The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination, which is a prestigious entrance exam in India for admission into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The NDA exam is held twice a year, generally in the months of April and September.
Here are some key details about the UPSC NDA exam:
Eligibility Criteria:
Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India, Nepal, or Bhutan.
Age Limit: Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old.
Educational Qualification: For Army Wing of NDA, candidates must have passed the 10+2 examination. For Air Force and Naval Wings, candidates must have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Selection Process: The selection process for NDA involves two stages:
Written Examination: The written exam consists of two papers - Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The GAT includes sections on English, General Knowledge, and Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Current Affairs. Both papers are of objective type and are conducted in offline mode.
SSB Interview: Candidates who qualify the written examination are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The SSB interview includes various tests such as Intelligence & Personality Test, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychological Tests, and Personal Interview.
Upon successful completion of the written exam and the SSB interview, candidates are selected for admission to the NDA.
Preparation: To prepare for the NDA exam, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern. Regular study, practice, and time management are crucial. It is recommended to refer to NCERT textbooks for the relevant subjects and solve previous years' question papers to get an idea of the exam pattern.
Additionally, there are various coaching institutes and online resources that offer guidance and study materials specifically for the NDA exam. Joining a reputed coaching institute or online course can be helpful in preparing for the exam.
It is also advisable to maintain physical fitness and develop leadership qualities as these aspects are evaluated during the SSB interview.
For further details and specific information, it is recommended to visit the official UPSC website (www.upsc.gov.in) or refer to the NDA examination notification and related materials published by the UPSC.
UPSC NDA SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process for UPSC NDA (National Defence Academy) involves two stages: the Written Examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview. Here is a detailed explanation of each stage:
Written Examination:
The written examination consists of two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).
Both papers are conducted in offline mode.
The Mathematics paper is of 2.5 hours duration and is of 300 marks.
The GAT paper is of 2.5 hours duration and is of 600 marks. It includes sections on English, General Knowledge, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.
The written examination is designed to test the candidates' knowledge, aptitude, and mental ability.
Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview:
Candidates who qualify the written examination are called for the SSB interview, which is conducted by the Services Selection Board.
The SSB interview is a comprehensive assessment process that evaluates the candidates' suitability for a career in the armed forces.
The SSB interview is conducted in two stages: a. Stage I: This stage includes Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Candidates who qualify Stage I proceed to Stage II. b. Stage II: This stage consists of various tests, including Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO Tasks), Personal Interview, and Conference.
The SSB interview assesses the candidates' intelligence, personality, leadership qualities, communication skills, physical fitness, and overall suitability for a career in the armed forces.
Final Selection:
The final selection is based on the candidate's performance in both the written examination and the SSB interview.
Candidates who are recommended by the SSB and meet the medical eligibility criteria are considered for the final merit list.
The final merit list is prepared based on the total marks secured in the written examination and the SSB interview.
Candidates who successfully clear both stages of the selection process and make it to the final merit list are offered admission to the NDA (National Defence Academy) for training in their respective wings—Army, Navy, and Air Force.
It is important to note that the selection process may be subject to change, and it is advisable to refer to the official UPSC NDA exam notification and related materials for the most accurate and updated information.
UPSC NDA Syllabus 2023
The UPSC NDA exam syllabus covers various subjects to assess the candidates' knowledge and aptitude. Here is a detailed breakdown of the syllabus:
Mathematics:
Algebra: Concepts of sets, operations on sets, complex numbers, quadratic equations, matrices and determinants, etc.
Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios and identities, trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, heights and distances, etc.
Analytical Geometry: Straight lines, circles, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola, equations of a line in different forms, etc.
Differential Calculus: Concept of a function, limit, continuity, differentiation, applications of derivatives, etc.
Integral Calculus and Differential Equations: Integration as an inverse process of differentiation, definite and indefinite integrals, application of integrals, differential equations, etc.
Vector Algebra: Vectors and scalars, addition and subtraction of vectors, scalar and vector products, etc.
Statistics and Probability: Measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation, and regression, probability, random variables, etc.
General Ability Test (GAT):
English: Grammar, comprehension, vocabulary, spotting errors, sentence improvement, antonyms, synonyms, etc.
General Knowledge: Current events, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, politics, books and authors, important dates, sports, etc.
GAT also includes the following sections: 3. Physics: General principles of physics, mechanics, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism, atomic structure, etc.
Chemistry: Physical and chemical changes, elements, compounds, mixtures, acids, bases, salts, oxidation and reduction, metals and non-metals, etc.
General Science: Biology, environment, and other related topics.
History, Freedom Movement, etc.: Ancient, medieval, and modern history, freedom movement, etc.
Geography: Earth, its shape and size, latitudes and longitudes, atmosphere and its composition, weather and climate, etc.
Current Affairs: Current events and news of national and international importance.
It is important to note that the syllabus is vast and covers topics from the 10+2 level. Candidates should refer to the official UPSC NDA exam notification for the most accurate and updated syllabus.
Additionally, solving previous years' question papers and mock tests can give candidates a better understanding of the exam pattern and help them identify their strengths and weaknesses for focused preparation.