Table of Contents:
- About NDA Exam
- NDA Exam Highlights
- NDA Exam Eligibility Criteria
- NDA Exam Pattern
- NDA Exam Syllabus
- NDA Selection Process
About NDA Exam
NDA Stands for National Defence Academy; it is a training institute for the cadets of the 3 defence lines of India (Army, Navy, Air Force), while the NDA exam is the leading platform which provides the students to enter into the three defence lines. As a result, the NDA exam is a complete selection process to find suitable candidates for the academy to train there and join the academy. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the NDA exam twice a year and contains a written test and an interview. Candidates who are thinking of applying for it must read this blog thoroughly and keep a note of the upcoming updates on NDA exam 2022 events.
NDA Exam Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Full-Form of NDA | National Defence Academy Exam |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Frequency | Twice a Year |
| Exam Type | National Level |
| Eligibility Criteria | Unmarried Male/Female candidates who have passed Class 12th from a recognized board |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Duration | Mathematics: 2 hours 30 minutes General Ability Test: 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Number of cities for exam centres | 75 |
| Selection Process | Written Test SSB Interview |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in/ |
NDA Exam Eligibility Criteria
Age: Between 16.5 to 19.5 years
Gender: Only men
Educational Qualification: 12th with Physics and Mathematics (final year students can also apply)
Marital Status: The candidate should be unmarried
Nationality: You should be an Indian Citizen or Nepalese/ Tibetan/ Bhutanese. If you are a migrant from East African Countries, you are eager to settle in India; you are eligible for the NDA exam.
Visual Standards: One must have 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in another.
Physical Standards: You must be physically fit as per the guidelines set by NDA. For more information about Physical standards, go through the official website of NDA.
NDA Exam Pattern
| Code | Exam Name | Duration | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| 1 | Mathematics | 2 ½ hours | 120 | 300 |
| General Ability Test | 2 ½ hours | 50 | 200 | |
| 100 | 400 | |||
| – | SSB Interview | – | 50 | 900 |
| Total | 1800 | |||
| Paper I- Mathematics | |
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 |
| Marks awarded for Correct answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks deducted for the wrong answer | -0.83 |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
| Paper-II- General Ability Test | |
| Total Marks | 600 marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 150 |
| No. of questions in English Section | 50 |
| No. Of questions in General knowledge Section | 100 |
| Maximum Marks for English | 200 marks |
| Maximum Marks for G.K. | 400 marks |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks in both sections |
| Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks in both sections |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
| NDA – SSB Interview Pattern | ||
| Stage 1 | Screening Test | Verbal and non-verbal tests. PPDT |
| Psychological Test | Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Word Association Test (WAT) Situation Reaction Test (SRT) Self Description Test (SD) | |
| Group Testing Officers Test | GD GPE PGT HGT IoT Command Task Snake race/Group Obstacle Race Individual lecture FGT | |
| Personal Interview & conference | – |
NDA Exam Syllabus
Get a comprehensive overview of the Mathematics, General Awareness, and English NDA syllabus right here. Candidates must first pass the written exam, for which they must be familiar with the most recent syllabus, which includes disciplines such as Mathematics, English, General Science, and so on. Candidates must be familiar with the NDA 2022 syllabus to properly prepare for the exam and increase their performance levels. Check out the whole subject-by-subject syllabus, which is detailed below:
| Paper | Topics |
| Mathematics | Algebra, Matrices & Determinants, Differential Calculus, Statistics & Probability, Venn diagram, Complex numbers, Height and Distance, Parabola, Trigonometry, 2D and 3D Geometry, Ellipse, and Hyperbola, Integral Calculus, Vector Algebra, etc. |
| English | Spotting of errors, Grammar & usage, Idioms & Proverbs, Sentence Correction & Improvement, Para Jumbling, Fill in the blanks, Synonyms & Antonyms, Vocabulary, Cloze Test, etc. |
| General Awareness/Knowledge | General Science, Chemistry, Physics, History Freedom Movement, Geography, Current Events, etc. |
Note: Out of the total marks allotted to the General Knowledge section of the general mental ability paper, questions on general science, physics, chemistry, history, geography, and current events will carry approximately 10%, 25%, 15%, 20%, 20%, and 10% weightage, respectively.
NDA Selection Process
UPSC manages to conduct the NDA exam in two stages: a written test and an SSB interview. In the written exam, the candidates need to perform well in the exam in order to be able to proceed further with the selection process. Candidates who clear this stage will be called for an SSB interview. Check out the selection process and its stages, which are discussed below:
Written Test: The written exam is the initial level of selection and is held offline. Candidates who achieve the minimal qualifying marks will be able to advance to the next stage of selection.
SSB Interview: The SSB Interview examinations are used to assess the candidate’s intelligence and personality. The SSB Interview is likewise conducted in two rounds, with the first round being conducted by the Centres/Air Force Selection Boards/Naval Selection Boards. Only those who pass the first round of interviews are eligible for the second round.
Medical Examination: This is a qualifying round. Candidates who want to join the Indian forces must be medically fit and qualify for this step of the selection process.
Final Merit List: The final merit list is made based on the results of the written test and the SSB interview. The ultimate distribution will be determined by the availability of openings, compliance with qualifying standards, medical fitness, and merit-cum-preferences.
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