National Defense Academy(NDA) and Naval Academy Examination Details,Eligibility,Exam Pattern,Exam Centres

The National Defense Academy(NDA) is located in Pune and is the common ground for training the three wings of Indian Defense, Army, Navy and Air Force.

Location

The National Defense Academy is located south-west of Pune City and north-west of Khadakwasla Lake on 7015 acres of land, out of the 8022 acres. Pune was chosen as the training site because of number of reasons. Healthy climatic conditions, suitability of terrain for military training, proximity to the Arabian Sea, existence of an operational airfield at Lohegaon, vicinity of military establishments and the presence of a lake nearby, the existence of a combined training centre and the 'mock' landing ship, HMS Angostura on the north bank of the Khadakwasla lake all contributed to making Pune the best site for the Academy.

Course Structure

The NDA is the foundation for a career in the Indian military services.

Training and education program has a four year structure. In the first three years includes courses in all subjects for a University Degree plus basic training of fundamental military sciences. After completion of three years the cadet gets a University Degree. The final year focuses on the specialization into the specific branch of the Indian military services that a cadet desires to join. Army cadets go to the IMA at Dehra Dun, Air Force cadets to the flying training establishments in Hyderabad and the Naval cadets for Midshipman training to the Training Ships.

Admission

Admission to the NDA is conducted twice a year via an entrance examination, held every six months by the UPSC. The candidates selected from the competitive exam, further go through a multiple-round interviews including physiological and group testing followed by a thorough medical examination.

(A) Tentative Schedule (Examination held twice a year)
(i) Notification of Examination	October - Novermber & April - May
(ii) Conduct of Examination	April - May & Sept. - Oct

(B) Age-limits

16-1/2 - 19 Years

(C) Educational Qualifications
For Army Wing of NDA	12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of school Education, or equivalent.
For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA and for 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at Naval Academy	12 th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of school Education with Physics and Mathematics, or equivalent

Candidates appearing at the 12^th Class Examination are also eligible to compete. Such candidates will be required to submit the proof of passing the 12^th Class Examination.

NDA Exam Pattern

The entrance for National Defense Academy comprises of a Written Exam followed by and Intelligence and Personality Test. The details follow:

• The written exam consist of two papers.

Written Examination

Paper	Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
I	Mathematics	2.5 hours	300
II	General Ability Test	2.5 hours	600
Total			900

General (but important) instructions about written examination

• The General Ability Test consists of

Part	Subject	Maximum Marks
Part A	English	200
Part B	General Knowledge	400
	Total	600

• The papers in all the subjects consist of Objective (multiple choice answer) Type questions only.
• Question Papers of Paper I – Mathematics and Part B of Paper II will be set in English and Hindi.
• SI units will be used in the papers and Candidates should use only International form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.
• Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.
• Candidates are not permitted to use calculators for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets).

Interview

• The Union Public Service Commission will declare a qualified list of candidates (based on the written exam).
• The selected candidates will appear before a Services Selection Board for Intelligence and Personality Test.
• Candidates for the Army/Navy wings of the NDA and Executive branch of Naval Academy will be assessed on officers potentiality
• Candidates for the Air Force wing, along with officer potentiality assessment, will also undergo a Pilot Aptitude Test.

Two Stage Selection Procedure

• Two stage selection procedure will be based on Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test.
• Al the candidates will be put to stage one test on first day of reporting at Selection Centres/Air Force Selection Boards.
• Only those candidates who qualify at stage one will be admitted to the second stage.
• Those candidates who qualify stage II will be required to submit the original Certificates along with one photocopy each of :
  • Original Matriculation pass certificate or equivalent in support of date of birth
  • Original 10+2 pass certificate or equivalent in support of educational qualification
• For final qualification, candidates for the Army/Navy and Naval Academy should secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in (i) Written examination and (ii) Officer potentiality test, and candidates for the Air Force should secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in (i) Written examination (ii) Officer potentiality test, and (iii) Pilot Aptitude Test as fixed by the Commission in their discretion.
• Qualified candidates will then be placed in the final order of merit on the basis of total marks secured by them in the Written examination, and the Services Selection Board Tests in three separate lists:
  • Army and the Navy,
  • Air Force
  • Executive course at the Naval Academy.
• The names of candidates who qualify for all the Services of NDA and the Naval Academy will appear in all the three Merit Lists.
• The final selection for admission will be made in order of merit depending on the number of vacancies in each wing.
• The selection will be subject to medical fitness and suitability in all other respects.
• NOTE: A candidate who fails in the Pilot Aptitude Test cannot apply for admission to the National Defence Academy Examination, the Air Force wing or General Duties (Pilot) Branch or Naval Air Arm.

NDA Exam Centers

AGARTALA	GANGTOK	PANAJI (GOA)
AHMEDABAD	HYDERABAD	PATNA
AIZAWL	IMPHAL	PORT BLAIR
ALLAHABAD	ITANAGAR	RAIPUR
BANGALORE	JAIPUR	RANCHI
BAREILLY	JAMMU	SAMBALPUR
BHOPAL	JORHAT	SHILLONG
CHANDIGARH	KOCHI	SHIMLA
CHENNAI	KOHIMA	SRINAGAR
CUTTACK	KOLKATA	THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
DEHRADUN	LUCKNOW	TIRUPATI
DELHI	MADURAI	UDAIPUR
DHARWAR	MUMBAI	VISHAKHAPATNAM
DISPUR	NAGPUR

• The centres mentioned above are liable to be changed at the discretion of the commission. In such case the commission will inform the admitted candidates.
• No request for change of centre is normally granted.
• A request in change if center should be addressed to the Secretary, Union Public Service Commission giving full justification as to why he/she desires a change in centre.