An Examination is held by the Union Public Service Commission for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (Executive Branch) Course.

The examination is held twice a year generally in the months of June and October for admission to the courses commencing in the following January and July respectively for the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy and the executive branch of Naval Academy. The approximate number of vacancies to be filled on the results of this examination is around 370. These include vacancies for Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy and for the Executive Branch of Naval Academy.

NB : A candidate is required to specify clearly in the Application Form the Services for which he wishes to be considered in the order of his preferences. He is also advised to indicate as many preferences as he wishes to, so that having regard to his rank in the order of merit due consideration can be given to his preferences when making appointments.

Candidates should note that they will be considered for appointment to those services only for which they express their preferences and for no other service(s). No request for addition/alteration in the preferences already indicated by a candidate in his application will be entertained by the Commission.

Nationality
A candidate must be either:
(i) a Citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Bhutan, or
(iii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iv) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
(v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Provided that a candidate belonging to Categories (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

Certificate of eligibility will not, however, be necessary in the case of candidate who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

Age limit
Unmarried male candidates must have attained the age of 16 1/2 years and must not have attained the age of 19 years on the first day of the month in which the course at the National Defence Academy is due to commence.

Note I : Date of birth as recorded in Matriculation/Higher Secondary or equivalent examination certificate will only be accepted.

Note II : Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application though successful at this or any subsequent examination will not be selected for training:

candidate who marries during training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditures incurred on him by the Government.

Minimum Educational Qualification
(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy : 12th Class pass of the 10 + 2 pattern of School Education or equivalent conducted by a State Education Board or a University; (ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 (executive Branch)

(ii) Course at the Naval Academy : 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University. Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10 + 2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply.

Candidates who qualify in the SSB Interview will be required to submit Matriculation and/or 12th Class pass or equivalent certificates in original to Army HQ Rtg (NDA Entry), West Block III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-ll 0066 and for Naval Academy candidates to Naval HQ, R & R Section, 206 C- Wing, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi- 110011 by the specified date failing which their candidature will be cancelled. Certificates in original issued by the Principals of the Institutions are also acceptable in cases where Boards/Universities have not yet issued certificates. Certified true copies/photostat copies of such certificates will not be accepted.

In exceptional cases the Commission may treat a candidate, who does not pocsess any of the qualifications prescribed in this rule as educationally qualified provided that he possesses qualifications the standard of which in the opinion of the Commission justifies his admission to the examination.

NOTE : Candidates who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of Commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible for admission to the examination and if admitted, their candidature will be cancelled.

Examination Fee
Rs 50/- to be paid through Central Recruitment Fee Stamps or Crossed IPOs payable to the Secretary, UPSC, at the New Delhi GPO or through Crossed Bank Draft from any Branch of the State Bank of India payable to the Secretary,UPSC, at New Delhi.

Candidates residing abroad should deposit the prescribed fee in the office of India's High Commissioner, Ambassador or Representative abroad, as the case may be, for credit to the account head "051 Public Service Commission-Examination Fees" and attach the receipt with the application.

Candidates belonging to SC/ST are not required to pay any fee.

Centre of Examination
Agartala, Ahrnedabad, Aizawl, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bareilly, Bhopal, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dharwar, Dispur (Guwahati}, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jorhat, Kavaratti (Lakshadweep}, Kochi (Cochin}, Kohima, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji (Goa}, Patna, Port Blair, Raipur, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Udaipur and Visakhapatnam.

The Centres and the date of holding the examination are liable to be changed at the discretion of the Commission. While every effort will be made to allot the candidates to the Centre of their choice for examination, the Commission may, at their discretion, allot a different Centre to a candidate when circumstances so warrant. Candidates admitted to the examination will be informed of the time table and places of Examination.

General Note about Examination Scheme
The examination comprises of: (i) Written Examination; (ii) Intelligence and Personality Test of candidates who qualify in the Written Examination.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION : The subjects of the Written Examination, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject will be as follows:
1. Paper I : Subjects - Mathematics (Arithmetic, Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Statistics)
Duration - 2 1/2 hrs
Marks - 300 Marks

2. Paper II : Subjects - General Ability Test
Part A-English (Max Marks 200)
Part B-General Knowledge (Max Marks 400)
General Knowledge will broadly cover the subjects (Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Freedom Movement, etc., Geography and Currtent Events)
Duration - 2 1/2 hrs
Marks - 300 Marks

Optional Subjects and Syllabus
Paper I - Mathematics (Code No 01) (Maximum Marks-300)
1. Algebra : Concept of a set, operations on Sets, Venn diagrams. De Morgan laws, Cartesian product, relation, equivalence relation.

Representation of real numbers on a line. Complex numbers - basic properties. modulus, argument, cube roots of unity. Binary system of numbers. Conversion of a number in decimal system to binary system and vice-versa. Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic progressions. Quadratic equations with real coefficients. Solution of linear inequations of two variables by graphs. Permutation and Combination. Binomial theorem and its applications. Logarithms and their applications.

2. Matrices and Determinants : Types of matrices, operations on matrices; Determinant of a matrix basic properties of determinants. Adjoint and inverse of a square matrix Applications - Solution of a system of linear equations in two or three unknowns by Cramer's rule and by Matrix Method.

3. Trigonometry : Angles and their measures in degrees and in radians, Trigonometrical ratios. Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae. Multiple and Sub-multiple angles. Inverse trigonometric functions. Applications - Height and distance, properties oftraingles.

4. Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions : Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system. Distance formula. Equation of a line in various forms. Angle between two lines. Distance of a point from a line. Equation of a circle in standard and in general form. Standard forms of parabola, ellipse and hyperbola. Eccentricity and axis of a conic.

Point in a three dimensional space, distance between two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation of a plane and a line in various forms. Angle between two lines and angle between two planes. Equation of a sphere.

5. Differential Calculus : Concept of a real valued function-domain, range and graph of a function. Composite functions, one to one, onto and inverse functions. Notion of limit, Stamdard limits examples. Continuity of functions examples, algebraic operations on continuous functions. Derivative of function at a point, geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative - applications: Derivatives of sum, product and quotient of functions, derivative of a function with respect to another function, derivative of a composite function. Second order derivatives. Increasing and decreasing functions. Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima.

6. Integral Calculus and Differential Equations : Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts, standard integrals involving algebraic expression&, trigonometric, exponential and hyperbolic functions. Evaluation of definite integrals - determmation of areas of plane regions bounded by curves - applications. Definition of order and degree of a differential equation, formation of a differential equation by examples. General and particular solution of a differential equation, solution of first order and first degree differential equations of various types-examples. Application in problems of growth and decay.

7. Vector Agebra : Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude and direction of a vector. Unit and null vectors, addition of vectors, scalar multiplication of a vector, scalar product or dot product of two vectors. Vector product or cross product of two vectors. Applications - work done by a force and moment of a force, and in gometrical problems.

8. Statistics and Probability Statistics : Classification of data, Frequency distribution, cumulative frequency distribution, cumulative frequncy distribution- example. Graphical representation-Histogram, Pie Chart, frequency polygon- examples. Measure of Central tendency-Mean, median and mode. Variance and - standard deviation - determination and comparison. Correlation and regression. Probability: Random experiment, outcomes and associated sample space, events, mutually exclusive and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of events. Complementary, elementary and composite events. Definition of probability-classical and statistica-examples. Elementary theorems on probability-simple problems. Conditional probability, Bayes theorem - simple problems. Random variable as function on a sample space. Bionomial distribution, examples of random experiments giving rise to Binominal distribution.

Paper II - General Ability Test (Code No.02) (Maximum Marks-600)
Part A - English (Maximum Marks-200)
The question paper in English will be designed to test the candidate's understanding English and workmanlike use of words. The syllabus covers various aspects like: Grammar and usage, vocabulary ; comprehension and cohesion in extended texts to test the candidate's proficiency in English.

Part B - General Knowledge (Maximum Marks-400)
The question paper on General Knowledge will broadly cover the subjects: Physics, Chemistry , General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events.

The syllabus given below is designed to indicate the scope of these subjects included in this paper. The topics mentioned are not to be regarded as exhaustive; and questions on topics of similar nature not specifically mentioned in the syllabus may also be asked. Candidate's answers are expected to show their knowledge and intelligent understanding of the subject.

Section 'A' (Physics) Physical Properties and States of Matter, Mass, Weight, Volume, Density and Specific Gravity, Principle of Archimedes, Pressure Barometer.

Motion of objects, Velocity and Acceleration, Newton's Law of Motion,Force and momentum, Parallelogram of Forces, Stability and Equilibrium of bodies, Gravitation, elementary ideas of Work, Power and Energy.

Effects of Heat, Measurement of Temperature and Heat, Change of State and Latent Heat, Modes of Transference of Heat.

Sounud waves and their properties, Simple musical instruments. Rectilinear propagation of Light, Reflection and Refraction, Spherical mirrors and uses, Human Eye.

Natural and Artificial Magnets. Properties of a Magnet, Earth as a Magnet. Static and Current Electricity. Conductors and Non-conductors. Ohm's Law. Simple Electrical Circuits, Heating, Lighting and Magnetic Effects of Current. Measurement. of Electrical Power, Primary and Secondary Cells, Use of X-Rays.

General Principles in the working of the following :

Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner's Compass, Lightning Conductors, Safety Fuses.

Section B (Chemistry)
Physical and Chemical Changes, Elements, Mixtures and Compounds, Symbols, Formulae and simple Chemical Equations. Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems), Properties of Air and Water.

Preparation and properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide, Oxidation and Reduction.

Acids, Bases and Salts.
Carbon-Different forms.
Fertilizers-Natural and Artificial.
Materials used in the preparations of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches and Gun-Powder.
Elementary ideas about the Structure of Atom, Atomic Equivalent and Molecular
Weights, Valency.

Section C (General Science)
Difference between the living and non-living.
Basis of Life-Cells, Protoplasms and Tissues.
Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals.
Elementary knowledge of human body and its important organs.
Common Epidemics, their causes and prevention.
Food-Source of Energy for Man, Constituent of food, Balanced diet.
The Solar System, Meteors and Comets, Eclipses.
Achievements of Eminent Scientists.

Section D (History, Freedom Movement, etc)
A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation.
Freedom Movement in India.
Elementary study of Indian Constitution and Administration.
Elementary knowledge of Five - Year Plans of lndia.
Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Community Development.
Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare State, Basic teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
Forces shaping the modern world; Renaissance Exploration and Discovery. War of American Independence, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and Russian Revolution, Impact of Science and Technology on Society.

Concept of one World, United Nations, Panchsheel, Democracy, Socialism and Communism, Role of India in the Present World.

Section 'E' (Geography)
The Earth, its shape and size. Latitudes and Longitudes. Concept of Time, International Date Line, Movements of Earth and their effects.
Origin of Earth, Rocks and their classification; Weathering-Mechanical and Chemical, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes.
Ocean Currents and Tides.
Atmosphere and its composition; Temperature and atmospheric pressure, Planetary winds, cyclones and anti-cyclones; Humidity, Condensation and Precipitation; Types of Climate, Major Natural regions of the World.
Regional Geography of India-Climate, Natural vegetation, Mineral and Power- resources; location and distribution of agricultural and industrial activities. Important Sea Ports and main sea, land and air routes of lndia. Main items of imports and exports of India.

Section 'F' (Current Events)
Knowledge of Important Events that have happened in India in the recent years. Current important world events.
Prominent personalities-both Indian and International including those connected with cultural activities and sports.

NOTE : Out of maximum marks assigned to part 'B' of this paper, questions on Section , 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' and 'F' will carry approximately 25 per cent, 15 per cent, 10 per cent, 20 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent weightages respectively.

Other Information Regarding Plan of Examination:
NOTES :
I. The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only. The question papers (test booklets) will be set in English only. The "Candidates Information Manual" containing details pertaining to Objective Type Tests including sample questions will be supplied to candidates along with the Admission Certificate.

II. In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions involving the Metric System of Weights and Measures only will be set.

III. Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them.

IV. The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the Examination.

V. The candidates are not permitted to use calculators or Mathematical or Logarithmic tables for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets). They should not therefore, bring the same inside the Examination Hall.

Interivews Test/ Personality Test
In addition to the Interview, the candidates will be put to Intelligence Test both verbal and non-verbal designed to assess their basic intelligence. They will also be put to Group Test, such as group discussions, group planning, outdoor group tasks and asked to give brief lectures on specified subjects. All these tests are intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also his social traits and interest in current affairs. The maximum marks obtainable at these tests are 900.

How to Apply
The notification is published in the Leading Newspapers/ Employment News, usually in the month of April (for December Examination) and October (for April Examination). The Application Form along with Information Brochure must be obtained from the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices , throughout the country as listed in the notification published in Employment News/Leading Newspapers against cash payment of Rs 20/-. Candidates must use the Form supplied with the Infomation Brochure only and they should in no case use photocopy/reproduction/unauthorisedly printed copy of the Form. Combined Defence Services Examination. (Information compiled from Vidyapatha.com)