The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the premier military training institution for the Indian Armed Forces. Located in Pune, it trains cadets for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The recruitment process for NDA involves several stages, including written examinations, interviews, medical assessments, and physical tests. Here’s an overview of how candidates can apply and proceed through the selection process.
Nationality: Indian citizens or subjects of Nepal/Bhutan, Tibetan refugees (before 1962), and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who migrated from other countries.
Age Limit: Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age at the time of joining.
For Army Wing: Candidates should have passed the 10+2 or equivalent exam from a recognized board.
For Air Force and Navy Wings: Candidates must have passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects.
Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried.
Candidates need to apply through the official UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) website. The application window opens twice a year, and the forms must be submitted before the specified deadline.
After successfully submitting the application, candidates receive an admit card to appear for the written examination.
The NDA written examination consists of two major papers:
The total duration of the examination is 5 hours, with each paper lasting 2.5 hours.
Selection Procedure: The written test is objective in nature, and candidates must clear the cut-off marks to proceed to the next stage.
Candidates who clear the written examination are shortlisted for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview.
The SSB interview process lasts for 5 days and evaluates the candidate’s intelligence, personality, leadership qualities, and physical fitness through various psychological tests, group discussions, personal interviews, and outdoor tasks.
Psychological Testing: Includes tests like the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), and Situation Reaction Test (SRT).
Physical and Group Tasks: Candidates undergo Group Discussions (GD), Group Planning Exercises (GPE), and outdoor activities such as obstacle courses and physical endurance tasks.
Candidates recommended by the SSB board undergo a thorough medical examination at a Military Hospital.
The medical standards include good vision, physical fitness, and overall health.
Candidates found medically unfit may appeal against the decision if they wish to do so.
After completing the SSB interview and medical examination, a final merit list is prepared based on the written exam, SSB performance, and medical fitness.
Candidates who make it to the merit list are selected for training at the NDA.
Successful candidates are enrolled at NDA, where they undergo rigorous military training for 3 years.
The training includes academic courses, physical training, leadership training, and military drills.
After completion of training, cadets are commissioned as officers in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force, depending on their chosen service wing.
A candidate from Uttar Pradesh, who is 17 years old and has completed his 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, applies for the NDA exam. He clears the written test with good marks in both Mathematics and General Ability. Afterward, he is shortlisted for the SSB interview. Following a successful SSB interview and medical examination, he is placed on the merit list and joins the NDA for training in the Indian Army.
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