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NDA Attempt Calculator – Check Your Eligible Attempts by DOB
Confused about how many attempts in NDA you have left? Enter yourdate of birth and class — this free NDA attempt calculatorlists every NDA I & NDA II exam you qualify for, your attempts left, and the official age-limit DOB ranges. No name, no mobile number.
Check your NDA attempts
DOB + class · no signup, instant report
Tip: UPSC counts your age on the course start date (1 Jan / 1 Jul), not the exam date — that single rule decides all your attempts.
What Is the NDA Attempts Limit?
Here is what surprises most aspirants: UPSC fixes no NDA attempts limit.There is no "maximum 3 attempts" rule. Your eligibility is decided purely by theNDA attempts age limit — you must be 16.5 to 19.5 years old when the course begins. Every NDA exam held inside your personal age window is an attempt you can take; once you age out, the window closes.
Since UPSC holds NDA twice a year (NDA I in April, NDA II in September), most candidates get 4 to 6 total attempts depending on where their birthday falls in the cycle. This NDA attempt calculator India maps your DOB against every cycle from 2024 to 2032 and shows exactly which ones are yours.
How NDA Attempts Are Calculated
The entire calculation rests on one UPSC rule:
Eligible iff 16y 6m ≤ age on course-start ≤ 19y 6m
- Find the course start date. NDA I → 1 January of the next year; NDA II → 1 July of the next year.
- Compute your age on that date from the DOB on your Class 10 certificate.
- Check the 16.5–19.5 window. Inside → eligible; younger → wait for a later cycle; older → window closed.
- Repeat for every cycle. The calculator above does all 18 cycles (2024–2032) instantly and splits them into held vs upcoming.
📘 Example: born 15 Mar 2008. For NDA I 2026 (course 1 Jan 2027) you are 18y 9m — eligible. For NDA II 2026 (course 1 Jul 2027) you are 19y 3m — eligible. For NDA I 2027 (course 1 Jan 2028) you are 19y 9m — over-age, not eligible.
NDA DOB Eligibility Table (2025 – 2027)
Official-pattern birth-date ranges. Find your DOB — if it falls inside a row's range, that exam is one of your attempts:
| Exam | Course starts | Eligible DOB range |
|---|---|---|
| NDA I 2025 | 1 Jan 2026 | 2 Jul 2006 – 1 Jul 2009 |
| NDA II 2025 | 1 Jul 2026 | 2 Jan 2007 – 1 Jan 2010 |
| NDA I 2026 | 1 Jan 2027 | 2 Jul 2007 – 1 Jul 2010 |
| NDA II 2026 | 1 Jul 2027 | 2 Jan 2008 – 1 Jan 2011 |
| NDA I 2027 | 1 Jan 2028 | 2 Jul 2008 – 1 Jul 2011 |
| NDA II 2027 | 1 Jul 2028 | 2 Jan 2009 – 1 Jan 2012 |
Ranges follow the official UPSC notification pattern ("born not earlier than … and not later than …"). Always verify against the final UPSC notification at upsc.gov.in for the cycle you apply to.
NDA Eligibility Criteria at a Glance
Age decides your attempts; these decide whether you can use them:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 16.5 – 19.5 years on course start; no relaxation for any category |
| Education | 12th pass / appearing; PCM compulsory for Navy & Air Force, any stream for Army |
| Gender | Unmarried males & females (females eligible since 2021) |
| Marital status | Unmarried only — married candidates are ineligible |
| Nationality | Indian citizen (or eligible categories per UPSC notice) |
| Attempts cap | None — limited only by the age window above |
NDA Attempt Planner by Class
Select your class in the NDA attempt calculator with class above for a personalised note. The general playbook:
- Class 9: foundation years — strengthen Maths + English, build fitness and consider NCC/sports. Your window typically opens around Class 11–12.
- Class 10: ideal launch year — map your eligible cycles now and finish NDA Maths basics alongside boards.
- Class 11: peak preparation — attempt every eligible exam; each one is real exam-hall practice.
- Class 12: apply as 12th-appearing — never wait for results; keep the next cycle as backup.
- 12th passed: sprint mode — prepare written + SSB in parallel, since every remaining exam counts.
NDA vs CDS Attempts: What If Your Window Closes?
Aged out of NDA? The graduate route — CDS (Combined Defence Services) — is the natural next path, and like NDA it has no fixed attempt cap, only an age window:
| Factor | NDA & NA | CDS |
|---|---|---|
| Entry stage | After 12th | After graduation |
| Age window | 16.5 – 19.5 years | 19 – 25 years (academy-wise) |
| Attempts cap | None (age-window only) | None (age-window only) |
| Frequency | Twice a year (Apr / Sep) | Twice a year (Feb / Sep) |
| Marital status | Unmarried only | Unmarried (relaxed for some entries) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting age from the exam date. UPSC uses the course-start date — roughly 8–9 months later. Candidates who feel "safely inside" on exam day can still be over-age on 1 Jan / 1 Jul.
- Believing in a fixed attempt cap. There is none — but there is also no relaxation. Wasting an eligible cycle assuming "attempts remain" is the costliest error.
- Waiting for 12th results. 12th-appearing candidates can apply. Skipping a cycle while eligible burns an attempt you never get back.
- Using the wrong DOB. UPSC matches the Class 10 certificate. A mismatch between your form and certificate can cancel candidature at SSB.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How many attempts are allowed in NDA?
UPSC sets no fixed NDA attempts limit — there is no cap like "3 attempts". You can appear in every NDA I and NDA II exam held while you are aged 16.5 to 19.5 years on the course commencement date. Depending on your date of birth, that works out to roughly 4–6 total attempts.
How many attempts in NDA for general category candidates?
The same as every other category: age-window based, with no separate general-category cap and no relaxation. General, OBC, SC and ST candidates all follow the identical 16.5–19.5 year rule — UPSC gives no age relaxation or extra NDA attempts to any reserved category.
What is the NDA attempts age limit?
You must be at least 16 years 6 months and at most 19 years 6 months old on the course start date — 1 January (for NDA I) or 1 July (for NDA II) of the following year. UPSC counts age from the first day of the course-start month, not from the written-exam date.
Which DOB is eligible for NDA 2027?
For NDA I 2027 (course starts 1 Jan 2028): born between 2 Jul 2008 and 1 Jul 2011. For NDA II 2027 (course starts 1 Jul 2028): born between 2 Jan 2009 and 1 Jan 2012. Enter your DOB in the NDA attempt calculator 2027 above and it checks both cycles automatically.
How does the NDA attempt calculator with class work?
Your class does not change UPSC eligibility — only DOB does — but it changes your strategy. Select Class 9–12 or 12th-passed above and the report adds tailored guidance: Class 9–10 students get foundation planning, Class 11–12 students get attempt-priority advice, and 12th-passed candidates get a "every exam counts" sprint plan. Note you must be 12th-passed or appearing to apply.
What about a CDS attempt calculator — how is CDS different?
CDS (Combined Defence Services) is the graduate-entry route: age 19–25 depending on academy (IMA 19–24, OTA 19–25), unmarried, with a degree — and no fixed attempt cap either, just the age window. If your NDA window has closed, CDS after graduation is the natural next path. See the NDA vs CDS comparison table below.
Can girls apply for NDA? Do female candidates get the same attempts?
Yes. Since the Supreme Court order of August 2021, unmarried female candidates can apply for NDA under exactly the same rules — same 16.5–19.5 age window, same qualification, same number of attempts. Select Female above and the calculator applies identical logic.
Does a failed NDA attempt reduce my remaining attempts?
No. A failed, missed, or absent attempt never reduces your count — only ageing out does. As long as you fall in the DOB range for a future NDA I or II notification, you can apply fresh for it.
Do I need to enter my name or mobile number to check attempts?
No — not here. Many coaching-site calculators force a signup form before showing results. This NDA attempt calculator India needs only your DOB (plus class, gender, marital status for guidance) and runs fully in your browser: no OTP, no calls, no stored data.
Can married candidates apply for NDA?
No. UPSC requires NDA & NA candidates to be unmarried throughout selection and training. Select your marital status above — if married, the report flags ineligibility even when the age fits.
✅ Our accuracy promise
This calculator implements the official UPSC age rule (16.5–19.5 years on course commencement) with exact calendar arithmetic, checks all 18 cycles from 2024 to 2032, and never rounds or estimates your age. DOB ranges above follow the published UPSC notification pattern — always confirm against the final notification at upsc.gov.in before applying. Every calculation runs in your browser; your DOB is never uploaded, stored, or tracked. ToolSimply is not affiliated with UPSC or the Government of India.
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