NDA Selection Process

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the NDA exam twice a year to select candidates for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA and Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). The NDA selection process comprises two stages: a written exam and an SSB interview. All registered candidates are first required to appear for the written exam of the NDA. The written exam is the first stage of the NDA selection process. The exam pattern of the written exam is such that it is divided into two papers: mathematics and the general ability test. The duration of the test is 180 minutes and comprises objective-type questions. Candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks in the written exam are called for the SSB interview for the psychological aptitude test and the intelligence or personality test.

NDA Selection Process 2024: StagesThe selection process for NDA 2024 involves the following stages: Written ExamSSB InterviewNDA Selection Process 2024: Written TestNDA 2024 is a 900-mark test further divided into two sections: the MAT and GAT.The test will last for 180 minutes and consist of objective-type questions.It is recommended that the NDA study material be utilized rather than filling in concepts from different resources.NDA Selection Process 2024: SSB InterviewCandidates meeting the qualifying marks in the written test will be informed of the SSB interview round. Applicants to SSB sets are evaluated based on their ability.The SSB interview round comprises two separate tests: an intelligence test and a personality test.The qualifying candidates have to be put on the stage for tests on the first day of reporting at selection centers.Only those candidates who pass the qualifying stage 1 will be called for the final tests.

The selected candidates are given preliminary training both academic and physical for a period of three years at the National Defence Academy. The training during the first two and half years is common to the cadets of three wings. All the cadets on passing out will be awarded degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi.The selected candidates of the Naval Academy will be given preliminary training both academic and physical, for a period of three years at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. The cadets of 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme are awarded a B Tech Degree on successful completion of training.On passing out from the National Defence Academy, Army Cadets go to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Naval Cadets to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala and Air Force cadets and Ground Duty-Non Tech streams to Air Force Academy, Hyderabad and Air Force cadets of Ground Duty-Tech stream to Air Force Technical College, Bengaluru.At the IMA Army Cadets are known as Gentlemen Cadets and are given strenuous military training for a period of one year. On successful completion of training, Gentlemen Cadets are granted Permanent Commission in the rank of Lt.The Naval cadets are selected for the Executive Branch of the Navy. On passing out from the National Defence Academy and are given further training at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala for a period of one year. On successful completion, they are promoted to the rank of Sub Lieutenants.Air Force Cadets are given flying training for a period of 1½ years. However, at the end of one year of training, they are given provisional Commission in the rank of Flying Officer. After successful completion of further training of six months, they are granted permanent commissioned officers post.

The SSB procedure consists of two stage Selection process- stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are:(a) Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on combination of performance in OIR Test and PP&DT(b) Stage II Comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conductedover four days. The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors viz. The Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist. There are no separate weightage for each test. The mks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate holistically in all the test. In addition, marks for Conference are also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in the three techniques and decision of the Board. All these have equal weightage.The various tests of IO, GTO and Psych are designed to bring out the presence/absence of Officer Like Qualities and their trainability in a candidate. Accordingly candidates are recommended or not recommended at the SSB.