How to Join NDA? - After 10th, 12th, and Graduation

By Ritesh|Updated : April 14th, 2023

In this post, we have provided details on how to join NDA. The NDA exam is organized by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice every year. Candidates who wish to join Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, or Indian Army as an officer must apply for the NDA exam. Male and female candidates of age 16.5-19.5 are eligible for the National Defence Academy exam.

NDA is easy to crack if the candidate is determined to achieve their primary goal, and all it needs is attention, challenging imaginative work, and consistency. In this article, we will tell you how to join NDA after 10th, including eligibility criteria, pattern, medical process, etc.

Table of Content

How to Join NDA?

To join NDA, the application form is released by UPSC twice a year. Candidates can fill out the application form by visiting the official site of UPSC. The procedure to fill out the NDA Application Form is described below.

  • Step 1: Candidates have to visit the official site of UPSC. Where they must click on the Online application for various examinations in the UPSC section.
  • Step 2: After this candidate has to select the NDA exam.
  • Step 3: In Part 1 of the application form, candidates require to fill in the basic information including name, age, father's name, etc.
  • Step 4: In Part 2, candidates are required to pay the application fees for NDA, select the exam centre, upload photographs, and signatures, etc.
  • Step 5: The application fee can be paid through both online and offline modes.
  • Step 6: Successfully registered candidates will be issued NDA Admit Card three weeks before the exam.

How to Join NDA after 10th?

Those candidates who have qualified for class 10th can start preparing for the NDA Exam. Candidates must remember that only those candidates who are in class 12th or passed class 12th can apply for the NDA exam. The rest of the eligibility criteria including age, education qualification, etc., are shared in this article.

How to Join NDA after 12th?

Those who have passed 10+1 and are currently in the 12th standard and those who have passed the 12th or equivalent examination can appear for the NDA exam. Married candidates are not allowed to sit for the exam.

Eligibility Criteria to Join NDA

Earlier, only male candidates were allowed to apply for this exam; however, the situation changed after the Supreme Court decided on the plea by Advocate Kush Kalra to provide a chance for female candidates to appear for the same exam. Therefore, now everyone who is:

  • A citizen of India,
  • Bhutan and Nepal, and
  • The candidates who moved to Pakistan, Srilanka and south-east Asian countries, including Estonia, Venezuala, etc., are settling in India permanently, irrespective of their gender, can appear for the NDA exam.

Age Limit to Join NDA

No exceptional flexibility is given to any candidate belonging to one of the reserved categories nor for the females. The age limit and the cut-off marks are the same for all, and the age limit remains from 16.5 to 19.5 years, whereas the cut-offs differ yearly. For the candidates who aspire to join a specific field, for example, Air Force and the Naval force, one must have Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry as the main subjects in class 12th.

Written Exam to Join NDA after 12th

Two written papers are conducted on the exam day with a 1-hour break between the two. Each piece has a different syllabus and is allocated with other total marks.

Mathematics: The entire Mathematics syllabus includes the basics and advanced Maths you have practiced in your 10th-12th grade, which provides trigonometry, differentials, integration and differentiation, etc.

GAT Paper Syllabus: The entire syllabus consists of two sub-parts: General Ability and English. In Part A, your base is evaluated by asking grammar, vocabulary, dialogue-making questions, etc. In contrast, the general ability test (Part B) includes questions about physics, chemistry, history, geography and current affairs.

The NCERT book is crucial in building up their concepts, and most questions are NCERT based. Moreover, you can consult various books for quantitative analysis and Maths for competitive exams by RS Aggarwal.

Interview and Medical Test to Join NDA

After the written test, each candidate must undergo an interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB), which is taken by an interviewing officer trained by DIPR and assisted by experienced officers and the medical test procedure. There are different norms for both male and female candidates that mainly take weight, height, chest, and eyesight into account.

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FAQs on How to Join NDA?

  • Only those candidates who are pursuing or completed class 12th can apply for the NDA exam. For detailed information related to the National Defence Academy exam please read the full article.

  • If you have completed your Graduation, you must apply for the Combined Defence Services Examination which is conducted by UPSC for Graduates to join the Defence forces.

  • There is no such right age to start preparing for the NDA exam. All those candidates who are in class 12th or have cleared the class 12th and are eligible for the exam can start preparing for it.

  • Those who have passed 10+1 and are currently in the 12th standard and those who have passed the 12th or equivalent examination can appear for the NDA exam. Start preparing for the exam well in advance and fill out the application form when it is released.

  • Yes, girls can apply for the NDA exam. All candidates of age 16.5-19.5 can apply for the exam. To know the detailed eligibility criteria read the full article.

  • To apply for the NDA exam candidates have to visit the official website of UPSC. Where candidates have to fill in the basic details and upload the photograph and signature.

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