NDA Exam Complete Guide: Eligibility, Pattern & Salary

The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam, conducted by UPSC twice a year, is the most popular way to become an officer in the Indian Armed Forces straight after Class 12. Cadets train at the NDA and are commissioned as officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force.

This guide covers who can apply, the written exam and SSB Interview, the training stipend and officer salary. Confirm exact dates and rules in the official UPSC notification on upsc.gov.in.

What is the NDA exam?

The NDA exam selects unmarried candidates for cadet training across the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (and the Naval Academy course). After training, cadets are commissioned as officers.

Eligibility and age

• Marital status: unmarried (men and women are both eligible).
• Age: roughly 16.5 to 19.5 years.
• Education: a 12th pass — any stream for the Army wing, but the Air Force and Navy wings require Physics and Mathematics in Class 12.

Exam pattern

Selection has two stages — a written exam and the SSB Interview — for a total of 1800 marks.

• Written exam (900 marks): Mathematics (300 marks) and a General Ability Test (600 marks, covering English, science, history, geography and current events), with negative marking.
• SSB Interview (900 marks): a five-day process of psychological tests, group tasks and a personal interview, followed by a medical examination.

Stipend and salary

During the final year of training, cadets receive a stipend of around ₹56,100 a month. On commissioning as a Lieutenant (or equivalent), you enter Pay Level 10, with gross pay roughly ₹80,000 to over ₹1 lakh a month including Military Service Pay and allowances — and a respected, fast-growing officer career.