NDA Exam: How is selection done in NDA? Read all the information related to selection, training and women cadets here..

NDA Selection Process Details: Lakhs of the youth of the country start their defense career by clearing the UPSC NDA exam. Recently, 17 girls have created history by participating in the 148th passing out parade of NDA. Shriti Daksh has topped the Arts stream in this batch. This success is an inspiration for all those girls who want to be a part of the Indian Armed Forces.

17 women cadets graduated from the 148th course

In the grand parade held at Khetrapal Parade Ground in Pune, 17 women cadets marched with more than 300 male cadets. All these women were part of the 148th course of NDA and were awarded graduation after three years of rigorous military training. This course was the first co-ed batch of NDA, where women and male cadets received training together.

Cadet Lucky Kumar secured first place in the Science stream.

Prince Kumar Singh Kushwaha was the topper in the Computer Science stream.

In the Arts stream, Shriti Daksh, one of the 17 female cadets, topped the exam.

Udaivir Singh Negi topped the BTech stream.

What is an NDA exam?

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is a tri-service training institute that prepares officers for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the NDA exam twice a year.

NDA Selection Process: Selection Process in NDA

The selection in NDA is done in three stages:

Written Exam (Mathematics – 300 marks, GAT – 600 marks)

SSB Interview (5 days process – 900 marks)

Medical Test (Physical and Medical Fitness Test)

There is a negative marking for wrong answers in the written exam. The selected candidates are then called for SSB Interview and Final Medical Test based on the merit list.

The training is for 4 to 4.5 years.

Candidates who clear the NDA exam are given a total of 3 years of intensive training, which is divided into six semesters. During this time, they are also awarded academic degrees according to the branch of the army. Army cadets get a B.A. or B.Sc. degree while Navy and Air Force cadets are awarded B.Tech degrees, which are recognized by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

After this, the selected cadets are given additional training of 1 to 1.5 years at the respective military academies IMA (Dehradun), INA (Ezhimala), or Air Force Academy (Hyderabad). Thus the total training period is about 4 to 4.5 years.

25 seats reserved for women in the NDA

From 2021, women have also been allowed to participate in NDA and this has been a historic step. A total of 25 seats are reserved for women in NDA 2, 2025. The rules for women are the same as for men. The age of the candidate should be between 16.5 and 19.5 years. The educational qualification is 12th pass from any stream for the Army wing, while 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Maths (PCM) is mandatory for the Navy and Air Force. The candidate must be unmarried and women also have to meet physical fitness standards including gynecological examination.

A Stipend of Rs 56,100 will be given during the training.
During NDA training, cadets are given a stipend of Rs 56,100 every month. After completion of training, they are appointed as officers in the army. The commission is given in the post of Lieutenant in the Army, Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy, and Flying Officer in the Air Force. Their initial salary ranges from Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500 per month (Level 10), which increases with experience and promotion.

NDA Application Process 2025

The application process for the UPSC NDA 2 Exam 2025 has started from 28 May 2025. Candidates can apply online till 17 June 2025. The exam will be conducted on 14 September 2025. To apply, candidates have to first do One Time Registration (OTR) on the official website of UPSC upsconline.nic.in.

After this, while filling out the NDA application form, personal information, educational qualification and service preference (Army, Navy, Air Force) have to be entered. Also, a scanned copy of a passport-size photo, signature, and identity card (eg Aadhar card, voter ID) has to be uploaded. The application fee for general and OBC category candidates is Rs 100, while women, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, and children of Junior Commissioned Officers are exempted from the application fee. After filling in all the information correctly, submit the form and keep its printout safe.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.