National Defence Academy (India)
The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the joint defence service training institute of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services i.e. the Indian Army , the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force train together before they go on to their respective service academy for further pre-commission training. The NDA is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It is the first tri-service academy in the world.
The examination is conducted twice a year. The examinations are conducted in the months of April and September. Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for the examination. The candidates who clear the written examination are then called for (SSB) interviews. The candidates who are successful in the SSB interviews are admitted into The National Defence Academy (NDA). After training for 3 years in the NDA Pune Gentlemen Cadets join the academy of their choice for 1 more year of training in their respective academy
Name of Academy | City |
IMA | Dehradun (Uttarakhand) |
INA | Ezhimala (Kerala) |
AFA | Dundigal (Telangana) |
Age Limit: (At the time of joining)
Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02nd January 2003 and not later than 1st January 2006 are eligible.
NDA Exam for Girls
Earlier, the NDA exam was taken only by unmarried male candidates and female candidates were not allowed to take the exam. However, in an interim order passed by the Supreme Court of India on August 18, 2021, the court has allowed girls/ women to take the NDA exam.
Educational Qualifications:
Wing | Eligibility |
For Army Wing of NDA | 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examinations conducted by a State Education Board or a University. |
For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy | 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent conducted by a State Education Board or a University. |
NDA Exam Pattern
Mode of examination: Offline exam pen and paper-based
Stages of Exam explained by best NDA coaching in mumbai
1. Written Exam
2. SSB Interview
Scheme of examination
Paper | Subject | No of Questions | Marks | Duration |
Paper 01 | Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 hrs |
Paper 02 | GAT (General Ability Test) | 150 | 600 | 2.5 hrs |
Marking Scheme
Paper | Positive marks | Negative marks |
Mathematics | 2.5 | 0.83 |
GAT (General Ability Test) | 4 | 1.33 |
No of Vacancies
There is a total of 400 Vacancies for Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 148th Course, and for the 110th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from 2nd July 2022.
Name of Course | No. of Vacancies |
Army | 370 |
Navy | 42 |
Airforce | 120 |
Naval Academy | 30 |
Syllabus
Mathematics
1. Algebra
2. Matrices and Determinants
3. Trigonometry
4. Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions
5. Differential Calculus
6. Integral Calculus and Differential Equations
7. Vector Algebra
8. Statistics and Probability
GAT
1. English Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Cohesion
2. Physics
3. Chemistry
4. General Science (Biology)
5. History
6. Geography
7. Polity and Economics
8. Current Events (National and International)
9. General Awareness (Static GK)
To read the detailed notification(2021)(just for reference) head over to https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-NDA-NA-II-2021-Engl-09062021_F.pdf
