NDA Full Form - National Defence Academy

The National Defence Academy is where you go to join the Indian government's defence force. In order to protect our borders from potential threats (either foreign or domestic) that intend to harm civilian lives, having a strong defensive force is pertinent for our nation. India is known to have one of the most vigorous defence forces in the world. To ensure that we are the best, the NDA provides training on discipline and combat to their soldiers.

However, if one's wish is to join the NDA, then there are a few things they need to know about their exam. We've covered that in detail for you in this article, so by the time you finish reading it, you'll get the big picture you need to join it.

Table of Contents

• What is Full Form of NDA?
• What is an NDA Exam?
• Eligibility for NDA Exam 2022
• Important Dates for NDA Exam 2022
• History of NDA

What is the Full Form of NDA?

The National Defence Academy, NDA is a joint services academy of the Indian Armed Forces and is located near the Khadakwasla dam in Pune, Maharashtra. As a tri-service academy and the first one in the world, they train the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force together before they have them move on to their respective academies for further pre-commission training.

The academy has produced 27 service chiefs of staff, and some of their alumni have received Param Vir Chakra and Ashoka Chakra awards in the past. In fact, the current chiefs of staff running operations at the three military bodies mentioned above graduated from NDA.

What is an NDA Exam?

The NDA conducts this exam for the sole purpose of testing an applicant on their eligibility to join one of the military bodies; the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force. Due to the benefits of being a soldier, admissions to NDA are followed by large waves of students wanting a seat to write the NDA exam. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the NDA exam twice a year, once in April and September.

Eligibility Criteria for NDA Exam 2022

The UPSC determines the NDA eligibility criteria for every candidate that wishes to write the exam. If the candidate meets the NDA requirements set by the UPSC as per their commission notice, they will be admitted into the NDA exam.

Here are the eligibility criteria that should be needed to write the NDA exam:

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• The applicant must be a male.
• It would help if he were between the ages of 16 to 19 years of age.
• The education qualifications differ for each wing:
• Army: One must have an undergraduate degree (of any stream) recognised by the State Board with a class 12 pass certification under the 10+2 school education pattern or equivalent.
• Navy/Air Force: One must have an undergraduate science degree recognised by the State Board with a class 12 pass certification (with Physics & Mathematics as their core) under the 10+2 school education pattern or equivalent.

Important Dates for NDA Exam 2022

The UPSC announces the NDA exam date by releasing an official test calendar. For the year 2022 the UPSC released the notification PDF on 22nd December, 2021. 

Check the table below with the NDA Exam Important Dates

The History of NDA

At the end of World War II, the Indian army's former commander-in-chief, Marshal Claude Auchinleck, led a committee worldwide and submitted a report to the Government of India in December 1946. He had recommended establishing a Joint Services Military Academy, with a training model based on the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In late 1947, the committee launched an action plan to commission a permanent defence academy and searched for a suitable site for the academy's construction. Later in 1941, Lord Linlithgow, former Viceroy of India, received 100,000 Euro from the Sudanese government to build a war memorial in recognition of the sacrifices of Indian troops in the liberation of Sudan in the East African Campaign during World War II. The Indian army decided to use these funds to cover the cost of the construction of the NDA.

The foundations of the academy were laid by Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister of India, on 6th October 1949. Sometimes on 7th December 1954, the NDA was finally formed and was followed up by an inauguration ceremony on 16th January 1955.

Read More : NDA Preparation 2022