Career in Defence: NDA and CDS Exam: An Overview

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Career in Defence: NDA and CDS Exam: An Overview

Career in Defence: NDA and CDS Exam: An Overview
- Posted On 2024-09-27
A career in defence, rightfully remarked as not for the faint of heart, is highly demanding where only the brave and true patriots at heart can enter. It is the most respected and prestigious profession in the country. While millions admire and aspire to be in the defence forces, it takes strong will and dedication to tread this professional path. India with over 5.1 million military personnel, has the second-largest military force in the world. A career in defence is not only highly revered but also gratifying. Numerous perks and benefits in addition to the monthly high remuneration, make a career in defence a dream for many youths in the country.

Building a career in defence requires disciplining oneself early on. It also requires having complete knowledge about the available career options and trajectories that one must choose. The Indian Defence also called the Indian Armed Forces is made up of four services, namely- The Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. These four services come under the gamut of the Indian Armed Forces governed by the Ministry of Defence, under the supreme command of the President of India.

This blog aims to give detailed information about building a career in defence and how to go about it. We shall discuss the major paths of joining the Indian Armed Forces and the relevant requirements that a candidate must fulfil.

Know where and How to Begin

Two prominent routes give entry into the defence services in India: National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS). Both NDA and CDS are the gateways to the defence service and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts all-India NDA and CDS exams to recruit potential youth. NDA and CDA, however, have varying structures, patterns, requirements and objectives. Aspiring individuals must therefore identify the path more suitable to their goals Let us break down the two different examinations in detail.

National Defence Academy (NDA)

The Union Public Service Commission conducts the National Defence Academy exam twice a year, in two sessions -NDA 1 and NDA 2. This examination is conducted to recruit officers in three different services in Defence: Indian Army, Indian Navy and Air Force.

The commission usually releases the notification and application to NDA 1 in January and the written examination for the same is held usually in April. The Notification for NDA 2 comes in July and the written exam is then conducted in September. Both NDA 1 and NDA 2 follow the same exam structure, pattern, eligibility criteria, syllabus and selection process. Successful candidates in the NDA written exams have to sit for the service selection board (SSB) interview, which is a crucial step after the exam. Selections are made based on the performance of the candidate both in the written and interview. A candidate is therefore required to qualify for the written exam and the interview and be physically fit to come out successful. Candidates who make it to the final merit list undergo rigorous training for three years at the National Defence Academy.

Towards the end of the NDA training, candidates are given the choice to choose their preferred service- Army, Air Force, or Navy. This decision will depend on the candidate's career goal, personal preference and most importantly individual strengths.

After NDA, officers are again given specialized training in the service they have selected. This training is specifically designed and provided to distil down the skills necessary for their respective roles. Officers get to build skills and tact to tackle carried challenges concerning their roles.

Exam Pattern for NDA

The exam is divided into two parts:
- Written Examination
- Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview
- Physical Fitness Check and Document Verification
Exam Syllabus

The NDA written exam syllabus includes two major areas:

Mathematics: 300 Marks

The core topics in the Mathematics section include:
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Matrices and Determinants
- Integral Calculus and Differential Equations
- Trigonometry
- Vector Algebra
- Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions
- Statistics and Probability
General Ability Test (GAT): 600 Marks

The GAT section comprises topics across various subjects and is divided into two major sections- English paper carrying 200 marks and General Knowledge 400 marks.

The English section tests candidates in the following areas:
- Spotting Errors
- Comprehension
- Selection Words
- Ordering of words in a sentence
- Sentence Improvement
- Antonyms
- Synonyms
The General Knowledge section carrying 400 marks covers subjects, including:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- General Science
- Geography
- Current Affairs
- History
Written Exam Duration: 5 Hours ( 2 hours & 30 Minutes for each Section- Math and GAT)

Question Types: Objective Types ( Multiple Choice Questions)

Eligibility for NDA
- Educational Qualification: 10+2 or equivalent for Army Wing and Air Force and Navy Wings candidates must have Mathematics and Physics as a major subject in their 10+2.
- Age Limit: Candidates must be between 16.5 to 19.5 years of age to be eligible for the NDA exams
- Gender: Typically open to male candidates
- Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried
The NDA is typically the right track for candidates seeking entry into prestigious careers in the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force right after their 10+2. Candidates desiring to start early on in their lives may choose this path.

Combined Defence Academy (CDS)

The Combined Defence Academy (CDS) is another route that aspiring candidates may take for entry into an illustrious career in defence. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the CDS exam twice a year, as CDS 1 and CDS 2. Successful candidates of the CDS exams get admitted into esteemed institutions of the Indian defence - Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Similar to NDA, the exams for CDS are conducted in two sessions with the first one taking place usually in February and the second in November. UPSC announces the recruitment for each session in December/January and May/June, respectively.

Candidates clearing the written examinations progress to the subsequent levels - interviews and medical examinations by the Services Selection Board. Successful candidates proceed to their respective academies for rigorous training, finally culminating in getting commissioned to the officer's roles. The training period for officers selected through CDS however undergo a shorter training program.

CDS Exam Patterns

The exam pattern, selection procedure, structure, etc. for both CDS 1 and 2 are the same, just the variation in the time. The CDS trajectory is through three steps:
- Written Examination
- Personal Interview with the Service Selection Board
- Document Verification and Physical Fitness test
The CDS examinations are held offline across different centres in the country. The exam can be taken either in English or Hindi as per the candidate's preference.

CDS Exam Syllabus

The CDS written exam is a multiple choice questions format. A negative marking of 0.33 for every incorrect answer is deducted, while each correct answer carries 1 mark. There are typically 100 questions in each section. The question paper pattern however varies for the different academies, with slight variations in the syllabus.

For IMA, AFA and INA the written exam paper will have three different sections:
- English: 100 Marks
- Elementary Mathematics: 100 marks
- General Knowledge: 100 Marks
For OTA, the written exam paper will consist of two papers:
- English: 100 Marks
- General Knowledge: 100 Marks
The syllabus and question patterns will be common, except that candidates appearing for the OTA are exempted from taking the Mathematical Section.

Syllabus for CDS English
- Vocabulary: Covering basic grammar, sentence completion, Synonyms and Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases
- Reading Passage: Reading comprehension, Para jumbles, etc.
- Grammar: Active and Passive voice, Direct and Indirect Speech, Transformation of sentences, error spotting, Cloze test, etc.
Syllabus for CDS General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
- History
- Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Economic and Social Development
- Science and Technology
- Environmental Ecology and Biodiversity
- Defence and Security Issues
Syllabus for CDS Mathematics
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Statistics
- Profit and Loss
- Simple Interest
- Compound Interest
- Percentage
- Time, Speed and Distance
- Data Interpretation
- Ration and Proportion
CDS Interview Stage

Candidates who cleared the written examination are called for intelligence and personality tests by the Service Selection Board (SSB). The interview consists of two stages and an extensive process that prolongs for 5 long days.
- Stage 1: This stage tests the officer's intelligence gauging their description ability and picture perception.
- Stage 2: It involves officers undergoing several activities including psychology tests, group discussion and group tasks, interviews and conferences.
The final stage of the CDS is the medical examination which candidates must qualify for the parameters of being physically and mentally fit and must not have any syndromes, disabilities or diseases. The final merit list is announced by the UPSC taking into account all the scores in written tests, interviews and medical examinations.

Eligibility to the CDS Examination

Educational Qualification:
- For IMA and OTA: Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university
- For INA: Degree in Engineering from a recognized university
- For AFA: Bachelor in Engineering or Bachelor's Degree with Maths and Physics at 10+2
Gender: Both male and female candidates can go for OTA, but INA, IMA and AFA are limited to male candidates.

Age Limit: 19 to 25 years

Marital Status:
- OTA: Married or Unmarried
- AFA, IMA and INA- Unmarried
Entering the defence service takes effort, hard work and physical fitness, apart from other conditions of eligibility. Candidates may pursue any of the routes - NDA or CDS that suit their goals and eligibility. We have outlined all the necessary information for each path. Choose the track suitable to you and start preparing.