NDA Full Form with Complete Details

NDA Full Form: In Indian Armed Forces, NDA stands for National Defence Academy, which is considered to be one of the best Military Academies in India. NDA trains all the candidates who are recruited through the UPSC NDA exam. The candidates from all the three services of the Indian Armed Forces gets trained here before they join their respective services. NDA Exam, i.e., National Defence & Naval Academy exams are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice in a year. Around 2.5 lakhs write the exam annually for getting admission to any of the participating organizations, i.e., Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Indian Naval Academy (INA). 

The NDA selection process has two rounds, a written exam and the SSB interview round. Candidates who qualify for the selection process are considered for final admission. Earlier, only unmarried males were allowed to write the UPSC NDA exam. However, now, female applicants were also allowed to participate in the NDA exam. Read along to know the complete detail related to the NDA full form.

NDA Exam Overview

Check out the table below to get a complete idea regarding the NDA full form overview. 

History of NDA

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is a prestigious institution known globally for excellence in military education. Over the years, it has become a unique academy that attracts top talent from India and abroad, shaping them into gentlemen officers. In its seven decades of existence, NDA has grown in stature, producing leaders who embody inter-services camaraderie and jointmanship, fulfilling the vision of its founders. The alumni have excelled in various fields, including mountaineering, space exploration, sports, research, and the arts, with many becoming Olympic champions. Their achievements reflect NDA’s ethos of Seva Paramo Dharma (Service Before Self), contributing both to the Armed Forces and civil society.

Vision and Mission of NDA

Vision: The National Defence Academy will remain the leading global institution for joint training, developing junior leaders for the Indian Armed Forces and those of allied nations. It will equip them with the mental, moral, and physical qualities needed to face future battlefield challenges and lead troops to victory in both conventional and asymmetrical conflicts. Achieving this vision requires a clear plan, a defined mission, and unwavering determination to overcome all challenges.

Mission:The NDA will deliver top-tier training in professional, intellectual, physical, leadership, and moral development, using innovative methods and modern technologies to shape competent, ethical junior leaders for the armed forces. These leaders will be prepared to succeed in future battlefields and lead troops to victory. The Academy will maintain and enhance its infrastructure to meet current and future needs while preserving its rich heritage. Additionally, NDA will foster an environment that supports personal growth, promotes welfare, and enhances the quality of life, ensuring a happy and motivated NDA family.

NDA Eligibility Criteria

The candidates must make sure that they enter valid details associated with the NDA eligibility criteria in the application form to avoid cancellation of the candidature. Here are the key highlights of the UPSC NDA 2 Eligibility Criteria listed below for the ease of the aspirants.

Age Limit

As per the official notification, for NDA 2 exam, only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2006 and not later than January 1, 2009, can apply for the NDA 2 2024 exam. The date of birth approved by the commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to matriculation.

Educational Qualification

The candidate should have qualified class 10+2 from a recognised board with minimum passing marks for IMA. Whereas, for INA or AFA the candidate must have opted for PCM subject in class 12th examination. Check the table for required educational qualification

Physical Standard Test

Check out the admissible PST for both unmarried male and female candidates for the three Defence forces below.

NDA Selection Process

The NDA selection process is going to have two rounds, a written examination, and SSB interview. The candidates have to qualify for both rounds separately to get a call for admission to any of the three academies. 

Also Check,

Written Exam (900 Marks)

• The UPSC NDA exam shall be held in the offline mode
• The questions will be asked in the English & Hindi languages
• The candidates will get 2.5 marks for the correct answer and 0.83 marks will be deducted for the wrong answer.

SSB Interview (900 Marks)

The SSB interview round will be conducted for five days and will be conducted for 900 marks. It shall include the following activities. 

1. Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests 
2. Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT)
3. Interviews
4. Group Testing Officer Tasks
• GD
• PGT
• HGT
• IoT
• Command Task
• Snake race/Group Obstacle Race
• GPE
• Individual lecture
• FGT
5. Psychology Tests
• Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
• Self Description Test (SD)
• Word Association Test (WAT)
• Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
6. Conference

NDA Admission Process and Courses

The authorities prepare a merit list with the names of the candidates qualifying for both rounds. These candidates can get admission in either of the three academies, Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Indian Naval Academy (INA) based on their ranks and marks scored. The final admission will be subject to the availability of seats available. 

Post admission, the candidates will be enrolled in the residential undergraduate program. The admissible courses are Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Technology. The three-year course has to be studied in the NDA. Whereas, the fourth year of B. Tech has to be completed at the Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy for Naval and Air Force candidates. 

NDA Salary Structure

After completion of the course, the candidates will be enrolled in the training period. During this training period, the candidates will be paid in the salary range of INR 56,100. After completion of the course, they will be commissioned as a Lieutenant and will be paid as per level 10th of the 7th pay commission. Go through the table below to know about the complete salary structure admissible to the NDA course.