Since the Supreme Court order, the UPSC has started to include female candidates in the NDA entrance exam. However, there are specific eligibility criteria that female candidates must meet to be considered for admission to the NDA:
1. Educational Qualification: Female candidates must have passed the Class 12 examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. They must have obtained a minimum of 70% marks in aggregate and at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Physics individually.
2. Age Limit: Female candidates must be unmarried and between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age as of January 1 of the year in which the course commences.
3. Physical and Medical Standards: Female candidates must meet the physical and medical standards prescribed by the UPSC for admission to the NDA. This includes standards related to height, weight, vision, hearing, and overall physical fitness.
4. Entrance Exam: Female candidates who meet the above eligibility criteria must appear for the NDA entrance exam conducted by the UPSC. The exam consists of a written test followed by an interview.
Once female candidates successfully clear the written exam and the interview, they are required to undergo a comprehensive training program at the National Defence Academy. Upon successful completion of the training program, they are commissioned as officers into the various branches of the Armed Forces, such as the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.