Update on 2024-04-15
Life at NDA (National Defense Academy): National Defense Academy or NDA is the prestigious joint training Institute for the three armed forces- the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force. After completion of training at NDA, candidates are pre-commissioned to the respective service academies (Army, Navy, or Airforce) for specialized training.
Life at NDA is extremely rigorous, filled with grueling training sessions and academics. But at the end of the 3 year-long training, you will become eligible for a respectable and satisfying career that will provide you an opportunity to serve the Nation.
You can join the NDA after you complete your Class 12th Board exams. The NDA Entrance exams are conducted by UPSC twice every year which is followed by an interview session conducted by the SSB (Service Selection Board). The SSB interview includes psychological skills, general aptitude, and social skills. Candidates who qualify for the exams can join the NDA Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune.
The life of an NDA cadet consists of both academic and physical training. So those of you who want to serve the Nation and spend 3 valuable years in the National Defense Academy read this Article to get insights into life at NDA.
Here are the key points related to the NDA Entrance Exam eligibility criteria:
NDA Entrance Exam: Highlights |
|
Particulars |
Details |
Name of the Exam |
NDA |
NDA Full-Form |
National Defence Academy |
Conducting Body |
Union Public Service Commission |
Exam Level |
National |
Post |
Lieutenant |
Gender and Marital Requirement |
Unmarried Female and Male |
NDA Age Limit |
Upper Age - 18.7 years |
NDA Educational Qualifications |
Army Wing - Pass certificate in 10+2 exam |
Selection Process |
Written Test |
Official Website |
The training sessions of an NDA cadet are spread over a period of 2.5 years and this is common to all the 3 wings: Army, Navy, and Air Force. The physical training at NDA is more rigorous than the academic sessions at the National Defense Academy. At the end of 3 years at NDA candidates will get a Bachelor’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The training at NDA is conducted by the Joint Training Team(JTT) and each cadet has to undergo both indoor training and outdoor training as a part of the “Orientation Capsule”.
➤ Morning Schedule:
➤ Evening Schedule:
Subjects at NDA:
The compulsory subjects consist of English, one foreign language, Math, Computer Science, History, Political Science, Economics, and Geography. The NDA cadets must take basic classes in all these subjects.
Academic Session:
The NDA consists of 18 Squadrons that have names Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hunter, Juliet, India, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Panther, Romeo, Quebec, OScar. There are a total of 5 battalions. Battalion 1,2,3 and 4 have 4 squadrons and battalion 5 has 2 squadrons. There are a total of 100 to 120 cadets for each squadron. All NDA cadets are assigned their respective battalion, room, and a bicycle to travel to the Academy each day.
Accommodation: Every NDA candidate will be allotted a cabin filled with the necessary items. The NDA cabins are allotted in such a way that each floor has an equal distribution of cadets with 120 cabins with each squadron getting a floor.
Haircut: The haircut of an NDA cadet is very special and absolutely compulsory at the academy. The haircut is given in such a way that no haircut must be visible outside the beret.The NDA cadets must take the haircut every week failing which rigorous punishments like extra drills during the training sessions.
Mess and Food: The NDA Cadets Mess is a place of pride with clean and sanitized tables for all the squadrons. The Mess has the ability to serve all the cadets during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once a week the NDA cadets have to attend dinner nights with white or blue being the theme.
The breakfast usually consists of porridge, eggs, toast with butter/jam. Lunch consists of rice with vegetables or dal and chicken. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, puri and roti are served. Dinner is continental with bread or chapatis.
Cadets have to be in Formal wear and display proper table manners at the mess. Besides, they have to greet juniors or seniors in a cordial way.
Bicycles: One bicycle is issued to every cadet at the beginning of each term and the cadet has to safeguard it and make sure that nobody else takes his bicycle. Cadets have to cycle in squads to reach their training or academic classes. Every cycle squad had a squad leader and the rest of the cadets had to follow him in groups of two. Cadets who cycle without being in a squad will be punished.
Cross Country Competition: Cross country running competition is held every term between the squadrons. The cadets have to cover a distance of 13 kilometers. The cross country run is counted during the inter squadron championship banner and makes every NDA cadet physically and mentally strong.
Allowance: Every NDA cadet receives pocket money of INR 2000 for a total of 5 months. Besides this, the Government will bear the other expenses of the cadets that include accommodation, medical, books, uniform and boarding, and food. Parents/Guardians have to bear the personal expenses of the cadets.
Cadets, whose families are unable to meet the personal expenses will receive a financial grant of INR 175 from the Government.
The NDA cadets have to submit an amount of INR 5625 to the Academy, a part of which is refundable for those cadets whose family income does not exceed INR 1500 and receives financial aid.
Category of Distribution |
Amount |
Pocket money for 5 months |
INR 2000 |
Clothing and other personal expenses |
INR 3200 |
Incidental expenditure during 1st semester |
INR 425 |
Refundable amount (for candidates receiving financial aid from Government) |
Pocket allowance for 5 months- INR 2000 |
Clothing and other necessities-INR 425 |
Every cadet who passes out from NDA and joins the Army, Navy, or Air Force Academy will receive a salary of INR 21,000 per month. This salary is not given to him as an NDA cadet but the entire amount will be paid once he is commissioned in the Army/Navy/Air Force as Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant, or Flying Officer.
➤ Festivals and Holidays: Life at NDA is such that the cadets get a day off on every major festival. Celebrations take place only on those particular days and the mess provides meals to candidates who maintain fasts during the festivals.
NDA Cadets get Sundays off but this is only applicable for those who have cleared their drill test. Sundays are used to travel to nearby markets and buy essential stuff.
➤ Games and Sports: The NDA cadets can engage in inter squadron games like golf, volleyball, basketball, and Hockey.
➤ Education: The education process at NDA is highly innovative and technical. Along with the physical training, the academic training also contributes to the merit of the NDA cadets. The Academic curriculum improves the logical thinking and reasoning skills of the candidates.
Given below is the daily routine of life at NDA including both physical training and academic sessions:
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