Joining the NDA is the dream of many young candidates who aspire to serve and protect the nation and build a career in the armed forces. The NDA is the prime military training institute that prepares cadets for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, the selection criteria for NDA is rigorous and highly competitive. To join the NDA, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria and undergo a rigorous selection process that comprises an NDA written examination and an SSB Interview. In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the eligibility criteria, selection process, and preparation tips to ease out your chances of selection in achieving your dream of joining the NDA.

Eligibility Criteria to Join NDA

To join the NDA, candidates must fulfill the eligibility criteria which are as mentioned below:

• Age: Candidates should be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age. The date of birth should thus be between January 2, 2004, to January 1, 2007 respectively.

• Educational Criteria: Candidates must have completed their 10+2 education from a recognized board. Candidates appearing for their 10+2 exams are also eligible to apply for NDA if they submit their passing certificate and mark sheet at the time of the SSB interview.

• Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of application and throughout the training period.

• Nationality: Candidates must be a citizen of India or a subject of Bhutan or Nepal. Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India are also eligible to apply for NDA.

• Physical Fitness: Candidates must be physically fit as per the required standards. The NDA has specific physical standards for height, weight, and chest measurements and all candidates who do not meet these requirements may be deemed unfit.

It is mandatory to meet the eligibility criteria but this solely does not guarantee admission to the NDA. Candidates must also keep in mind to clear the selection process which comprises of both an NDA written examination and an SSB Interview. Therefore, candidates must prepare diligently and be disciplined throughout the entire selection process to increase their chances of selection.

Steps To Join NDA

To join the National Defense Academy (NDA), candidates are required to fill out the application form for the NDA. The application form is available on the official website of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The steps mentioned are as follows:

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC and complete the Online One-Time Registration (OTR) by giving personal and contact details.

• Step 2: Login using your valid login credentials such as Email ID and OTP/Password or Mobile number and OTP/Password or OTR ID and OTP/Password.

• Step 3: Fill out the NDA application form in two parts, including fee payment, uploading of scanned documents, signature, photo identity card document, selection of preferred exam centre, and agreeing to the declaration.

• Step 4: Check and verify all the details furnished in the UPSC NDA application form thoroughly and edit the details if needed.

• Step 5: Once submitted, applicants won’t be able to make any changes in their UPSC NDA application form.

• Step 6: After submission, a registration number will be generated. Download it as a PDF file and take a printout for future reference.

• Step 7: To start the NDA application, click on the NDA registration link, read all the instructions on how to fill out the online NDA application form, and press the “Yes” button.

• Step 8: There will be five pages that will complete your NDA registration.

• Step 9: The first page comprises filling in basic details like category, father’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, and others.

• Step 10: The second page allows to claim age relaxation.

• Step 11: The third page allows choosing “Engineering Branch” and Centre for Engineering Services (Main/Stage II) Examination.

• Step 12: The fourth page allows editing and making any changes in the details mentioned on the prior pages.

• Step 13: The fifth page generates the ‘Registration ID’.

• Step 14: To complete the NDA application process, candidates need to pay the application fee, choose the preferred exam center, and upload the signature, photograph, and document proof as per the specifications and you are good to go.

NDA Selection Process

Joining the National Defence Academy (NDA) is rigorous and a highly cutthroat competition. The selection process comprises of two stages – a written examination and an SSB Interview. Let’s take a look at the selection process as discussed below:

• Written Examination: The written examination consists of two papers – Mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics paper is of 300 marks, and the GAT paper is of 600 marks. The GAT paper includes questions from English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs. The duration of each paper is two and a half hours. The written examination is conducted twice a year, in April and November, by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates who qualify in this are then eligible for the SSB interview.

• Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview: The SSB Interview is a five-day rigorous process that evaluates a candidate’s aptitude, personality, and suitability for a career in the defence forces. This Interview is conducted in two stages – Stage I and Stage II. Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT). Candidates who qualify in Stage I are eligible to appear for Stage II. Stage II of the SSB Interview includes Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks, Psychological tests, and Interviews. Candidates who qualify in Stage II are then eligible for admission to the NDA.

It is imperative to note that the selection process is highly cutthroat, and only a small percentage of candidates who appear for the written examination are recommended for admission to the NDA. Therefore, candidates must prepare thoroughly and stay disciplined throughout the selection process to increase their chances of selection.

Preparation Tips for Joining NDA

Joining the NDA is the living dream of many young aspirants who want to serve their motherland by joining the Indian Armed Forces. NDA is a tri-service academy that provides training to candidates for joining the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This exam is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The selection process consists of a written test and an interview conducted by the SSB. The exam pattern includes two papers – Mathematics and General Ability Test.

Preparation tips for the NDA examination:

• Understanding the Exam Pattern: The first step is to understand the pattern and syllabus, the topics covered, and the evaluation criteria before preparing for the examination.

• Making a Study Plan: Once the pattern is clear, make a study plan that suits your schedule. Divide your time between Mathematics and General Ability Tests, and set realistic goals to cover the entire syllabus.

• Practicing Previous Year Question Papers: Solving the previous year’s question papers is an excellent way to prepare for the NDA examination. This gives you an idea of the type of questions asked, and the difficulty level, and helps you with your time management.

• Improving Your General Knowledge: General Knowledge is an essential aspect of the General Ability Test. This can be improved by reading newspapers, watching news channels, and reading books on various topics.

• Improving Your Mathematics Skills: Mathematics is a crucial aspect of the NDA examination. It is very essential to have a strong foundation in Mathematics which can be done by practising regularly and trying to solve complex problems by improving your problem-solving skills.

• Staying Fit and active: Being physically fit is very important for the NDA selection process. Exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet is very important in preparing for the physical tests conducted during the SSB interview.

• Developing Leadership and Communication Skills: The SSB interview assesses your leadership and communication skills. It is very important to develop these skills by participating in extracurricular activities, public speaking, and group discussions.

• Preparing online with the NDA Mock test to crack the NDA Exam is definitely the actual mantra to crack the NDA!

Cracking the NDA examination requires hard work, resilience, dedication, discipline, and a systematic approach. By following the above-mentioned tips, you can surely increase your chances of success and achieve your dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces.