NDA Exam Handbook: Fee, Pattern, Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus and more | NDA (National Defence Academy) Mock Test Series 2024 PDF Download

What is NDA?

The NDA exam, which stands for National Defense Academy exam, is a highly competitive entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. The NDA exam serves as the gateway for candidates who aspire to join the Indian Armed Forces, specifically the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The exam is conducted twice a year, usually in the months of April and September. The selection process for the NDA exam comprises a written test and an interview, and successful candidates are offered admission to the National Defense Academy for training.

NDA Highlights 2024

NDA 2024 Important Dates

NDA 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Before filling out the application form for the NDA exam, candidates are advised to go through the NDA 2023 eligibility criteria. Details pertaining to the educational qualification required marks, age limit, and related are mentioned under the NDA eligibility criteria 2023.

The eligibility criteria for the NDA exam is determined by the UPSC, which is responsible for conducting the exam. Aspirants who wish to take the National Defense Academy Exam and Naval Academy Exam must satisfy the eligibility conditions outlined in the official notification issued by the commission.

The eligibility requirements for the NDA exam are as follows:

Nationality Criteria: NDA nationality criteria are for all aspirants belonging to different countries who wish to apply for the NDA exam. The candidates have to meet one of the following in order to be eligible for the NDA exam.

• Indian citizen
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1st, 1962 with an intention of permanently settling in India.
• Individuals of Indian origin who have migrated from the countries - Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African countries - Kenya, Uganda, The United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with an intention of permanent settlement.

The certificate of eligibility has to be issued by the Government of India to all foreign nationals. However, it is not necessary to be produced by the Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

NDA Educational Qualification criteria: NDA educational qualification requirements for both academies are as follows:

• Army Wing of National Defence Academy: Candidates who are 12th class pass under the 10+2 pattern of education from any state board or equivalent examination are eligible to apply.
• Air Force and Naval Wings of the National Defence Academy: Candidates must have the 12th pass in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or appear in one, of 10+2 patterns of school education from any state board or equivalent.

NDA Age Limit and Relaxations: NDA age limit and age relaxations are as follows:

• For the NDA 1 2023 exam, the candidates who are born not before July 02, 2003, and not after July 01, 2006, are eligible.
• For the NDA 2 2023 exam, the candidates who have taken birth between January 02, 2004, and January 01, 2007, are eligible.
• The candidate must write the date of birth as mentioned in the Matriculation Certificate, Secondary School Leaving Certificate, or any other equivalent certification recognized by the Indian University.

Note: No other document for proof of date of birth will be accepted by the commission

NDA Marital Status Criteria: NDA marital status requirements must be checked by the aspirant before applying for the exam. Check the details below:

• Both male and female candidates must be unmarried throughout the selection process as well as till the training is completed.
• If a candidate marries before training, they will not be selected.
• If a candidate marries during training, he/she will be discharged and liable to pay all the expenditures incurred on him/her during the training by the government.

Physical Criteria:  The candidates must meet the minimum height requirement given as below:

• The minimum height required for entry into the armed forces for female candidates is 152 cm. 
• The minimum height required for male candidates for entry into the armed forces is 157 cm or as decided by the respective recruiting agency.
• The minimum height requirement for both female and male candidates for the Flying Branch is 163 cm. 

Before applying for the NDA exam, candidates must have a detailed understanding of the NDA Physical Test requirements.

NDA 1 2024 Vacancy Details

NDA 1 vacancy 2023 breakdown has been released in the official notification on December 21, 2022, and is provided below in the table:

NDA 2024 Registration

To begin the registration process for the exam, candidates must visit the official website and complete four essential steps. These include initiating the registration, selecting their preferred branch, verifying their information, and obtaining a registration ID. The following instructions can guide candidates through these steps.

• Go to upsc.gov.in, the official website of UPSC.
• Look for the "ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS OF UPSC" option and click on it.
• Fill in all the required details in the registration form such as your name, father's name, date of birth, contact number, email ID, and other relevant information.
• Choose your preferred branches in the order of priority from one to four.
• Click on the "verify" button to confirm your registration and make a note of the registration ID and password provided by the system.

NDA 2024 Application Form

Here are the steps to complete the second part of the form, where candidates need to pay the application fee and upload their photograph:

• Log in to the UPSC NDA official website using your registration ID and password.
• Look for the "Payment" tab and click on it.
• Pay the application fee using any convenient online payment mode.
• Select your desired examination centre and upload a scanned copy of your photograph and signature.
• Download the completed application form and keep a printed copy for future reference.

NDA 2024 Application Fee

NDA application fee for candidates belonging to different categories is mentioned below:

Candidates can use any mode for payment like credit/debit card, net banking, etc. or even pay in offline mode by depositing money in any Branch of SBI. Candidates need to take a printout of the payment receipt and the NDA application form for future reference.

NDA 2024 Exam Pattern

The NDA 2023 exam consists of three papers, namely Mathematics, General Ability Test, and SSB Interview. It is crucial for candidates to have a thorough understanding of the exam pattern to advance to the next stage of the selection process. The following table provides information about the important subjects, duration, and maximum marks allotted for each subject in the NDA 2023 Exam Pattern.

NDA 2024 Syllabus

Mathematics:
Algebra, Matrices & Determinants, Trigonometry, 2D and 3D Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Vector Algebra, Statistics & Probability, Venn diagram, Complex numbers, Height and Distance, Parabola, Ellipse, and Hyperbola, etc.

English:
Spotting errors, Grammar & usage, Para Jumbling, Fill in the blanks, Synonyms & Antonyms, Vocabulary, Cloze Test, Idioms & Proverbs, Sentence Correction & Improvement, etc.

General Awareness/Knowledge:
Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History Freedom Movement, Geography, Current Events, etc.

How to Prepare for NDA Exam

• Familiarize yourself with the NDA Written Exam Pattern.
• Thoroughly understand the NDA syllabus.
• Review and revise Class 10th, 11th, and 12th Mathematics.
• Create a separate notebook for formulas and short tricks for calculations.
• Practice UPSC NDA Previous year papers, attempting as many questions as possible.
• Cover a maximum of the Maths syllabus.
• Understand the basics, syllabus, exam pattern, and question difficulty level.
• Simulate exam-like conditions with mock tests, including timing.
• Read recommended NDA Books for Maths to develop concepts and build a strong foundation.
• Note important and scoring topics based on the analysis of NDA Previous Year papers.

Preparation Tips for General Ability Test:

NDA General Ability Test (GAT): English Preparation Tips

• Focus on proficiency, vocabulary, and word usage.
• Syllabus includes grammar, reading comprehension, synonyms, and acronyms.
• Improve vocabulary through extensive reading of newspapers, novels, and storybooks.
• Watch English news channels for language command and current affairs awareness.

• Topics include force, volume, gravity, momentum, sound waves, density, magnets, heat, cells, and laws of motion.
• Make notes of important definitions and formulas. 
• Strengthen theoretical understanding before tackling numerical problems. 
• List down and solve 8-10 sums for each formula, giving attention to topics like Ohm's Law.

• Topics cover chemical formulae, reactions, elements, mixtures, compounds, and more.
• Use NCERT books for comprehensive coverage.
• Mole concept and P block questions are repetitive.
• Consider private publications or free online study material for additional resources.

• Cover topics like cells, tissues, human body, reproduction, epidemics, balanced diet, and more.Convert topics into bullet points for easier memorization.

History and Geography Preparation Tips for NDA GAT

• NCERT class IX and X books provide concise information.
• History covers Indian Independence, World Wars, Cold War, Panchayati Raj, and more.
• Geography includes Earth, ocean currents, climatic conditions, rocks, and atmospheric phenomena.

Current Events Preparation for NDA GAT

• Stay updated on global and local events through newspapers, blogs, news channels, and applications.
• Regularly read newspapers for vocabulary enhancement and current affairs knowledge.

Overall Preparation Strategies

• Use bullet points for essential information.
• Form study groups for information exchange.
• Solve previous years' papers for topic weightage understanding.
• Prioritize difficult topics if time permits; otherwise, strengthen easy ones.
• Take mock tests for time management and topic assessment.
• Read English newspapers or watch news channels regularly.
• Memorize shortcuts, especially for physics and chemical equations.
• Understand topics instead of memorizing everything to avoid confusion.

NDA Exam 2024 Admit Card

It is compulsory for every candidate to bring the NDA admit card to the NDA Exam 2024. The UPSC publishes the NDA Admit Card on its official website three weeks before the exam. The NDA Admit Card 2023 contains essential information about the exam, such as the candidate's name, roll number, exam centre, exam date & time, etc. It is important to note that candidates will not be allowed to take the exam without their admit card.

Steps to Download NDA Admit Card are as follows:

Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC – upsc.gov.in.
Step 2: Search and click on the link ‘Download NDA Admit Card 2024’.
Step 3: You will be redirected to an instruction page, read it carefully and agree to the terms and conditions.
Step 4: Another page will open with options for Roll number or Registration number, choose either and in the text box fill in your date of birth.
Step 5: Also, a CAPTCHA image will appear, enter the image that you see. Click on submit.
Step 6: A soft copy of your NDA Admit card will appear.
Step 7: Click on print and download the admit card.

NDA 2024 Result

The result for the NDA exam 2024 will be declared on the official website of UPSC.

• It is expected to be declared within 45 days from the day of the exam.
• Candidates are advised to regularly check the UPSC website for updates on the result declaration.
• The result will be in PDF format and can be found under the "What's New" section.
• The PDF will contain the roll numbers of candidates who have been shortlisted for the SSB Interview round.
• The SSB results, which include the medical result and final merit list, will be declared within 40 days.

How to Check NDA Result?

The steps to check the NDA Results 2024 are given below.

• Go to the official website of UPSC – upsc.gov.in.
• On the homepage search bar, type the name of the exam and click on it.
• On the next page, enter your roll number and the captcha image code and click submit.
• Next, the result will open and you can take a printout or save a soft copy.

Frequently Asked Questions for NDA 2023

What is the full form of NDA?

NDA stands for National Defence Academy.

When will the NDA 2023 exam be conducted?

NDA 1 2023 will be conducted on 16th April 2023 and NDA 2 will be conducted on 3rd September 2023.

What is the eligibility criteria for NDA 2023 exam?

The eligibility criteria for NDA 2023 exam are as follows:
(i) Candidates must be unmarried.
(ii) Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognized board.
(iii) Candidates must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years of age.

How can I apply for NDA 2023 exam?

Candidates can apply for NDA 2023 exam through the official UPSC website by filling up the online application form.

What is the selection process for NDA 2023 exam?

The selection process for NDA 2023 exam consists of a written exam, followed by an SSB interview, and finally a medical examination.

What is the exam pattern for NDA 2023 written exam?

The NDA 2023 written exam consists of two papers - Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The mathematics paper will be of 300 marks and the GAT paper will be of 600 marks.

Is there any negative marking in the NDA 2023 written exam?

Yes, there is a negative marking of one-third (0.33) marks for every incorrect answer in the NDA 2023 written exam.

What is the syllabus for NDA 2023 written exam?

The syllabus for NDA 2023 written exam includes topics from Mathematics, English, General Knowledge, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Geography, Current Events, and History.

Can I use a calculator in NDA 2023 exam?

No, the use of calculators or any other electronic devices is not allowed in the NDA 2023 exam.

What is the minimum passing marks for NDA 2023 exam?

The minimum passing marks for NDA 2023 exam is not fixed, as it depends on various factors such as the difficulty level of the paper, number of candidates appearing for the exam, etc.