How Many Students Appear for NDA

Introduction

The Union Public Service Commission administers the NDA exam for the admission of candidates who have the will to serve the defence forces in Army, Airforce, Navy and Naval Academy. NDA stands for “National Defence Academy”. This exam is conducted twice every year. After selecting candidates, they are trained well and set to their respective academies. This exam has a written test followed by an interview.

1. More Information About NDA

NDA is the training institute of the Indian Armed Forces where cadets of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force before going for further pre-commission training. This academy is situated in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It is told to be the first tri-service academy in the world. Every year, more than 7 lakh students register and around 6.5 lakhs take the exam of NDA from all over the country. The total seats in NDA and NA(I) are 400 where 370 are for National Defence Academy and 30 are for Naval Academy. The 370 seats are further divided into 208 for the Army, 120 for the Air Force and 42 for the Navy. In August 2021, female candidates got allowed for all the NDA entrance examinations by the Supreme Court of India.

In 1947, the Chiefs of Staff Committee decided to start an interim training academy which is known as Joint Services Wing. In 1949, it was commissioned at the Armed Forces Academy in Dehradun. At that time, the cadets of the Army went to the Military wing of the Armed Forces Academy after two years of training. The cadets of the Navy and Air Force were sent to Royal Air Force College Cranwell and Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth for further process of training.

In the training of the Air Force, the cadets are trained in the basics of military aviation via flying training and ground training. Modern training aids and aircraft models are used for ground training. In the training of the Army, basic military skills to handle weapons, firing, map reading and field training are provided to the cadets. Both theoretical and practical knowledge is provided through classes, lectures and demonstrations. In the training of the Navy, training on Specialist Subjects, both theoretically and practically, is considered the main task.

2. Eligibility Criteria

The candidates, to appear for the NDA examination, must have a class 12th or 10+2 school education certificate or equivalent from the State Board of Education or equivalent for the NDA Course (Indian Army). And, for NDA Course (Indian Navy & Indian Air Force) & 107th and 108th INAC Course, the candidate must have a class 12th educational certification or equivalent to Physics and Mathematics by a State Education Board.

Also, Candidates appearing for class 12th presently can also apply and take the exam.

Physical Criteria:

There is an age limit for the applicant to take exam of the NDA. The candidate must fit between the age of 16.5 to 19.5 years.

3. How to Prepare?

The paper is divided into 2 categories followed by the SSB interview. The 2 categories are Mathematics and General Ability.

A more detailed blueprint of the paper is given below -

The syllabus of the Exam is given below -

4. Salary at Different Posts

5. Conclusion

Every year, many candidates apply for NDA. Many of them get selected, many of them get ruled out at SSB and many of them are not able to clear the written exam. It is not a thing to lose morale down. NDA requires hard work and determination and since it is for our nation, we should not hold ourselves from working hard and cracking the exam. A failure should not stop you if you are doing something for your country.