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NDA (National Defence Academy)
NDA is a national-level defence entrance exam conducted for candidates who aspire to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as officers. It offers an opportunity to receive military training and build a prestigious career in the Indian Armed Forces after Class 12.
The National Defence Academy (NDA) Examination is a national-level entrance test conducted twice every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select young candidates for officer training in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. It is one of the most prestigious and respected examinations in India, offering school-leaving students a direct pathway into a career as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces.
NDA is unique among competitive exams because it allows candidates to apply right after Class 12 — no graduation degree is required. Selected candidates undergo three years of joint training at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune, followed by specialised training at their respective service academies before being commissioned as officers. The exam is conducted under Article 320 of the Constitution and is officially known as the NDA & NA (Naval Academy) Examination.
NDA covers entry into three wings of the Armed Forces plus the Naval Academy stream. Each wing has a distinct training path, eligibility nuance, and career trajectory. Candidates choose their preferred wing at the time of application, and final allocation depends on merit, medical fitness, and SSB performance.
| Wing | Educational Requirement | Subject Requirement |
| Army Wing | Class 12 pass (any stream) from a recognised board | No specific subject requirement |
| Navy Wing | Class 12 pass with Physics and Mathematics | PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) mandatory |
| Air Force Wing | Class 12 pass with Physics and Mathematics | PCM mandatory; additional CPSS criteria apply |
| Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry) | Class 12 pass with Physics and Mathematics | PCM mandatory |
| Wing | Minimum Qualification | Additional Requirement |
| Army Wing | Class 12 pass or appearing, any stream, from a recognised board | No PCM requirement |
| Navy / Air Force / Naval Academy | Class 12 pass or appearing with Physics and Mathematics | PCM compulsory; Air Force candidates must also meet CPSS norms |
| Intake | Age Range | Date of Birth Window (Approx.) |
| NDA 1 (April exam) | 16.5 to 19.5 years | Born between 2 specific dates, 3 years apart — check notification |
| NDA 2 (September exam) | 16.5 to 19.5 years | Born between 2 specific dates, 3 years apart — check notification |
| Parameter | Army Wing | Navy / Air Force Wing |
| Minimum Height (Male) | 157 cm (relaxation for hill/NE regions) | 157 cm, with specific limb-length ratio norms |
| Minimum Height (Female) | 152 cm (relaxation for hill/NE regions) | 152 cm, subject to wing-specific norms |
| Vision | Standard distant and near vision; correctable defects allowed for Army | Stricter uncorrected vision standards, especially for Air Force flying branch |
| General Fitness | No major medical history; free from disqualifying conditions | Additional fitness parameters incl. flying-specific tests for Air Force |
A candidate must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling here, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
| Category | Application Fee | Exemption |
| General / OBC | Rs. 100 | — |
| SC / ST / Sons of JCOs, NCOs, ORs | Nil | Fully exempted from fee payment |
| Female candidates | Nil | Fully exempted from fee payment |
The NDA & NA selection process has two major stages — a Written Examination conducted by UPSC, followed by the SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview conducted by the Ministry of Defence. Both stages carry equal weightage in the final merit, making the SSB just as important as the written paper.
| Stage | Marks | Nature |
| Written Exam — Mathematics | 300 | Objective type, counted in merit |
| Written Exam — GAT | 600 | Objective type, counted in merit |
| Written Exam Total | 900 | Qualifying + merit basis for SSB shortlisting |
| SSB Interview | 900 | Personality, intelligence & group tasks — counted in final merit |
| Grand Total | 1800 | Final merit = Written + SSB marks combined |
Mathematics is the first paper of the NDA written exam, based on the Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus. It tests conceptual clarity, calculation speed, and accuracy under time pressure.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 Hours |
GAT is split into two parts — Part A covers English, and Part B covers General Knowledge spanning Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Affairs. It is designed to test the all-round awareness expected of a future officer.
| Part | Subject | Marks |
| Part A | English | 200 |
| Part B | General Knowledge (Physics, Chemistry, Science, History, Geography, Current Affairs) | 400 |
| Total | GAT (Paper 2) | 600 |
| Stage | Components | Duration |
| Stage I (Screening) | Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test, Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT) | 1 Day |
| Stage II (Testing) | Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, Personal Interview, Conference | 4 Days |
Algebra (sets, relations, complex numbers, quadratic equations, binomial theorem, permutations and combinations), Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry (ratios, identities, heights and distances), Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions (lines, circles, conics, planes), Differential Calculus (limits, continuity, derivatives), Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, and Statistics and Probability (measures of central tendency, correlation, basic probability theory).
Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension passages, cohesion and coherence of paragraphs, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, spotting errors, ordering of sentences and words — testing the candidate’s overall facility with the English language at a Class 12 level.
Physics (general properties of matter, motion, force, light, sound, heat, electricity, basic principles of common appliances), Chemistry (physical and chemical changes, elements, compounds, acids and bases, fertilisers), General Science (everyday science, human body, food, health, important inventions), History and Freedom Movement (ancient, medieval and modern Indian history, the freedom struggle, world history), Geography (physical geography, Indian and world geography, climate, natural resources), and Current Events (national and international events of the past 12 months, sports, defence-related developments).
NDA cadets are paid a stipend during their three years of training, and once commissioned, officers are placed at Pay Level 10 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with salary and rank growing steadily through a clearly defined, time-bound promotion system unlike most civilian careers.
| Stage | Pay Component | Approx. Monthly Amount |
| During NDA Training (3 years) | Training Stipend | Rs. 56,100 (Level 10 of pay matrix) |
| On Commissioning (Lieutenant / Sub-Lieutenant / Flying Officer) | Basic Pay + MSP + Allowances | Rs. 75,000 – Rs. 90,000 in-hand (peace posting) |
| Rank (Army equivalent) | Pay Level | Basic Pay Range |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | Rs. 61,300 – Rs. 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | Rs. 69,400 – Rs. 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | Rs. 1,21,200 – Rs. 2,12,400 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | Rs. 1,39,600 – Rs. 2,17,600 |
| Chief of Army / Navy / Air Staff | Level 18 | Rs. 2,50,000 (fixed) |
| Allowance / Benefit | Details |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | Fixed Rs. 15,500 per month for all officers up to the rank of Brigadier |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | As per central government rates, revised periodically |
| Field / High Altitude Allowance | Additional allowance for postings in field areas, high altitude, or counter-insurgency zones |
| Free Rations & Uniform Allowance | Subsidised or free rations plus periodic uniform allowance |
| Accommodation | Subsidised married/single officer accommodation depending on posting and seniority |
| CSD Canteen Facility | Access to Canteen Stores Department for discounted goods |
| Medical (ECHS / Service Hospitals) | Free medical treatment for self and dependent family members |
| Pension | Full pension after qualifying service, plus family pension benefits |
Unlike most government jobs, promotions in the Armed Forces up to a certain rank are time-bound rather than purely vacancy-based, giving NDA-commissioned officers one of the most predictable long-term career trajectories among all government careers in India.
| Rank | Approx. Years of Service | Nature of Promotion |
| Lieutenant | Entry / 0–2 years | On commissioning after training |
| Captain | 2–3 years | Time-bound |
| Major | 6–7 years | Time-bound |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 13 years | Time-bound (selection grade beyond this point) |
| Colonel | 26 years | Time-bound, virtually guaranteed with clean record |
| Brigadier and above | 26+ years | Selection-based; competitive boards decide |
Q1. What is the age limit for NDA 2026?
Ans. Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age as on the date specified in the official UPSC notification. The exact date-of-birth window is announced separately for NDA 1 and NDA 2 each cycle.
Q2. Can girls apply for the NDA exam?
Ans. Yes. Following the Supreme Court order of 2021, female candidates are fully eligible to apply for NDA across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, with female vacancies included in every cycle.
Q3. What is the NDA exam pattern?
Ans. NDA has two stages: a Written Exam of 900 marks (Mathematics — 300 marks, General Ability Test/GAT — 600 marks), followed by an SSB Interview of 900 marks. The grand total is 1800 marks.
Q4. How many times can a candidate attempt the NDA exam?
Ans. There is no fixed limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can apply as many times as they wish, as long as they remain within the eligible age bracket of 16.5 to 19.5 years. Since NDA is held twice a year, most candidates get around 4 to 6 attempts depending on their date of birth.
Q5. What salary does an NDA officer get after commissioning?
Ans. On commissioning as a Lieutenant, Sub-Lieutenant, or Flying Officer, in-hand salary typically ranges between Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 90,000 per month at a peace posting, including Military Service Pay and other allowances.
Disclaimer
This document is an unofficial educational resource created for exam aspirants. All information should be verified on the official recruitment website before applying. Vacancy numbers, age limits, and eligibility criteria are subject to change with each notification.
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