UPSC NDA – How to apply selection process, notification, exam pattern, exam mode

ALL About UPSC NDA

Wanted to see yourself as defense personnel? Then NDA will be the ideal choice to start with. NDA, the pioneer and premier defense academy in the nation that produces the finest officers for all three wings of our defense system. It is also the only academy in the country where the future Army, Navy, and AirForce officers learn and train together. Covering the area of 7,015 acres in Pune, where you live and study defense for 3 or 4 full years before going to the academies of respective wings. You can join the NDA immediately after the 12th and start living the dream of serving the motherland. 

NDA is a nationalized exam conducted twice a year by UPSC in the months of April and September (you can always check for the latest updates). It offers various professional courses for fresh students coming out of school. With a one-time nominal process, you will become part of the 67 years old legacy and come out as trained defense personnel. Due to its popularity among the youth, the Government on 8 September has also allowed the women to study and train in NDA to serve the nation and protect its borders. 

Due to its topic-wise difficulty and a large number of applicants, NDA becomes one of the toughest exams to crack. This article discusses some of the most important factors to consider if you are planning to apply for the NDA entrance exam. Here we will mention all the requirements like eligibility, exam pattern, vacancies, and career opportunities at NDA. 

Eligibility For NDA 

Nationality 

Unmarried candidates of the following categories can apply:

• A Citizen of India,
• A subject of Bhutan or Nepal
• Tibetan refugee who has arrived in India before January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently,
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, or Vietnam intending to settle in India permanently. 

Note: 

• Candidates under 2, 3, and 4 categories must be certified with the nationality proof issued by the Government of India in support of their declaration.

Age Limit 

• All the candidates (both male and female) must be between 15.7 years to 18.7 years, at the time of course beginning. 
• The date of birth mentioned in the 10th and 12th certificates will be considered authentic age proof. 

Educational Qualification

• If candidates are applying for Army Wing, they should be 12th or equivalent examination qualified in any stream.
• If They choose Air and Naval Wings, they should be 12th or equivalent examinations qualified with Mathematics and Physics as their primary subjects. 

Note:

• Students appearing in class 12th are also eligible to apply in NDA. 
• 11th class students are not allowed to apply for the examination. 

Marital Status 

• Every candidate (men and women) applying for NDA should be unmarried.
• If they marry in between training, then this will be considered as misconduct and disciplinary. The candidate who is found guilty will be debarred from the academy and will no longer be eligible for the defense forces. 
• Candidates need to refund all the money spent on him/her by the Government if they are debarred or removed from the academy. 

Physical Requirements 

• Male applicants must meet the minimum height of 157 cm for Army Wing and 162.5 cm for Air Force and Navy Wings. 
• Women applicants must have a minimum height of 152 cm. 

Note:  

• Candidates from the North-Eastern areas, Gorkhas, Kumaon, or Garhwal, will get a maximum height relaxation of 5 cm and 2 cm for candidates belonging to Lakshadweep.
•  2.5 cm height relaxation is allowed for those candidates who didn’t hit puberty, and the Medical Board found signs of further growth. 

NDA vacancies 2022 (Tentative)

The number of vacancies for NDA 2022 is yet to be announced, but according to the current trend, NDA recruits 400 candidates approx with a minor margin for 10 to 20 vacancies. The detailed wing-wise dividend is given below:

NDA Selection Process

The selection process of NDA involves two main stages, i.e., Written Test and SSB with few Medical Tests. 

Stage – I

The written test comprises two individual papers, i.e., (i) Mathematics (ii) General Ability Test. Both papers have negative markings i.e., 0.33 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer and each correct answer. 

• The written exam carries a weightage of 900 marks.
• The duration of the exam is 2.5 hours.
• The paper has only objective-type questions. 
• Cut-offs vary every year, but minimum qualifying marks are required to be considered as eligible for the final merit. 

Stage – II

The second stage is the SSB (Services Selection Board), a five-day process that evaluates every candidate on various parameters. SSB is further divided into two sub-stages. 

Medical Examination

After successfully clearing both the stages, the only obstacle left is the Medical Examination. This is the mandatory step that every SSB passed candidate has to undergo. Candidates examined by the Board of Service Medical Officers. There are both male and female doctors as per the requirements. Candidates will only be permitted in the academies once they are declared fit by the Medical Officers. 

NDA exam day guidelines

The UPSC has set some guidelines for the applicants to keep in mind on the day of examination. 

• Carry your admit card and ID proof (Voter ID Card, AADHAR Card, Driving Licence, or Passport).
• Reach on time (if your get late more than 30 minutes, then you will not be allowed to give examination under any circumstance)
• Do not carry any prohibited or expensive item in the examination hall (Any electronic, digital, or Bluetooth device, calculator, translator, recorder, headphone, earphone, radio, walkman, geometry-box, pencil box, clipboard, wristwatch, bracelet, chips, chocolate, drinks, etc.)
• Black or Blue ballpoint can be used in the examination. 
• Do not staple your photograph on the Admit Card and use glue to paste it. 
• Candidates need to follow all the corona guidelines set by the Health Ministry.
• They should bring their own masks and sanitizer to ensure unnecessary gathering. 

Also Read: How to crack the NDA exam? 

FAQ’s

Question – When will the NDA 2022 notification be released?

Answer   –  The tentative date for NDA 2022 is December or January, and the exam will be held on April 10, 2022. 

Question – How many attempts do I get for the NDA exam?

Answer   –  UPSC doesn’t restrict candidates on the basis of attempts; instead, they set the maximum age limit of 18.7 years. So on an average basis, you easily get three attempts before reaching the age limit. 

Question – What academic qualification is required for NDA?

Answer   –  Candidates must have a 12th or equivalent examination certificate in any stream for the Indian Army and Physics and Mathematics as primary subjects for Indian Navy and Indian AirForce.

Question – What is the salary of an officer selected through NDA?

Answer   –  After clearing the NDA, candidates are entitled to a salary pay band of level 10, i.e., 56,100 to 1,77,500 with minimum variations of postings and service. Those who applied for AirForce pilot training will be granted a permanent commission after six months of Flying training completion (Duration of Flying Training is 1.5 years) 

Question – How is the merit list for NDA Interview prepared?

Answer   –  The merit list is drawn up in accordance with the total marks obtained in both written exams and SSB. 

Question – Can I apply for NDA after Class 12?

Answer   –  Yes, you can apply for NDA immediately after the 12th class because it is both the minimum and maximum qualification requirement for NDA.

Question – What is the minimum acceptable height in the NDA exam?

Answer   –  Minimum acceptable height for NDA is 157 cm for men and 152 for women. (Gorkhas and Garwhals get a relaxation of 5 cm and men and women of Lakshadweep get 2 cm relaxation)

Question – Does it require any physical test to pass?

Answer   –  No, There are no such tests to qualify for the NDA apart from the fit body without any injury or surgery.