NDA Full Form – National Defense Academy
NDA Full Form: National Defence Academy is an entrance exam that is held twice a year (in April and September), for the recruitment of the candidates to Indian Army, Indian Navy & Indian Air Force wings of NDA. The NDA Exam is conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). An aspirant must be an unmarried male or female and the course of training is for 3 years.
In this article, we will cover the NDA full form, along with detailed information about the NDA exam, its eligibility criteria, exam pattern, etc.
Table of Content
- What is the full form of NDA?
- What is NDA?
- NDA Exam or NDA Test
- Eligibility Criteria of NDA
- NDA Exam Pattern
- Career Options & Growth after NDA
What is the full form of NDA?
The full form of NDA is “National Defense Academy.” The National Defense Academy (NDA) is a prestigious military academy in India that provides training to young men who aspire to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force as officers.
What is NDA?
The National Defence Academy(NDA) is the Indian joint military training institute for the Armed Forces, namely, the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. It is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. This is the first tri-service academy in the World.
NDA is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). NDA is the national-level examination that is conducted to recruit qualified aspirants as officers in the Indian Army, Indian Navy & Indian Air Force. The NDA exam is conducted twice a year (April & September). The exam comprises Written & SSB Interviews. The National Defence Academy (NDA) was formed in the month of May 1998. It was formed as a coalition to contest the general elections. The main aim of the NDA was to form an anti-Indian National Congress coalition towards the young generation.
NDA Exam or NDA Test
The NDA (National Defense Academy) Exam is a prominent and highly sought-after examination in India, attracting young individuals who aspire to serve their nation as officers in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, or Indian Air Force. Here’s a more detailed overview of the NDA Exam:
Eligibility Criteria of NDA
To be eligible for NDA,
- Candidate must be between 16.5 to 19.5 years of age
- Completed 10+2 (with any stream) or equivalent exam from Central or State Board
- Meet the Physical & Medical standards
- Unmarried male & female both are eligible
Specific Qualification:
- For Army Wings: Passed or Appearing in class 12th with any stream
- For Air Force & Naval Wings: Passed or Appeared in class 12th with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics
Selection Process:
- Written Exam (Offline)
- SSB Interview
Also Read: NDA Eligibility Criteria 2024
NDA Exam Pattern
The below table contains the exam pattern of NDA including the Topic, duration, and type of exam patterns:
Topics: |
Written exam: |
SSB Interview: |
Mode of exam |
Offline |
Offline (Group activities and Face to face interview process) |
Total Duration |
5 hours (2 hours 30 minutes for each paper) |
5 days |
No. of Papers |
Mathematics General Ability Test (GAT) |
Testing Psychological Test Group Testing Officers Test Personal Interview Round Conference |
Total marks: |
900 |
900 |
Total questions: |
Mathematics – 120 questions GAT – 150 questions |
– |
Career Options & Growth after NDA
There are a number of Career options after NDA that are provided here in the table:
Indian Army: |
Indian Navy: |
Indian Air Force: |
Minimum Required Service for Promotion: |
Lieutenant |
Sub Lieutenant |
Flying Officer |
On Commission |
Captain |
Lieutenant |
Flight Lieutenant |
02 Years |
Major |
Lt. Commander |
Squadron Leader |
06 years |
Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander |
Wing Commander |
13 years |
Colonel(Selection) |
Captain (Selection) |
Group Captain (Selection) |
On the Selection |
Colonel (Time Scale) |
Captain (Time Scale) |
Group Captain (Time Scale) |
26 years |
Brigadier |
Commodore |
Air Commodore |
On the Selection |
Major General |
Rear Admiral |
Air Vice-Marshal |
On the Selection |
Lieutenant General |
Vice Admiral |
Air Marshal |
On the Selection |
General |
Admiral |
Air Chief Marshal |
On the Selection |
Conclusion – NDA Full Form
The National Defence Academy is one of the Services Institutes of India where three service cadets are trained together to become officers. Basically, it is the World’s first tri-service institute. The course duration at NDA is twelve months long. All the qualified cadets are given an opportunity to study a variety of subjects including international relations, history, geography, science & technology. They also go through the physical training process and the outdoor activities. Finally at the end of the course, all the cadets need to seat for an examination that determines their eligibility for commission into one of the three services.
FAQs on NDA Full Form
What is NDA full form?
The full form of NDA is National Defense Academy.
What is NDA Exam?
The NDA (National Defense Academy) Exam is a highly competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The exam is designed to select candidates for admission to the NDA, which is a prestigious military academy that provides training to young men who aspire to become officers in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
Which rank is given after NDA?
After completing the training period, qualified candidates will be given the rank of Lieutenant in the Indian Army, Sub-Lieutenant in the Indian Navy, and Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force.
What is the NDA salary during the training period?
During the training period of NDA, Officers get a salary of Rs.56100 per month, which is the starting pay scale for this post.
What is done during 3 years of NDA training?
During the 3 years of training, all the cadets are trained various sports along with their academics. Cadets at NDA can also opt for various courses like Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. After completing the degree, they are given a Graduation Degree affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University.