NDA Selection Process 2023: Written Exam, SSB Interview, Medical Test

Through the NDA selection process 2023, the UPSC aims at recruiting the best personnel for various posts in the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The UPSC will be conducting the NDA 1 exam on 16 April 2023. Candidates who have applied for the upcoming exam will have to go through the two stages of the selection procedure. As per the NDA Selection Process 2023, only the candidates who pass the first round will be allowed to appear for the subsequent rounds. 

Appearing for the NDA Exam without knowing what to expect from it can lead to you panicking or getting nervous on the exam day. So, to help you get familiar with the NDA selection process 2023, we have provided an overview below.

Stages of NDA Selection Process

The first stage of the NDA selection process is a written exam and the second stage is an Interview round. It is also followed by a detailed medical examination, which the candidates must pass. Below, you will find all details regarding the different stages in the NDA selection -

According to the NDA selection process, the candidates will first have to appear for a written exam. It will be a three-hour, 900-mark objective test comprising of two sections - Mathematics and General Ability. Only the candidates who secure the minimum cut-off marks will be selected for the next stage of the recruitment process. 

In order to prepare for the written exam, every candidate should know NDA Exam Pattern. Given below is an outline of the first step in the NDA Selection Process 2023 - 

Stage 2 of the NDA selection process involves the interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB) for all the candidates qualifying for NA and NDA posts. If you clear the written test, your interview call letter will reach you with all the details regarding the interview date, time, and venue. Further details about the phases of the SSB interview are provided as follows - 

Besides the provided overview about the SSB Interview, here are some other factors that you should know about the selection process - 

• Note that the final recruitment under the NDA selection process will be merit-based. The performance of candidates in the written test and interview will be considered for the same.
• Candidates applying for the Air Force will have to qualify for the Pilot Aptitude Test (PAT) and Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) in order to be considered for final selection.
• The SSB interview process takes place over a duration of 4-5 days.

An essential component of the NDA selection process is document verification and submission. At the time of the interview, the selected candidates are required to bring their documents for verification. The details of the documents required are given as follows - 

• Proof of education - 10th or 10+2 certificate.
• Caste certificate for applicable candidates.
• Proof of identity.
• Proof of address.

Candidates who are shortlisted in the SSB interview round are recommended by the authorities for a detailed medical checkup. This is an integral part of the NDA selection process, for which the selected candidates have to appear at the Military Hospital. Here are some things you should know about the NDA medical test - 

• As a part of the NDA selection process, a medical examination will be conducted at the Military Hospital by a Board of Service Medical Officers.
• The final selection of the candidate in the NDA will depend on whether they are declared fit for the medical examination.
• For female candidates, a detailed gynecological, obstetric, and menstrual history will be required in addition to the regular details.

In the final merit list, only those candidates are selected who have performed exceptionally well in every stage of the NDA selection process 2023. Note that the selection in the final list is heavily merit-based. Your performance in the SSB interview and the subsequent personality tests will be taken into consideration for the same. If at any point you are found unfit for the job, your merit accrued throughout the various stages of the NDA selection process 2023 will be deemed null.

After the candidates get through with the NDA selection process, they are trained at the National Defence Academy under their respective branches (Army, Navy, or Air Force). Here are some brief points about the training process at the NDA - 

• Only the candidates who make it to the final merit list are eligible for training.
• The duration of the preliminary training is 3 years.
• After successful completion of the NDA selection process, candidates who make it to the training will receive a stipend of INR 56,100/- per month.