Exam Detail

UPSC NDA 2National Defence Academy

  • Test Level-: National Level
  •     Eligibility-: 12th
  • Duration-:5 Hours
  • Stream-: Arts
  • Medium-: Multiple
  • Examination Mode-: Offline
  • Total Questions-: 270

NDA 2024: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released NDA 2 notification 2024 on May 15, 2024. The notification was released on the official website and comprises the details related to the exam. Interested candidates should read NDA 2 notification 2024 before applying for the exam. NDA 2 application form 2024 was made available along with the notification. The last date to fill NDA 2 application form 2024 is June 4, 2024. The window to make corrections in the application form will be available from June 5 to 11, 2024. A total of 404 vacancies were announced for NDA 2 exam.

NDA 2 2024 exam will be conducted on September 1, 2024. The written exam carries a total of 900 marks. Check below to know more about the NDA exam such as eligibility, application form, exam pattern, selection process, and other related information.

NDA  is one of the most sought-after defence exams in the country to select candidates for admission to the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy courses. The exam is conducted twice a year to select eligible male and female candidates. The selection process for NDA exam comprises written exam and SSB interview.

What is National Defence Academy?

Location

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra, India. It is the first tri-colour academy that trains male and female cadets together for Army, Navy and Air Force. After passing out from NDA, candidates are trained in the respective service academies-Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy. 

Training Process

NDA provides comprehensive training to the cadets to prepare them to face the challenges of the armed forces. The training includes academic education, physical fitness, and leadership development. The cadets undergo a rigorous curriculum that covers various subjects and undergo physical training to enhance their endurance and strength. 

NDA Exam Highlights

The details regarding NDA exam are summarised below.

Exam Particulars

Exam Details

Exam Name

National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)

Conducting Body

UPSC

Exam Level

National 

Exam Frequency

Two times a year (April & September)

Mode of Exam

Offline

Exam Stages

Written exam and SSB Interview

Total Registrations

5.3 lakh (As per 2020 data)

Total Test Takers

2.4 lakh (As per 2020 data)

Exam Purpose

For admission to National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) 

Exam Fees

INR 100 for male candidates belonging to the General and OBC categories. However, SC/ST/Women candidates/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempted from paying the fees.

Exam Duration

GAT: 2 ½ hours

Mathematics: 2 ½ hours

No. of Papers and Total Marks

Paper 1: GAT

Paper 2: Maths

Total Questions

GAT: 150

Mathematics: 120

Marking Scheme

GAT: Four marks for correct answers and 1.33 marks for wrong answers

Maths: 2.5 marks for correct answers and 0.83 mark for wrong answers

Total Marks

Written Exam: 900

SSB Interview: 900

Language/Medium of Exam

English and Hindi

No. of Test Cities

More than 70 test cities

Official Website

upsc.gov.in

Contact Details

011-23385271/011-23381125/011- 23098543 

 

NDA Eligibility 2024

Candidates need to fulfil the following eligibility criteria in order to be eligible for the exam:

NDA 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, only unmarried male/female candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2006 and not later than January 1, 2009 are eligible.

NDA Eligibility for Women Candidates

NDA age limit for women candidates is the same as male candidates. Female candidates who are unmarried and born between 2 July 2005 to 1 July 2008 are eligible to apply for the exam. Candidates must be physically fit to carry on their responsibilities.

NDA Eligibility: Sex and Marital Status

Only unmarried male and female candidates can apply for the exam.

Are Girls Allowed in NDA?

In 2021, the Supreme of Court passed its decision that girls could join the National Defence Academy. The first batch of women candidates appeared in NDA 2 exam last year. 

NDA Qualification

The educational qualification is different for different academies. Candidates can check the educational qualification prescribed for different academies below.

Academy

Educational Qualification

Army Wing of National Defence Academy

Passed Class 12/HSC or equivalent from a recognised board or university

Air Force, Navy, and Naval Academy of National Defence Academy

Passed Class 12/HSC with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics

Can I join NDA in Class 12th?

Candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 can apply for the NDA exam. Candidates who are studying in Class 11 cannot apply.

NDA Physical Standards

The physical standards prescribed for NDA exam in terms of height, visual standards, etc are given below.

Height

Category

Minimum Height 

Tribals from Ladakh Region

155 Cm

Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Minicoy Islands

155 Cm

Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Uttarakhand

152 Cm

Bhutan, Sikkim & North East Region

152 Cm

Bhutan, Sikkim & North East Region

152 Cm

 

Visual Standards

Parameter

10+2 entries, NDA (Army), TES and equivalent

CDSE, IMA, OTA, UES, NCC,TGC & equivalent

JAG, AEC , APS, RVC,TA, AMC, ADC, SL & equivalent

Uncorrected vision(max allowed)

6/36 & 6/36

6/60 &6/60

3/60 & 3/60

BCVA

Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6

Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6

Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6

Myopia

 

( including max astigmatism ≤ +/- 2.0 D Cyl)

 

( including max astigmatism ≤ +/-

2.0 D Cyl)

 

(including max astigmatism ≤ +/-

2.0 D Cyl)

Hypermetropia

 

( including max

 

( including max

 

(including max

 

astigmatism ≤ +/- 2.0

D Cyl)

astigmatism ≤ +/-

2.0 D Cyl)

astigmatism ≤ +/-

2.0 D Cyl)

Lasik/equivalent surgery

Not permitted

Permitted *

Permitted*

Colour perception

CP-II

CP-II

CP-II

 

  • Visit the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in
  • Search for the NDA counselling 2024 link and click on it
  • The NDA 2024 counselling details  PDF file will be displayed on the screen.
  • Check the NDA category-wise counselling
  • Download and save the NDA exam 2024  pdf for future reference

NDA Online Form 2024

 NDA 2 application form 2024 was released on May 15, 2024. The last date to apply for the exam is June 4, 2024. Interested candidates are required to fill NDA application form online. The application fee is INR 100 for General/OBC candidates while SC/ST/Sons of JCOs, NCOs, ORs are exempted from fee payment.

How to Apply Online for NDA Exam?

  • Visit the official website of UPSC
  • Register online by filling the Part I of application
  • Login with the registration number to fill Part II of the application form
  • Fill all the details in Part II application form
  • Submit the fees and take printout of the application form

NDA Application Fees

The category-wise fee break-up is given below.

Category

Fees (In INR)

General/OBC

100

SC/ST/Sons of JCOs, NCOs, ORs

Nil

NDA One Time Registration

It is mandatory to complete the one time registration before filling NDA application form. This is a once-in-a-lifetime facility and through the login ID and password candidates can apply for any exam conducted by UPSC. To register with UPSC, candidates need to enter name, gender, date of birth, father’s name, mother’s name, minority status, valid mobile number, board examination roll number, and security questions. After completing the OTR, candidates can check their personal details, apply for active notification and check application submission status.

NDA Correction Window

The window to make the correction in the NDA application form is made available seven days after the application process is closed. Except the choice of exam centre, candidates can make corrections in all the details in the NDA application form. 

NDA Notification 2024

NDA 1 notification 2024 was released on December 20, 2023. NDA 2 notification 2024 was released on May 15, 2024. The notification is released for recruitment of male and female candidates to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of NDA and INAC. The notification is released in PDF form and comprises details such as the number of vacancies, exam dates, exam pattern, syllabus, course name, salary, exam centres, eligibility criteria, medical standards, the process of filling the application form, etc. 

 

NDA Syllabus 2024 for Paper 2

NDA syllabus for Paper 2 comprises General Ability Test (GAT) which includes the topics and sub-topics from General Knowledge (GK), English, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, General Science, and Current Events. A total of 150 questions are asked in this paper, out of which 50 questions are from English and the remaining 100 questions are from General Knowledge. The total marks allotted to this section are 600. The basic overview of NDA syllabus for Paper 2 is given below.

Parameters

Details

Total marks allotted for GAT paper

600 marks

No. of questions

150 

Total questions in English

50 

Total Questions in GK 

100 

Total Marks for English 

200 

Total Marks for GK

400

Marks for Correct Answer

4 marks in each section

Marks for Incorrect Answer

-1.33 marks in each section

Total Duration of GAT Paper

2 Hours 30 Minutes

 

 

NDA English Syllabus 

NDA English syllabus comprises the topics that test the basic proficiency in English Language and Comprehension. A total of 50 questions are asked from this section. NDA syllabus for English can be prepared by reading books and newspapers. The difficulty level of this section is easy to moderate. NDA syllabus for English is given below.

  • Grammar & usage
  • Comprehension & cohesion
  • Spotting of errors
  • Para Jumbling
  • Fill in the blanks
  • Synonyms & Antonyms
  • Vocabulary
  • Cloze Test
  • Idioms & Proverbs
  • Completion of Sentence & Para
  • Sentence Correction & Improvement

NDA Syllabus for GAT

The question paper of the GAT covers subjects that include Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography and Current Events. NDA syllabus for GAT is given below.

NDA Physics Syllabus 

 Around 23-25 questions are asked from Physics. NDA Physics syllabus is given below.

Physical Properties and States of Matter

Modes of transference of Heat

Mass

Sound waves and their properties

Weight

Simple musical instruments

Volume

Rectilinear propagation of Light

Density and Specific Gravity

Reflection and refraction

Principle of Archimedes

Spherical mirrors and Lenses

Pressure Barometer

Human Eye

Motion of objects

Natural and Artificial Magnets

Velocity and Acceleration

Properties of a Magnet

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Earth as a Magnet

Force and Momentum

Static and Current Electricity

Parallelogram of Forces

Conductors and Non-conductors

Stability and Equilibrium of bodies

Ohm’s Law

Gravitation

Simple Electrical Circuits

Elementary ideas of work

Heating, Lighting and Magnetic effects of Current

Power and Energy

Measurement of Electrical Power

Effects of Heat

Primary and Secondary Cells

Measurement of Temperature and Heat

Use of X-Rays ,General Principles in the working of Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightning Conductors, Safety Fuses.

 

 

NDA Chemistry Syllabus

NDA Chemistry Syllabus is contain topics of Class 12 level. NDA Chemistry syllabus is given below.

Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide, Oxidation and Reduction. Acids, bases and salts. Carbon— different forms

Physical and Chemical Changes

Fertilizers—Natural and Artificial

Elements

Material used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches and Gunpowder

Mixtures and Compounds

Elementary ideas about the structure of Atom

Symbols, Formulae and simple Chemical Equation

Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights

Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems)

Valency

Properties of Air and Water

 

 

NDA General Science Syllabus

NDA syllabus for General Science includes topics that assess the basic knowledge of the candidate on science and environment. NDA General Science syllabus is given below.

Common Epidemics, their causes and prevention

Difference between the living and non-living

Food-Source of Energy for man

Basis of Life—Cells, Protoplasms and Tissues

Constituents of food

Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals

Balanced Diet

Elementary knowledge of Human Body and its important organs

The Solar System-Meteors and Comets, Eclipses. Achievements of Eminent Scientists

 

NDA History Syllabus

NDA History syllabus contains topics on Culture and Civilization, the Freedom Movement in India, American Independence, French Revolution, etc. Check the list of topics included in the UPSC NDA syllabus for History below.

Forces shaping the modern world; Renaissance

A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation

Exploration and Discovery; War of American Independence, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution and Russian Revolution

Freedom Movement in India

Impact of Science and Technology on Society

Elementary study of Indian Constitution and Administration

Concept of one World

Elementary knowledge of Five Year Plans of India

United Nations, Panchsheel, Democracy, Socialism and Communism

Panchayati Raj

Role of India in the present world

Co-operatives and Community Development

A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation

Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare State

Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi

-

NDA Geography Syllabus

NDA Geography Syllabus assesses the candidate’s knowledge about earth and its resources and environment.

The Earth, its shape and size

Ocean Currents and Tides Atmosphere and its composition

Latitudes and Longitudes

Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure, Planetary Winds, Cyclones and Anticyclones; Humidity; Condensation and Precipitation

Concept of time

Types of Climate

International Date Line

Major Natural regions of the World

Movements of Earth and their effects

Regional Geography of India—Climate, Natural vegetation. Mineral and Power resources; location and distribution of agricultural and Industrial activities

Origin of Earth. Rocks and their classification

Important Sea ports and main sea, land and air routes of India

Weathering—Mechanical and Chemical, Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Main items of Imports and Exports of India

UPSC NDA Current Affairs Syllabus

NDA Current Affairs syllabus includes topics based on the latest current affairs events of India as well as the world. 

Knowledge of Important events that have happened in India in the recent years

Prominent personalities—both Indian and International including those connected with cultural activities and sports

Current important world events

-

 

 

NDA SSB Syllabus

SSB Interview

SSB Interview is conducted in two stages. The details regarding the stages are explained below:

Stage 1

Screening Test that comprises Verbal and non-verbal tests and PPDT

Stage 2

Psychological Test comprises Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self Description Test (SD). Group Testing Officers Test comprises GD, GPE, PGT, HGT, IOT, Command Task, Snake race/Group Obstacle Race, Individual lecture and FGT. The final phase of stage 2 is Personal Interview & conference. 

NDA Syllabus for Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)

The syllabus for OIR is given below.

Verbal Test

Non – Verbal Test

Figures

Completion of Series

Analogies

Blood Relation

Figure Matrix

Shorter and Taller Problems

Locating Hidden Figure

Logical Venn Diagram

Odd one out

Jumbled Words

Classification of data

Coding-Decoding

Paper Cutting

One word Substitution

Problem on Dice

Problem on Ranks

Problem on Cubes

Interchanging 2 signs

Visualizing Patterns

Identification of letters

Spatial Ability

Reconstruction of test

Download

NDA Books

Referring to good NDA books is an important part of preparation. With so many books available in the market, choosing the best books becomes challenging. We have provided below NDA books for English, Maths and General Knowledge.

 

Subjects

Books

English

  • Objective General English by SP Bakshi
  • Wren & Martin’s High School English Grammar & Composition
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

General Knowledge

  • Objective GK by Sanjay Kumar
  • Manorama Yearbook
  • Pratoyogita Darpan

Maths

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy by RS Agarwal

NDA Preparation Tips 2024

Candidates can prepare for NDA exam by following the tips given below:

  • To begin with, candidates must be clear about the subjects, pattern, and types of questions
  • The Mathematics section of NDA comprises questions from Algebra, Matrices, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, etc. Candidates must clear their concepts from Classes 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 NCERT books
  • The GAT comprises a variety of subjects, such as Chemistry, General Science, Geography, History, and Current Affairs. This paper also comprises a section on English
  • Candidates must revise the topics they have studied
  • Make short and simple notes as it will help candidates to revise properly and quickly
  • Solve previous years' NDA question papers and take NDA mock tests
  • Buy good NDA books and question banks

NDA 2 Last Minute Preparation Tips 2024

Given below are some of the last minute preparation tips for NDA exam:

  • Candidates must revise all the important topics thoroughly
  • Time management is important for the exam. Candidates must give more time to sections that they are stronger in. They should ensure to effectively use the time duration of the exam. 
  • Candidates are advised to practice as many mock tests and previous year papers as they can to improve their speed of solving papers
  • Candidates must read the question papers carefully during the exam
  • Do not forget to carry admit card and photo-identity proof to the exam centre
  • Do not take stress and believe on the preparation

NDA Exam Pattern 2024

NDA exam is conducted in two stages: written exam and SSB Interview. The written exam is conducted in two shifts- morning and afternoon. The written exam is divided into two parts: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The GAT is further divided into Part A-English Test and Part B- General Awareness or General Knowledge Test. A total 150 questions are asked in GAT section and 120 in Mathematics. The question paper will be available in both English and Hindi. The written exam carries a total of 900 marks. The total duration of the written exam is five hours. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for SSB Interview. Total marks allotted to SSB Interview are 900. The structure of NDA written exam is given below.

Subject

Marks

Number of questions

Duration of test

Mathematics

300

120

2 ½

GAT

600

150

2 ½

Total

900

270

5 hours

 

NDA Cutoff 2024

NDA cutoff for the written exam and final selection is released after the declaration of the final result. The cutoff for the written exam is calculated out of 900. The final cutoff is calculated based on the marks secured by the last recommended candidates out of 1800 marks (900 marks of written exam and 900 marks of SSB Interview). The qualifying NDA cutoff marks prescribed for each subject are 25 per cent. Candidates are required to qualify the exam by securing separate cutoff marks in the written exam and SSB Interview. Candidates can check below the previous years' NDA 1 & NDA 2 cut off marks.

Paper

Written Exam

Final Exam

2021 (1)

343

709

2020 (2)

355

719

2020 (1)

355

726

2019 (2)

346

709

2019 (1)

342

704

2018 (2)

325

688

2018 (1)

338

705

2017 (2)

258

624

2017 (1)

342

708

 

How to Check NDA Cut off ? 

The steps to check NDA cut off are given below:

  • Visit the official website of UPSC
  • Go to the 'Cut off' page from 'Examination'
  • Click the NDA cut off link
  • The cut off is displayed on the screen
  • Download the cut off and save it

NDA Exam Statistics: Registration vs Number of Appeared Candidates

The table below highlights the number of candidates who registered and appeared in NDA 1 and 2 exams over the past three years.

Exam Sessions

Number of Registered Candidates

Number of Appeared Candidates

NDA/NA  (I) & (II) Exam 2020

5,301,85

2,404,45

NDA/NA (I) Exam 2018

4,506,41

2,946,88

NDA/NA (II) Exam 2018

3,487,85

2,405,76

NDA/NA (I) Exam 2017

4,169,61

2,680,12

NDA/NA (II) Exam 2017

3,442,02

2,321,20

  1. pdf orgPDF 1

NDA Vacancy

 Vacancy was released along with the notification. A total of 404 vacancies were announced for NDA 2 exam. The break-up is given below.

Academy

Wings

No. of Vacancies

NDA

Army 

208 (including 10 for female candidates)

Navy 

42 (including 06 for female candidates)

Air Force 

Flying- 92 (including 02 for female candidates)

Ground Duties (Tech)-18 (including 02 for female candidates)

Ground Duties (Non Tech)-10 (including 02 for female candidates)

Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)

-

34 (including 05 for female candidate)

Total

 

404

NDA 1 2024 Vacancy

Candidates can check below NDA 1 vacancy break-up.

Academy

Wings

No. of Vacancies

NDA

Army 

208 (including 10 for female candidates)

Navy 

42 (including 03 12 6 for female candidates)

Air Force 

Flying- 92 (including 02 for female candidates)

Ground Duties (Tech)-18 (including 02 for female candidates)

Ground Duties (Non Tech)-10 (including 02 for female candidates)

Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme)

-

30 (including 09 for female candidates)

Total

 

400

 

 

What is NDA Salary?

The NDA salary structure is given below.

Rank

Level

Grade Pay (INR)

Lieutenant

Level 10

56,100-1,77,500

Captain

Level 10 B

6,13,00-1,93,900

Major

Level 11

6,94,00-2,07,200

Lieutenant Colonel

Level 12A

1,21,200-2,12400

Colonel

Level 13

1,30,600-2,15,900

Brigadier

Level 13A

1,39,600-2,17,600

Major General

Level 14

1,44,200-2,18,200

Lieutenant General HAG Scale

Level 15

1, 82, 200-2,24,100

HAG+Scale

Level 16

2,05,400-2,24,400

VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG)

Level 17

2,25,000 (fixed)

COAS

Level 18

2,50,000 (fixed)

NDA Admit Card 2024

NDA 2 admit card 2024 will be released online in August 2024. Candidates can download the NDA admit card by logging either with the roll number or registration number. The hard copy of the admit card is not sent to candidates by post. Candidates need to carry the printed copy of their admit cards along with one photo-identity proof to the exam centre. The admit card displays the details related to the exam as well as candidate's personal details.

How to Download NDA Admit Card?

The steps to download NDA admit card are given below:

  • Visit the official website
  • Click on the admit card link on the home page
  • Enter login credentials
  • The admit card appears on the screen
  • Download the admit card and take its printout

NDA Admit Card Details

The following details are printed on NDA admit card:

Personal Details

Exam Details

Exam Centre Details

Candidate’s Name

Exam Date

Name of exam centre

Date of birth

Exam time

Address of exam centre

Roll number

Reporting time

City

Photograph and signature

-

Centre code (if any)

Documents Required Along With NDA Admit Card

Candidates must carry the below-mentioned documents along with the NDA admit card:

  • Valid Identity Proof-Aadhar Card/ Voter ID/College lD card/ Passport/ PAN card/ Driving license
  •  3 to 4 Passport size photographs

NDA Exam Day Guidelines 

The exam day guidelines for NDA exam are given below:

  • Candidates should carry their NDA admit card to the exam centre 
  • Along with the admit card, candidates should also carry one photo-identity proof 
  • Carry clipboard or hardboard and a black ball pen for marking their responses
  • The invigilator provides a sheet for doing rough work 
  • Books, notes, loose sheets, electronic or any other type of calculators, mathematical and drawing instruments, log tables, stencils of maps, slide rules, test booklets, and rough sheets are not allowed inside the examination centre
  • Strict action is taken against those candidates found copying or cheating