The National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam, conducted by UPSC, is one of the most prestigious opportunities for young defence aspirants. Every year, lakhs of candidates apply, but only those who understand the eligibility criteria and plan their attempts wisely succeed.
One of the most common questions is:
👉 “How many attempts do I have for NDA 1 2026 according to my Date of Birth (DOB)?”
In this blog, we’ll cover the NDA 1 2026 DOB eligibility, the maximum number of attempts available, and how The Lakshya Academy helps aspirants prepare strategically.
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🎯 NDA 1 2026 Eligibility by DOB
UPSC clearly defines the DOB range for candidates eligible for NDA 1 2026.
- Candidates must be born between 2nd July 2006 and 1st July 2009 (both dates inclusive).
- Age Limit: 16.5 years – 19.5 years on the date of commencement of training.
- Both male and female aspirants are eligible.
This means:
- If you were born before 2 July 2006, you are overage for NDA 1 2026.
- If you were born after 1 July 2009, you are underage and must wait for future NDA exams.
📊 How Many Attempts Do You Have?
Unlike SSC or Banking exams, NDA does not have a fixed number of attempts. Instead, the number of attempts depends entirely on your DOB eligibility window.
Since NDA is held twice every year (April & September):
- On average, a candidate gets 6–7 attempts between the ages of 16.5 and 19.5 years.
- For NDA 1 2026, your remaining attempts depend on your exact DOB.
📍 Examples of DOB & Attempts Left
- DOB: 15 August 2006
- Eligible from NDA 2 2023 till NDA 2 2025.
- NDA 1 2026 ❌ Not eligible (overage).
- DOB: 10 March 2007
- Eligible from NDA 1 2024 till NDA 2 2026.
- ✅ NDA 1 2026 included.
- DOB: 25 December 2008
- Eligible from NDA 1 2025 till NDA 2 2028.
- ✅ NDA 1 2026 included (early attempts).
- DOB: 05 July 2009
- Eligible from NDA 2 2026 onwards.
- NDA 1 2026 ❌ Not eligible (underage).
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💡 How The Lakshya Academy Helps Aspirants
At The Lakshya Academy, we make sure every aspirant uses their NDA attempts wisely:
- ✅ Attempt planning based on DOB – so you know exactly how many chances you have left.
- ✅ Expert coaching in Maths, English & General Studies to crack the written exam.
- ✅ Mock tests and doubt-clearing sessions to boost confidence.
- ✅ SSB Interview preparation once you clear the written exam.
- ✅ Motivation and discipline – to keep you consistent through multiple attempts.
Whether it’s your first attempt or last attempt, our mission is to make it your best attempt.
🔑 Final Words
For NDA 1 2026, only candidates born between 2nd July 2006 and 1st July 2009 are eligible. The number of attempts you have depends entirely on your DOB, as UPSC gives multiple chances within this age window.
Don’t waste attempts—plan strategically and prepare with expert guidance from The Lakshya Academy to achieve your dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces.
