NDA & NA

📋About NDA & NA

NDA is conducted by UPSC twice a year for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and 10+2 (Executive Branch) of the Naval Academy. It is one of the most sought-after paths for joining the Indian Armed Forces directly after Class 12.

✅Eligibility

Qualification: Class 12 pass or appearing from a recognized board

• Only unmarried male candidates (Army/Navy/Air Force) and female candidates (Army only, from 2024)
• Age: 16.5 to 19.5 years on the first day of the month in which the course commences
• For Air Force and Naval Academy: Physics and Maths in Class 12 mandatory
• For Army wing: Class 12 in any stream
• Must clear SSB interview after written exam
• Physical and medical fitness standards as prescribed by the Armed Forces

📊Exam Pattern

Negative Marking: -0.83 for wrong answer in Maths; -1.33 for wrong answer in GAT

Languages: English, Hindi

Syllabus

💡Preparation Tips

• 1Maths Paper I is the key differentiator — aim for 220+ out of 300
• 2GAT Part A (English) is easier to score — don't neglect it
• 3GK requires current affairs (last 6 months) + Science NCERT (6–10)
• 4Practice previous NDA papers (UPSC releases official keys)
• 5Physical fitness training must start 6 months before exam — 1.6km run, push-ups, chin-ups
• 6SSB (Services Selection Board) interview is a 5-day process — start psychological prep early

📚Recommended Books

❓FAQs