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Becoming an Officer in Armed Forces: Options Post-12th with 10+2 TES and B.Tech Entry
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam 2025 ( NDA )
Exam On - 13 Apr '25
It is important to understand that the armed forces provide multiple options for becoming an officer after the 12th.
Many students are aware of the NDA exam as a pathway to join the defence services after the 12th grade. However, beyond the NDA, there are various other career options available for defence aspirants. The 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES) by the Indian Army and the 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme by the Indian Navy are two such golden career opportunities for becoming an armed forces officer post-12th. Let us discuss these two options in detail to understand how they can help you achieve your goal of joining the armed forces after the 12th.
10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES)
If we talk about the 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES), this entry provides an opportunity to join the Indian Army for technical roles in the officer cadre. This is a direct entry to join the Indian Army as an officer, as there is no written exam. The call letter for the SSB interview is issued directly to eligible candidates. Only unmarried male candidates who have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with a minimum aggregate of 60% can apply under the Technical Entry Scheme. In addition to this, aspiring candidates must also have appeared in the JEE (Mains) exam.
10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme
Now, coming to the 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme, this entry prepares you for an officer cadre role in the Indian Navy. Selected candidates pursue a four-year B.Tech degree course at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in Kerala. Candidates applying for this entry must have passed the 10+2 exam with at least 70% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and at least 50% marks in English. Currently, only males can apply for TES entry, but in the 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme by the Indian Navy, both unmarried male and female candidates can apply. Like TES, it is necessary to have appeared in the JEE (Mains) exam for this entry too, as the call letter for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview is issued based on the All India Common Rank List (CRL) in the JEE (Main) exam.
Q: Who can apply for an NDA exam?
Q: Is there any minimum qualifying marks in NDA exam?
A:
Yes, candidates need to secure 20 to 25 per cent in each subject of NDA exam. Besides, candidates need to secure the NDA cut off separately in the written exam and qualifying marks. The total marks allotted to the written exam are 900, the GAT section carries 600 marks and Mathematics section carries 300 marks. The SSB Interview carries 900 marks.
Q: How many students apply for NDA exam and qualify it?
A:
Around two to three Lacs candidates apply for NDA exam. The written exam of NDA is cleared by around 8000 to 10,000 candidates. Such candidates are called for SSB interview. The pass percentage in SSB interview is around 10 to 15 per cent. Many students are rejected on medical ground as well. After the medicals, a merit list is prepared which features around 580 to 650 candidates. First 350 to 380 candidates are invited for admission to NDA and INAC. Some candidates do not join and some are not able to cope up with the tough training process. NDA selection process is bit tough therefore it takes about six months preparation to crack the exam.
6 SSB attempts in a year
Since the NDA exam is conducted twice a year, you have two opportunities annually to appear before the Services Selection Board for the SSB Interview. One can’t join the armed forces as an officer unless he or she gets a recommendation from the SSB. Now, why might a student preparing for the JEE also consider the armed forces? Because they have more opportunities through the 10+2 TES and 10+2 (B.Tech) entries. The notifications for these two entries are also released twice a year. So, you will have two SSB attempts under the NDA entry, two SSB attempts under the 10+2 TES, and two SSB attempts under the 10+2 (B.Tech) entry. Overall, you can get up to six SSB attempts in a year.
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I have a student who qualified for the NDA written exam but was conferenced out in SSB. After that, he went for the 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme and got selected through this entry. It is important to understand that the armed forces provide multiple options for becoming an officer after the 12th.
Blend of academic plus personality profile
Let me share some data: around 20 lakh students take the JEE exam, while six lakh take the NDA exam. Many students are unaware of the NDA and only know about JEE and NEET. Students with a biology background often hesitate to consider the NDA, but I have seen many from a bio background qualify for the NDA if they prepare well. Those students who think that NEET is their only option should understand that the requirements of the Armed Forces are different. Here, it's not just about academics; we do not need you to be a topper in Physics, Maths, or Biology. The requirements include both your academic profile and personality profile. The Indian Armed Forces seek those individuals who are physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically balanced.
Q: How many times can a candidate appear for the NDA exam, and what is the minimum qualifying marks required to pass?
A:
NDA exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC. Candidates can appear for both the sessions of NDA exam. NDA 1 exam is conducted for admission to the courses commencing in January. NDA 2 exam is conducted for admission to the courses commencing in July. To qualify each section of the NDA exam, candidates need to secure 25 per cent in each subject. NDA exam is conducted to select candidates for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Fotce wings of National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy.
Q: What is the criteria to give NDA exam?
A:
Hi,
Eligibility Criteria to write NDA exam-
(a) Nationality :
A candidate must either be :
i) a citizen of India, or
ii) a subject of Bhutan, or
iii) a subject of Nepal, or
iv) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
Certificate of eligibility will not, however, be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
(b) Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status :
A candidate must be an unmarried male and have attained the age of 16 1/2 years and must not have attained the age 19 years on the 1st January or 1st of July of the year succeeding the year of examination.
Candidates must not marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application, though successful will not be selected for training.
A candidate who marries during training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him by the Government.
(c) Educational Qualifications :
For Army wing of National Defence Academy :- 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at the Naval Academy :- 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply.
Q: How to select NDA exam centre?
A:
Applicants are required to select NDA exam centre while filling the application form. Candidates can only select the test city from where they want to appear for the exam. The exam centres are allotted to candidates based on the test city selected by them. The steps to select NDA exam city are given below:
Visit the official website of UPSC
Complete the One Time Registration
Login to fill the NDA application form
In Part 1 of NDA application form, candidates need to register for the exam
In Part 2 of NDA application form, candidates need to select their preferred exam city
Submit the application form by paying the required fees.
Q: What are the passing marks in NDA?
A:
Candidates are required to score a minimum of around 25 per cent marks in each subject to clear the NDA written exam. The total marks allotted to the written exam are 900. Besides the subject-wise cut off marks, the examination authority also decides overall cut off marks for different defence services. Candidates are required to secure both section-wise and overall cut off marks. To be in the final merit list, candidates are required to secure separate qualifying marks in the written exam and SSB interview.
Q: Can I apply for NDA exam while studying in class 11?
A:
No, you cannot apply for NDA exam while studying in Class 11. According to the eligibility criteria, candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 are only eligible to apply NDA exam. The educational qualification prescribed for the Army wing of NDA is that candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 or equivalent exam from a recognised board can apply for the exam. The educational qualification prescribed for Air Force and Naval wings of NDA and 10+2 Cadet entry scheme at INA is that candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics can apply for the exam.
By-- Shishir Dixit, an Air Force veteran, Founder-Director and Chief SSB Mentor at Centurion Defence Academy
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This account contains a repository of informative articles by external authors with domain expertise in various aspects of guiding students on how to go about pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies in... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
To appear in the NDA exams, a candidate must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age. The admit cards for the NDA exams are usually released a few days before the exam date on the official UPSC website.
Key points about NDA age criteria:
Age range: 16.5 to 19.5 years
Must be unmarried
Check the specific
A
Anurag Shivam
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Candidates should provide their NDA 1 2025 exam form data properly yet documentation verification may get jeopardized when your birth date noted on the 10th-grade marksheet or in your Aadhar Card differs. The DOB recorded in your 10th marksheet or birth certificate stands as official proof according
K
Kunal Lalwani
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 days ago
As of the latest update, the NDA application form for the NDA 1 2025 exam closed on December 31, 2024, with the application window extended till January 1, 2025 due to technical reasons; the correction window for applications was open from January 1 to January 7, 2025 on the UPSC website.
Key poi
A
Anurag Shivam
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Candidates aiming to join NDA 1 2025 should meet the age criteria of 15.7 years to 18.7 years on January 1, 2025. The age assessment for January 1, 2025 shows that you turned 18 years old along with 7 months since your birth date was June 12, 2006 thus allowing you to sit for NDA 1 2025. No one w
K
Krish Lalwani
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
ChatGPT said:
Hi Mishra,
Admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, for the B.A. program (History, Economics, Political Science, Geography) is based on the NDA entrance exam conducted by UPSC.
Selection Process:
- Written Exam – Includes Mathematics and Genera
A
Ankit kumar
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
As of now, the application process for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2025, has concluded. The examination is scheduled for April 13, 2025.
For those interested in future opportunities, the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2025, is sch
S
Shesha sai
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 4 days ago
The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2025, is scheduled for April 13, 2025.
The application process for this examination commenced on December 11, 2024, and concluded on January 1, 2025.
Date of Notification: May 28, 2025
Last Date for Receipt of Applications: June 17,
S
Shesha sai
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 5 days ago
The following criteria must be fulfilled by candidates to be qualified for NDA:
- If the candidate arrived in India before January 1, 1962, to settle there permanently, they must be an Indian citizen, a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee. Foreign nationals who possess legitima
N
Nidhi Kumari
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
B.Tech students who rely on spectacles may apply for the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam with successful completion of medical standards. Candidates at the NDA can apply for admission with spectacles if their vision stays within the established vision parameters based on medical standards.
Candid
S
Shiv Kumar
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, you can fill out the NDA application form online and pay the fee online. You can pay the fee using a debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking.
How to pay the fee online?
Fill out the application form online
Log in with your registration number
Fill out Part II of the application form
Submit t
N
Nazrul Khan
Contributor-Level 6
NDA application form is released to select candidates for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy. Both male and female candidates can apply for the NDA exam. The eligibility criteria for the NDA exam is given below:
Age Limit: For NDA 1 exam, both male and female candidates must have been born not earlier than July 2, 2005 and not later than July 1, 2008. For NDA 2 exam, both male and female candidates must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2005, and not later than January 1, 2008.
Educational Qualification: