National Defence Academy

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the joint defence training institute of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services i.e. the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force train together before they go on to respective service academies for further pre-commission training. The NDA is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It is the first tri-service academy in the world.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the conducting body of the National Defence Academy Exam (NDA Exam). The exam pattern is designed to recruit the best candidates to serve as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

This exam is conducted in two stages in a year.

Age Limit:

  • Upper Age – 18.7 years
  • Lower Age – 15.7 years
Education Qualification – NDA Eligibility
For Army Wing of NDA 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 NDA 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
For the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

Exam Pattern for NDA

The NDA Exam Pattern is divided into two stages:

  1. Written Examination
  2. SSB Interview (Service Selection Board)

The written exam in itself is further divided into the following:

  1. Mathematics
  2. GAT (General Ability Test)

The duration for both is 2 ½ hours long. The Mathematics marks are about 300 and the GAT is at 600 marks while the total marks for the SSB Interview is 900.

The General Ability Test is divided into two:

  1. English
  2. General Awareness and General Knowledge Test

The marks distribution for the GAT is as follows:

NDA General Ability Test Sections Maximum marks
Part A – English – 200
Part B – General Awareness Physics 100
History, Freedom Movement, etc. 80
Geography 80
Chemistry 60
General Science 40
Current Events 40
Total 600

As per the marking scheme formulated by the UPSC, no marks are deducted if a question is left unanswered but there is a provision of negative marking for wrong answers.

The negative marking scheme is as follows:

NDA Exam Pattern 2023 – Negative Marking Scheme
Written Exams Marks for each correct answer Marks deducted for each incorrect answer
Mathematics 2.5 0.83
GAT 4 1.33
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