NDA National Defence Academy

Sir I want to know about the National Defence Academy NDA so can you please provide me some details for the same

[Kiran Chandar]

Hey the National Defence Academy (NDA) is the Joint Services academy of the Indian Armed Forces,

Here Participants of the three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together before they go on to their respective service academies.

The NDA is located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra. It is the first tri-service academy in the world


NDA courses

The NDA offers only a full-time, residential undergraduate programme.

Applicants are awarded a Baccalaureate degree (a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science or a "Bachelor of Technology" ) after 3 years of study.

You have a choice of two streams of study. The Science stream offers studies in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science.

The Humanities (Liberal Arts) stream offers studies in History, Economics, Political Science, Geography and Languages.

In both streams, academic studies are split into three categories.

In the Compulsory Course, cadets study English, Foreign Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian), Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, History, Political Science, Economics and Geography.

Cadets then take advanced classes depending on their chosen stream.

The Foundation Course is mandatory and comprises Military Studies and General Studies.

The Optional Course focuses on subjects specific to the cadet's chosen Service.

Selection Criteria


Candidates to the NDA are selected via a written exam conducted by the UPSC, followed by extensive interviews covering general aptitude, psychological testing, and team skills as well as physical and social skills, along with medical tests.

Incoming classes are accepted twice a year for semesters starting in July and January.

Cadets who are accepted and successfully complete the program are sent to their respective training academies for one year of training before granting of commission:

Army cadets go to IMA at Dehradun,

Air Force cadets to AFA at Dundigal, Hyderabad,

Naval cadets to INA, Ezhimala, Kerala.

A cadet can only decline a commission in case of a serious permanent medical condition caused during the program