NDA & NA exam which is conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) is a competitive Exam for the selection in the India's most prestigious institutions, the National Defence Academy. In NDA, the selected candidates are prepared to get inducted into the Indian Armed Forces like Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
NDA is conducted twice a year and only a few eligible candidates pass the NDA exam. These outstanding academies aim to provide the highest standards of focused training in the intellectual, physical, leadership and professional spheres. The objective of these academies is to groom a cadet in a moral and ethical way using innovative concepts, modern & corporate practices and technologies with a view to providing Armed Forces, fairly potential and competent leaders with a high level of integrity and aptitude and to equipped them well so that they can lead the forces into the battlefield and are capable enough to lead a glorious victory.
What is National Defence Academy?
- The students who have passed the 10+2 exam with a specified percentage criteria are allowed to sit for the UPSC NDA & NA exam. The candidates who clear the written exam are called for the SSB (Service Selection Board). The final merit is formed by combining the marks of NDA written exam and SSB test.
- The National Defence Academy is a Joint Services Academy which is headed by the Commandant which is a very senior officer of the Indian Armed Forces. The Commandant can be from the Army, Navy or Airforce.
- The National Defence Academy is situated at Khadakwasla near Pune City, Maharashtra.
- NDA is the 1st tri-service academy in the world and it is spread over 7,015 acres of land. NDA was established in the year 1954.
- At the NDA, the cadets undergo 3 years of training where they are given the academic and technical training of the finest quality to equip the cadets with appropriate qualifications that are necessary for them in their career services.
- The cadets have to achieve the physical endurance standards and proficiency in the troop games as a part of the curriculum.
- Before a cadet passes out from the NDA, the cadet has to pass all the exams pertaining to academic and physical test.
- After passing out of the NDA, the cadet is sent to pre-commissioned training for 1 year at IMA (for Army) or Indian Naval Academy (for Navy) and Air Force Academy (for Airforce).
Why Join NDA?
- NDA focuses on the overall personality development of the cadet. Not just the academics, but the cadets are made proficient in various extracurricular and sports activities.
- Life in NDA is very Adventurous. The cadets in NDA get the opportunity to engage in various Adventurous sports which are far from reach for the civilians.
- To get a professional graduate degree, the students have to pay a fee to the college/University. But in NDA, the whole expense of the course of a cadet is borne by the Government of India.
- The cadets need not seek a job after passing out from the NDA, 100% placement is there in the Armed Forces and that too at the Gazetted officer post after completing the pre-commissioned training.
- The officers pass out of NDA have the maximum chance to reach the position of the tri-service chiefs i.e. Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
Facts on NDA Exam:
- The NDA exam dates are pre scheduled by the UPSC.
- The interested students get two chances for NDA Preparation as the exam is conducted twice a year by the UPSC.
- The NDA results are followed by the call-up letter from the Service Selection Board for the Personality test to the selected candidates.