UPSC NDA & NA Examination

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Examination for admission to Defence Forces viz; Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force wings. The examination is administered twice in a year. Candidates with 10+2 qualification can write this examination for admission. Candidates who qualify in the written test need to appear for selection test conducted by Service Selection Board (SSB). 
The finally selected candidates for the three services viz, Army, Navy and Air Force are given preliminary training both academic and physical for a period of 3 years at the National Defence Academy which is an Inter-Service Institution. 
The training during the first two and half years is common to the cadets of three wings.
All the cadets on passing out will be awarded degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi as under:-
(a) Army Cadets - B.Sc/ B.Sc (Computer)/ B.A
(b) Naval Cadets - B. Tech Degree*
(c) Air Force Cadets - B. Tech Degree*/ B.Sc/B.Sc (Computer) 
*All the cadets undergoing B.Sc/B.SC(Computer)/BA Degree programme shall be awarded the degree on the successful completion of Academics, Physical and Service Training at NDA.
All the cadets undergoing B Tech programme shall be awarded the B.Tech degree on the subsequent Pre Commissioning Training Academies/ Institutions/ Ships/ Air Craft.

NDA & NA Examination Number of Seats

The NDA and NA Examination administered twice in a year; one during winters and other during summers. Number of seats vary according to rules of government. For exact requirements see EducationNews.Shiksha.

NDA & NA Examination Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are required to fulfill all the eligibility criteria before applying for the examination. The admission  will be provisional and are strictly subject to satisfy the following eligibility criteria

Nationality:
A candidate must either be
(i) an Indian citizen
or
(ii) a subject of Bhutan,
or
(iii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iv) a Tibetan refugee who has come to India before January 1st, 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
or
(v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Vietnam, Ethiopia, Zaire, Malawi, Zambia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, East African Countries of Kenya, Sri Lanka, Burma or Pakistan with the intention of settling in India permanently.

A candidate belonging to the categories of (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) should have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Govt. of India. However, candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal are not required to submit the certificate of eligibility.

Age: 19-22 year age candidate who possess the eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for the NDA and NA Examination.

Marital Status:
Only unmarried candidates are eligible to apply.

Educational Qualifications
(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy:
  • Candidate should have successfully completed their Class XII of the 10+2 pattern or other equivalent examination conducted by the State Education Board or a University.
(ii) For Naval and Air Force Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy:
  • Candidate should have successfully completed their Class XII of the 10+2 pattern or other equivalent examination recognized by conducted by a State Education Board or a University with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Candidates appearing for their Class 12 board exams under 10+2 pattern of School Education or other equivalent examination are also eligible to apply.

Candidates who qualify the SSB interview but unable to produce their Matriculation/10+2 or other equivalent original certificate at the time of SSB interview should forward a duly self attested Photocopies to
‘Directorate General of Recruiting, Army HQ
West Block.III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi110066’

For Naval Academy candidates to
‘Naval Headquarters, DMPR, OI&R Section
Room No. 204, ‘C’ Wing, Sena Bhavan
New Delhi-110011

Candidates who have produced their original 10+2 or matriculation or other equivalent pass certificates at the time of SSB interview and have got them verified by the SSB authorities are not required to again submit the same to Army HQ or Naval HQ.

The orginal certificates issued by the Principals of the Institutions are also accepted in cases the Boards/Universities are yet to issue the certificates. However, photostate copies of such certificates will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Physical Standards:
Candidates must be physically fit and mentally be fit according to prescribed physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Exam. Many qualified candidates are however rejected on medical grounds. Therefore, the candidates are advised to do a thorough medical check up before submitting their application form to avoid further disappointment at the final stage of selection.

Guidelines for Physical Standards For Admission To NDA:
It is advisable to the candidates to rectify any kind of minor defects or ailments in order to speed up the finalisation of medical examination conducted at the Military Hospital after being recommended at the SSB.
Few of such common ailments and defects include:

(a) Wax (Ears)     
(b) Deviated Nasal Septum
(c) Hydrocele/Phimosis
(d) Overweight/Underweight
(e) Under Sized Chest
(f) Piles
(g) Gynaecomastia
(h) Tonsillitis
(i) Varicocele

Standard Height/Weight chart For Army/Air Force

Height in Centimeters (Without Shoes)
 Weight in Kgs
Height
16-17 yrs
17-18 yrs
18-19 yrs
 152  42.5  44.0  45.0
 155  43.5  45.3  47.0
 157  45.0  47.0  48.0
 160  46.5  48.0  49.0
 162  48.0  50.0  51.0
 165  50.0  52.0  53.0
 167  51.0  53.0  54.0
 170  52.5  55.0  56.0
 173  54.5  57.0  58.0
 175  56.0  59.0  60.0
 178  58.0  61.0
 62.0
 180  60.0  63.0  64.5
 183  62.5 65.0  66.5
           

 Standard Height/Weight chart For Navy

Height in Centimeters (Without Shoes)
 Weight in Kgs
Height
 16 yrs
18 yrs
20 yrs
 152  44  45  46
 155  45  46  47
 157  46  47  48
 160  47  48  50
 162  48  50  52
 165  50  52  53
 167  52  53  55
 170  53  55  57
 173  55  57  59
 175  57  59  61
 178  59  61  62
 180  61  63  64
 183  63  65  67

P.S. Candidates who have under various disciplinary grounds withdrawn or resigned from any of the training academies of Armed Forces are not eligible to apply.

NDA & NA Examination Registration Process

  1. Candidates are required to apply online by using the official website upsconline.nic.in

  2. Candidate are required to fill in all appropriate information such as name, father’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, category, contact details, educational qualifications,  etc.

  3. The application process is finally complete with the payment of the application fees.

NDA & NA Examination Application Fees

  • All Candidates (except SC/ST/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs who are exempted from payment of fee) are : Rs. 100/- (Rupees one hundred only)
The payment can be made either offline by depositing the cash in any SBI Branch or online through net banking facility of State Bank of India/State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur/State Bank of Hyderabad/State Bank of Mysore/State Bank of Patiala/State Bank of Travancore or by using Visa/MasterCard Credit/Debit Card.

Note: Candidates who have opted to pay the application fees by cash, should get a print out of the system generated Pay-in-slip during Part-II registration and deposit the same at an SBI Branch counter immediately on the next working day.

Note:
  1. The candidates can only permitted to submit one single application form. However if he/she submits multiple applications, it must be ensured that the application with the higher RID is complete in all respect including appropriate details of the applicants, examination centre, signature, photograph, application fees etc. The UPSC will only entertain the application with higher RID (Registration ID). The fees paid against one RID shall not be adjusted against any another RID.

  2. Candidates who are already a Government servant which includes candidates working as Sailors (including boys and artificers apprentices) of the Indian Navy, in the Armed Forces, students of Sainik Schools run by Sainik Schools Society, Students of Military Schools (formerly known as King George's Schools), Cadets of Rashtriya Indian Military College (previously known as Sainik School, Dehradun), Government owned industrial undertakings or other similar organizations or in private employment should apply online directly to the UPSC.

  3. Incomplete applications in any form or applications without the prescribed application fees are subject to be rejected. The commission decision is final and no further representation regarding such rejection shall be entertained under any circumstances.

  4. No supporting certificates for SC/ST/OBC, fee remission, educational qualifications and age are required to be submitted along with the application form. Therefore, the candidates should ensure that they are completely eligible to apply.

  5. Candidates who have successfully passed their written test are not required to submit any of their original certificates. They must bring along their original Matriculation or other equivalent examination certificates to the Services Selection Board (SSB). Candidates who qualify at the SSB interview, are required to produce all the original certificates soon after the interview.

  6. The original certificates will be returned to the candidates after the completion of the verification process. Candidates who have cleared 10 plus 2 exam carry with them all their original pass certificate or mark sheet for the SSB interview. However, if any claim made by the candidate is found incorrect, disciplinary action will be taken by the UPSC under the following grounds:
A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of:

(i) By any means have obtained support for his candidature, or

(ii) impersonating, or

(iii) procuring impersonation by any person, or

(iv) submitting documents which are fabricated or documents which have been tampered with, or

(v) Suppressing material information or making false or incorrect statements

(vi) Anyone resorting to any irregular or improper means in connection with his/her candidature for the examination, or

(vii) use of unfair means during the examination, or

(viii) writing irrelevant matter in the answer script such as pornographic matter or obscene language, or

(ix) Any kind of misbehaving in the examination hall , or

(x) Doing bodily harm or harassing the UPSC Staff for the conduct of their examination, or

(xi) Possessing or using any kind of electronic devices or equipment, pager Bluetooth, mobile phone during the examination, or

(xii)  Any violation of instructions with the admission certificates permitted by the UPSC to take the examination, or

(xiii) attempting to commit or as the case may be abetting the Commission of all or any of the acts specified in the foregoing clauses, may in addition to rendering himself liable to criminal prosecution be liable
(a) to be disqualified from the examination and/or
(b) to be debarred either for a specific time or permanently -

(i) by the Central Government from any employment under them, (ii) by the UPSC from any selection or examination held by them; and
(c) if he/she is already under Government service to disciplinary action under the appropriate rules. Provided that no penalty under this rule shall be imposed except after:
(i) giving the candidate an opportunity of making such representation, in writing as he may wish to make in that behalf; and (ii) taking the representation, if any, submitted by the candidate  within  the  period  allowed  to  him  into consideration.

Travelling Allowance:
AC III Tier to and fro railway fare or bus fare including reservation cum sleeper charges will be provided for the candidates appearing first time for an SSB interview. However, candidates who apply for the same type of Commission twice or thrice will not be given any kind of travelling allowance.

NDA & NA Examination Pattern

The exam pattern for National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination given below
  1. Subject: Mathematics
    Duration: 2-½ Hours
    Marks: 300

  2. Subject: General Ability Test
    Duration: 2-½ Hours
    Marks: 600
Question Type: Objective

Note:
  1. The Mathematics and Part "b" of General Ability Tests will be bilingually set in both Hindi and English
  2. In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions involving the metric system of Weights and Measures only will be set.
  3. Candidates under any circumstances will not be allowed to take help of a scribe to write answers for them. Hence, they must write the paper on their own.
  4. The Commission have discretion to fix the qualifying marks in any or all the subjects at the exam.

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination Exam Centres

Candidates should carefully decide about his/her choice of center for examination, while filling up the application form. If any candidate appears in some centre other than the one indicated by the UPSC, the papers of such candidates will not be valued and their candidature will stand cancelled.

Given below is the list of Examination Centres
  1. Agartala
  2. Ahmedabad
  3. Aizawl
  4. Allahabad
  5. Bengaluru
  6. Bareilly
  7. Bhopal
  8. Chandigarh
  9. Chennai
  10. Cuttack
  11. Dehradun
  12. Delhi
  13. Dharwad
  14. Dispur
  15. Gangtok
  16. Hyderabad
  17. Imphal
  18. Itanagar
  19. Jaipur
  20. Jammu
  21. Jorhat
  22. Kochi
  23. Kohima
  24. Kolkata
  25. Lucknow
  26. Madurai
  27. Mumbai
  28. Nagpur
  29. Panaji
  30. Patna
  31. Port Blair
  32. Raipur
  33. Ranchi
  34. Sambalpur
  35. Shillong
  36. Shimla
  37. Srinagar
  38. Thiruvananthapuram
  39. Tirupati
  40. Udaipur
  41. Vishakhapatnam
Note: There will be a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to all the centres except Nagpur, Kolkata, Dispur and Chennai.

NDA & NA Examination Selection Process

  1. The selection of the candidate are depended on two-stage selection process - Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test at Selection Centres/Air Force Selection Boards/Naval Selection Boards.

  2. All the candidates will be put to stage-one test on first day of reporting at Selection Centres/Air Force Selection Boards/Naval Selection Boards. Those candidates who qualify at stage one will further be admitted to the second stage. Candidates after qualifying stage II are required to submit their Original Certificates along with one Photostat copies each of -

    (i) Original copy of the Matriculation pass certificate or other equivalent certificate in support of date of  birth

    (ii) Original 10+2 pass certificate or other equivalent certificate in support of the educational qualification.

NDA & NA Examination Syllabus

The syllabus for both National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I) and (II) are same

Paper-I Mathematics (Total Marks: 300)

  1. ALGEBRA
    Concept of set, operations on sets, Venn diagrams. De Morgan laws, Cartesian product, relation, equivalence relation.

    Representation of real numbers on a line. Complex numbers—basic properties, modulus, argument,  cube roots  of  unity. Binary system of numbers. Conversion of a number in decimal system to binary system and vice-versa.  Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic progressions. Quadratic equations with  real coefficients.  Solution of linear in equations of two variables by graphs. Permutation and Combination. Binomial theorem and its applications. Logarithms and their applications.

  2. MATRICES AND DETERMINANTS:
    Types of matrices, operations on matrices. Determinant of a matrix, basic properties of determinants.  Adjoint and inverse of a square matrix, Applications-Solution of a system of linear equations in two or three unknowns by Cramer’s rule and by Matrix Method.

  3. TRIGONOMETRY:
    Angles and their measures in degrees and in radians. Trigonometrical ratios. Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae. Multiple and Sub-multiple angles. Inverse trigonometric functions. Applications-Height and distance, properties of triangles.

  4. ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY OF TWO AND THREE DIMENSIONS:
    Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system. Distance formula. Equation of a line in various forms. Angle between two lines. Distance of a point from a line. Equation of a circle in standard and in general form. Standard forms of parabola, ellipse and hyperbola. Eccentricity and axis of a conic. Point in a three dimensional space, distance between two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation of a plane and a line in various forms. Angle between two lines and angle between two planes. Equation of a sphere.

  5. DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS:
    Concept of a real valued function–domain, range and graph of a function. Composite functions, one to one, onto and inverse functions. Notion of  limit, Standard  limits - examples. Continuity of functions - examples, algebraic  operations on continuous functions. Derivative of function at a point, geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative - applications.

    Derivatives of sum, product and quotient of functions, derivative of a function with respect to another function, derivative of a composite function. Second order derivatives. Increasing and decreasing functions. Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima.

  6. INTEGRAL CALCULUS AND DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS:
    Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts, standard integrals  involving algebraic expressions, trigonometric, exponential and hyperbolic functions. Evaluation of  definite integrals - determination of areas of plane regions bounded  by  curves—applications.

    Definition of order and degree of a differential equation, formation of a differential equation by examples. General and particular solution of a differential equations, solution of first order and first degree differential equations of various types - examples. Application in problems of growth and decay.

  7. VECTOR ALGEBRA:
    Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude and direction of a vector. Unit and null vectors, addition of vectors, scalar multiplication of a vector, scalar product or dot product of two vectors. Vector product or cross product of two vectors. Applications—work done by a force and moment of a force and in geometrical problems.

  8. STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY:
    Statistics: Classification of data, Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution—examples. Graphical representation - Histogram, Pie Chart, frequency polygon—examples. Measures of Central tendency - Mean, median and mode. Variance and standard deviation—determination and comparison. Correlation and regression.

    Probability: Random experiment, outcomes and associated sample space, events, mutually exclusive and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of events. Complementary, elementary and composite events. Definition of probability - classical and statistical - examples. Elementary theorems on probability - simple problems. Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem - simple problems. Random variableas function on a sample space. Binomial distribution, examples of random experiments giving rise to Binominal distribution.

PAPER-II GENERAL ABILITY TEST

Part ‘A’—ENGLISH (Total Marks: 200)

The question paper in English will be designed to test the candidate’s understanding of English and  workman like use of words. The syllabus covers various aspects like: Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion in extended text to test the candidate’s proficiency in English

Part ‘B’—GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - (Total Marks: 200)
The  question  paper  on  General  Knowledge  will  broadly  cover  the subjects : Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events. The syllabus given below is designed to indicate the scope of these subjects included in  this  paper.  The  topics  mentioned  are  not  to  be  regarded  as exhaustive  and  questions  on  topics  of  similar  nature  not  specifically mentioned  in  the  syllabus  may  also  be  asked.  Candidate’s  answers  are expected  to  show  their  knowledge  and  intelligent  understanding  of  the subject.
  1. Section ‘A’ (Physics)
    Physical Properties and  States  of  Matter,  Mass,  Weight,  Volume, Density and Specific Gravity, Principle of Archimedes, Pressure Barometer. Motion  of  objects,  Velocity  and  Acceleration,  Newton’s  Laws  of Motion,  Force  and  Momentum,  Parallelogram  of  Forces,  Stability  and Equilibrium  of  bodies,  Gravitation,  elementary  ideas  of  work,  Power  and Energy. Effects of Heat, Measurement of Temperature and Heat, change of State and Latent Heat, Modes of transference of Heat. Sound waves and their properties,  Simple  musical  instruments.  Rectilinear  propagation  of  Light, Reflection and refraction. Spherical mirrors and Lenses, Human Eye. Natural and Artificial Magnets, Properties of a Magnet, Earth as a Magnet.

    Static and Current Electricity, conductors and Non-conductors, Ohm’s Law, Simple Electrical Circuits, Heating, Lighting and Magnetic effects of Current, Measurement of Electrical Power, Primary and Secondary Cells, Use of X-Rays.  General Principles in the working of the following:
    Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure  Cooker,  Thermos  Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightening Conductors, Safety Fuses.

  2. Section ‘B’ (Chemistry)
    Physical and Chemical changes. Elements, Mixtures and Compounds, Symbols, Formulae and simple Chemical Equations, Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems). Properties of Air and Water.

    Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbondioxide, Oxidation and Reduction. Acids, bases and salts. Carbon - different forms. Fertilizers - Natural and Artificial. Material used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches  and  Gun-Powder. Elementary  ideas  about  the structure  of  Atom, Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights, Valency.

  3. Section ‘C’ (General Science)
    Difference between the living and non-living. Basis of  Life - Cells, Protoplasms and Tissues. Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals. Elementary knowledge of Human Body and its important organs. Common Epidemics, their causes and prevention.

    Food - Source of Energy for man. Constituents of food, Balanced Diet. The Solar  System - Meteors and Comets, Eclipses. Achievements of Eminent Scientists.

  4. Section ‘D’ (History, Freedom Movement etc.)
    A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation. Freedom Movement in India. Elementary study of Indian Constitution and Administration. Elementary knowledge of Five Year  Plans  of  India. Panchayati  Raj, Co-operatives and Community Development. Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare State, Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

    Forces  shaping  the  modern world; Renaissance, Exploration and Discovery; War of American  Independence. French  Revolution, Industrial Revolution and Russian Revolution. Impact of Science and  Technology on Society. Concept of one World, United Nations, Panchsheel, Democracy, Socialism and Communism. Role of India in the present world.

  5. Section ‘E’ (Geography)
    The Earth, its shape and size. Lattitudes and Longitudes, Concept of time.  International  Date  Line.  Movements of Earth and their effects. Origin of Earth. Rocks and their classification; Weathering - Mechanical and Chemical, Earthquakes and Volcanoes. Ocean Currents and Tides Atmosphere  and  its  composition;  Temperature  and  Atmospheric  Pressure, Planetary Winds, Cyclones and Anti-cyclones; Humidity; Condensation and Precipitation;  Types  of  Climate,  Major  Natural  regions  of  the  World.

    Regional Geography of India - Climate, Natural vegetation. Mineral and Power resources; location and distribution of agricultural and Industrial activities. Important Sea ports and main sea, land and air routes of India. Main items of Imports and Exports of India.

  6. Section ‘F’ (Current Events)
    Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in the recent years. Current important world events. Prominent personalities—both Indian  and  International  including  those  connected with  cultural  activities and sports.

SSB Interview - Intelligence and Personality Test

The SSB procedure consists of two stage Selection process - stage I and stage II.  Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are:

(a) Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on combination of performance in OIR Test and PP&DT.

(b) Stage II Comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference.  These tests are conducted over 4 days.  The details of these tests are given on the websites www.joinindianarmy.nic.in, www.joinindiannavy.gov.in, www.careerindianairforce.cdac.in

The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors viz. The Interviewing Officer  (IO),  Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist.  There are no separate weightage for each test.  The mks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate holistically in all the test.  In addition, marks for Conference are also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in the three techniques and decision of the Board.  All these have equal weightage.

The various tests of IO, GTO and Psych are designed to bring out the presence/absence of Officer Like Qualities and their trainability in a candidate. Accordingly candidates are Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.

NDA & NA Examination Dates and Online Registration

NDA and NA Examination is administered twice in a year. Generally Summer Examination or NDA & NA Examination (I) in held in April/May and Winter Examination or NDA & NA (II) Examination held in October/November. For exact exam dates and registration deadlines see EducationNews.Shiksha.

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