NDA Exam

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is a tri-service institution that trains cadets of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force for commission into the armed forces. It is the first tri-service academy in the world. The NDA exam is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The exam is conducted for the selection of cadets for the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy. Candidates who qualify the exam are called for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. Those who qualify the SSB interview are selected for training at the NDA.

NDA Notification

The NDA exam is conducted twice a year by the UPSC in the months of April and November. The notification for the exam is released on the official website of UPSC in the form of a detailed advertisement which contains all the information related to the exam, such as eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, important dates, application process, etc.

NDA Important Dates

1. Apply Online Start Date: The online application process for the NDA exam starts two months before the exam date.
2. Apply Online Last Date: The last date for submission of the application form is one month before the exam date.
3. Apply Online Link: Candidates can apply for the NDA exam through the official website of UPSC.
4. Download Admit Card Date: The admit card for the exam will be released two weeks before the exam date.
5. Written Exam Dates: The written exam for the NDA will be conducted on the first Sunday of April and November every year.
6. Official Website Link: The official website of UPSC is www.upsc.gov.in.

NDA Exam Pattern

The NDA exam is conducted in two phases; the written exam and the SSB interview. The written exam is divided into two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).

The Mathematics section consists of 120 multiple choice questions of Mathematics and the GAT section consists of 150 multiple choice questions of General Ability. The total duration of the written exam is two and half hours.  The below table provides the details of the NDA exam pattern:

 Section No. of Questions Marks Duration
 Mathematics 120 300 2.5 hours
 GAT 150 600 
NDA Exam Pattern

NDA Syllabus

The NDA syllabus is divided into two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The syllabus for Mathematics includes topics such as Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Vector Algebra and Statistics and Probability.

The syllabus for the GAT section includes topics such as English, General Studies, Physics, Chemistry and General Science. The detailed syllabus for the NDA exam can be found on the official website of UPSC.

NDA What to read for exam

For the NDA exam, candidates should study the NCERT books for class 10th and 12th. Along with the NCERT books, candidates should also refer to the books prescribed by the UPSC for the NDA exam.

NDA Previous Papers

Previous papers of the NDA exam are available on the official website of UPSC. Candidates can also download the previous papers from the UPSC website. Previous papers help candidates to get an idea about the exam pattern and the types of questions asked in the exam.

NDA Books

For the NDA exam, the best books for preparation are ‘Objective NDA Entrance Examination’ by Arihant Publications, ‘NDA Entrance Exam Solved Papers’ by RPH Editorial Board, ‘NDA Entrance Exam Guide’ by R Gupta’s and ‘NDA Entrance Exam Self Study Guide’ by Upkar Prakashan.

NDA Selection Process

The selection process for the NDA exam is divided into two phases: the written exam and the SSB interview.
1. Written Exam: The written exam is conducted by the UPSC in the months of April and November. Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the SSB interview.
2. SSB Interview: The SSB interview is conducted by the Service Selection Board. The SSB interview is a five-day process which includes various tests such as Psychological Aptitude Test, Group Testing Officer Tasks and Interview.

NDA Preparation Tips

1. Get Familiar with Exam Pattern: It is important for the candidates to understand the exam pattern and the syllabus of the exam.
2. Solve Previous Papers: Solving the previous papers of the NDA exam helps to understand the difficulty level of the exam and the types of questions asked in the exam.
3. Make Notes: Making notes while studying helps to revise the topics quickly.
4. Make a Time Table: Making a time table and following it helps to manage time efficiently.
5. Take Mock Tests: Taking mock tests helps to identify the weak areas and also helps to improve time management skills.

NDA Exam Analysis

The NDA exam is conducted twice a year by the UPSC. The exam is divided into two phases: the written exam and the SSB interview. The written exam consists of two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).

The difficulty level of the exam varies from year to year. The questions asked in the exam are of moderate difficulty level. The Mathematics section is considered to be more difficult than the GAT section. The GAT section includes questions from English, General Studies, Physics, Chemistry and General Science.

NDA Eligibility

Candidates applying for the NDA exam must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:
1. Age: Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age as on the date of commencement of the course.
2. Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed 10+2 examination or its equivalent from a recognized board.

NDA How to apply Online?

Candidates can apply for the NDA exam online through the official website of UPSC. The steps to apply online are as follows:
1. Visit the official website of UPSC (www.upsc.gov.in).
2. Click on the link for ‘NDA Application Form’.
3. Register yourself by providing the required details.
4. Fill the application form and upload the necessary documents.
5. Pay the application fee.
6. Submit the application form.
7. Take a printout of the application form for future reference.

NDA Application Fees

The application fee for the NDA exam is Rs. 100. Candidates belonging to the SC/ST/Female categories are exempted from the application fee.

NDA Admit Card

The admit card for the NDA exam will be released two weeks before the exam date. Candidates can download the admit card from the official website of UPSC.

NDA Answer Key

The answer key for the NDA exam will be released on the official website of UPSC after the exam is conducted. Candidates can check the answer key to get an idea about their performance in the exam.

NDA Result

The result of the NDA exam will be released on the official website of UPSC after the written exam and the SSB interview. Candidates who qualify both the written exam and the SSB interview will be selected for training at the National Defence Academy.

NDA Cutoff

The cutoff marks for the NDA exam vary from year to year. The cutoff marks for the NDA exam are determined on the basis of the difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates appearing for the exam, the number of candidates qualifying the exam, etc.

NDA Salary?

The salary of a cadet of the National Defence Academy is the same as that of a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. A Lieutenant in the Indian Army gets a salary of around Rs. 60,000 per month. Along with the salary, the cadets of the NDA also receive various allowances such as house rent allowance, food allowance, clothing allowance, etc.

NDA Exam FAQs

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for the NDA exam?
A. Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age as on the date of commencement of the course. Candidates must have passed 10+2 examination or its equivalent from a recognized board.

Q. When is the NDA exam conducted?
A. The NDA exam is conducted twice a year in the months of April and November.

Q. What is the selection process for the NDA exam?
A. The selection process for the NDA exam is divided into two phases: the written exam and the SSB interview. Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the SSB interview. Those who qualify the SSB interview are selected for training at the NDA.

Q. What is the salary of a cadet of the National Defence Academy?
A. A cadet of the National Defence Academy gets a salary of around Rs. 60,000 per month along with various allowances such as house rent allowance, food allowance, clothing allowance, etc.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *