defenceTwice a year (NDA I in April, NDA II in September)
NDA
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
The NDA examination recruits class 12 pass candidates for entry into the National Defence Academy (Army, Navy, Air Force wings) and Indian Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme). Successful candidates undergo 3-year joint service training at NDA, Khadakwasla, followed by service-specific academies. It is one of the youngest entry points into commissioned officer service.
2
Stages
1800
Total Marks
16–19
Age Range
Exam Pattern
1Written Examination
2SSB Interview
1
Written Examination
2.5 hours per paperOMR-based objective test
Total: 900 marks1/3rd mark per wrong answer
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 |
| General Ability Test (GAT) — Part A: English | 50 | 200 |
| General Ability Test (GAT) — Part B: General Knowledge | 100 | 400 |
2
SSB Interview
5 days5-day in-person assessment at SSB Centre
Total: 900 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Tests + Intelligence + Personality (Stage I) | — | 450 |
| Group Tasks (GTO) + Interview + Conference (Stage II) | — | 450 |
Syllabus
Mathematics: Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Statistics, ProbabilityEnglish: Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, CompositionGeneral Knowledge: Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, Current Events
Eligibility
Education
10+2 (Class XII) pass or appearing; Physics and Mathematics mandatory for Navy/Air Force wings
Age Limit
16–19 years
No age relaxation for any category
Attempts
No official restriction (within age limit)
Nationality
Indian
Cutoff Trends
2024
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Written | 360 |
| General | Final (Written + SSB) | 708 |
2023
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Written | 355 |
| General | Final (Written + SSB) | 700 |
2022
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Written | 342 |
| General | Final (Written + SSB) | 695 |
Important Notes
- ●Women have been eligible to appear for NDA since November 2022 following a Supreme Court order — a historic change in defence recruitment.
- ●Navy and Air Force wings require Physics and Mathematics in Class XII; Army wing accepts any stream.
- ●Mathematics paper is at 11th–12th standard level (NCERT) — solving previous year papers from the last 10 years is the most effective preparation strategy.