | Eligible? |
1st | NDA 1 2025 (April) | 17.3 yrs | ✅ Yes |
2nd | NDA 2 2025 (Sept) | 17.8 yrs | ✅ Yes |
3rd | NDA 1 2026 (April) | 18.3 yrs | ✅ Yes |
4th | NDA 2 2026 (Sept) | 18.8 yrs | ✅ Yes |
5th | NDA 1 2027 (April) | 19.3 yrs | ✅ Yes |
6th | NDA 2 2027 (Sept) | 19.8 yrs | ❌ No (Overage) |
✅ So, in most cases, you can appear for 4 to 5 NDA exams after Class 12, depending on your birthdate.
📘 Can You Give NDA Exam While in Class 12?
Yes! In fact, many aspirants give their first attempt while in Class 12, usually in the NDA 1 exam (April) of their board year.
NDA 1: For Class 12 appearing students (exam in April)
NDA 2: After board results are out (exam in September)
Giving your first NDA attempt in Class 12 is highly recommended. It helps you:
Understand the paper pattern
Build confidence for future attempts
Crack the exam early and save 1-2 years
📅 UPSC Conducts NDA Exam Twice a Year
Here’s how the schedule works:
🧠 Smart Strategy – When Should You Start Preparing?
To get maximum NDA attempts, you should ideally start NDA preparation after Class 10 or during Class 11.
This way:
You’re well prepared by Class 12
You get 3–4 full chances to crack NDA
You can join NDA at the youngest possible age (17.5 yrs)
🎓 What If You Join NDA After 12th in First Attempt?
Lucky you! If you crack the NDA exam + SSB interview in Class 12, you’ll directly join the academy at 17.5–18 years. You’ll finish your NDA training + IMA/INA/AFA by age 21, and be commissioned as an officer early.
This gives you a longer career span, faster promotions, and more seniority.
❓What If You Don’t Clear NDA After 12th?
Don’t worry — you still have time.
Many successful officers didn’t clear NDA on the first go. You can:
Reattempt NDA up to age 19.5
Apply for TES Entry (if in Science stream with PCM & 60%+)
Try CDS exam after graduation
Appear for AFCAT, CAPF, or Territorial Army
🚫 Common Mistakes Aspirants Make
Waiting till Class 12 ends to start preparation ➤ Start early! NDA syllabus includes Class 11 topics too.
Not checking age cut-offs carefully ➤ Every NDA notification lists exact date of birth range. Check it.
Ignoring physical fitness ➤ Remember, even if you clear written, you need to be physically fit for SSB.
Not giving NDA in Class 12 ➤ Don’t skip your first chance. Even a failed attempt teaches a lot.
🧭 Final Thoughts – Plan Early, Prepare Smart
So, how many NDA attempts can you give after 12th?
👉 Most aspirants get 4 to 5 valid attempts depending on their date of birth.
👉 But to make the most of them, start preparing in Class 11 or earlier.
👉 Every attempt counts. Give each one your best.
🏆 Want to Crack NDA in Your First Attempt?
Join Cavalier Delhi – India’s No. 1 NDA Coaching Institute (since 2001). With expert faculty, SSB guidance, physical fitness sessions, and hostel facilities, we help you prepare the right way — from Day 1.
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📍 Address: C-73, Shardapuri, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi - 110015
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