The PRIDE OF INDIAN NATION : Indian Army, Indian Navy & Indian Air Force
If you really have a notion of patriotism in built, you need not have to think beyond joining Indian Armed Forces. A Sense of patriotism towards nation can make you the defender of the nation. Be a savior to the Nation.
The Indian Armed Forces consist of the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. All the three armed forces are unique in serving the nation against foreign invaders and Internal Violence. To join the armed forces one has to take the NDA Entrance Exam at the 10+2 level.
About NDA Entrance Exam:
NDA Entrance Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission is all set to conduct Entrance examination for admission into the 125th Batch of Army and 45th Batch of Navy and Air Force. Those aspiring students, who want to make a career in Armed Forces, may go get your applications and apply for the NDA Entrance Exam which is going to be held on 18th April 2010 for the academic 2010 batch which would commence from December 2010. The Last date for the submission of application form is November 16, 2009.
The Entrance exam is to fulfill approximately 335 seats, out of which 195 are for the Army, 39 for Navy, 66 for the Air Force and 35 for the Executive branch of Naval Academy. The numbers of seats are subjective to change depending upon the provision and the capacity of training available in NDA. NDA Entrance Exam is for 10+2 Level Students.
Eligibility Criterion:
Sex: Males Only
Age: 16 - 19 1/2 YRS AS ON 01-01-2010.(Born between 02 Jan. 1992 & 01 July 1994)
Marital Status: Unmarried
Nationality: A candidate must either be:
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 the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
v. a person of Indian origin who has migrated
from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the 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 candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal
Physical Standards: Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination as per guidelines specified to undergo medical examination by Services Selection Board after qualifying the exam and Intelligence and Personality Test.
The general guidelines are:
(a) The candidate must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/disability which is likely in interfere with the efficient performance of military duties.
(b) There should be no evidence of weak constitution, bodily defects or under weight. The candidate should not be overweight or obese.
(c) The minimum acceptable height is 157.5 cms. (162.5 cms for Air Force).
Qualification: For Army wing of National Defence Academy: - 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 (Executive Branch) 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.
Examination Pattern:
NDA Entrance Exam is a two level examination which consists of
1. Written Test conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)
2. The Interview conducted by SSB (Services Selection Board)
Written Examination: This is the first level of the NDA Entrance Exam which consists of two papers comprising of objective type papers. The Total marks for both the papers are 900, out of which Paper 1 – Mathematics is of 300 and Paper 2 - General Ability Test is of 600. The duration of the each paper is of 2-½ Hours.
The Subjects of Papers:
Paper 1 – Mathematics
Paper 2 – General ability which again has two parts
Part A: English – (200 marks)
Part B: General Knowledge – (400 marks) which has six sections with the break-up of 400 marks:
Section ‘A’: Physics
Section ‘B’: Chemistry
Section ‘C’: General Science
Section ‘D’: History, Freedom Movement etc.
Section ‘E’: Geography
Section ‘F’: Current Events
Out of maximum marks assigned to part
‘B’ of this paper, questions on Sections ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ will carry approximately 25%, 15%, 10%, 20%, 20% and 10% weightages respectively.
If the candidate qualifies in Written Examination he will be called for second level which is the Interview conducted by SSB.
The Interview: After qualifying the written examination conducted by UPSC, SSB will call the qualified candidates for Interview which is an elaborate process of testing psychology, physical fitness, team-spirit etc of the candidate. Total marks on which a candidate is judged 1800: Marks for UPSC NDA Written Test: 900 and Marks for SSB NDA Interview: 900.
Stage 1: Intelligence and personality test: As part of the Interview, the candidates will be put to Intelligence Tests both verbal and non-verbal, designed to assess their basic intelligence. They will also be put to Group Tests 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 caliber of a candidate. In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also his social traits and interests in current affairs.
Stage 2 - Medical Examination is conducted by the Service Medical Board for candidates who are through stage 1.
Those candidates who qualify stage II will be required to submit the original Certificates along with one photocopy each of: (i) original Matriculation pass certificate or equivalent in support of date of birth; (ii) Original 10+2 passes certificate or equivalent in support of educational qualification.
To be acceptable, candidates for the Army/Navy
and Naval Academy have to secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in (i) Written examination and (ii) Officer potentiality test, as fixed by the Commission in their discretion, and candidates for the Air Force should secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in (i) Written examination (ii) Officer potentiality test, and (iii) Pilot Aptitude Test as fixed by the Commission in their discretion.
Subject to these conditions the qualified candidates will then be placed in the final order of merit on the basis of total marks secured by them in the Written examination, and the Services Selection Board Tests in three separate lists-one for the Army and the Navy, the second one for the Air Force and the third for the Course at the Naval Academy.
The names of candidates who qualify for all the Services of NDA and the Naval Academy would appear in all the three Merit Lists. The final selection for admission to the Army and Naval Wings of the National Defence Academy would be made in order of merit up to the number of vacancies available from the merit list for the Army and Naval Wings, for the Air Force Wing from the merit list for the Air Force; and for the Executive Branch of Naval Academy up to the number of vacancies available from the merit list for the Naval Academy, subject to medical fitness and suitability in all other respects.
The candidates who are common to all the three merit lists would be considered for selection from all the three lists with reference to their order of preferences and in the event of their final selection from one list, names will be cancelled from the other lists.
To excel in the NDA Entrance Examination: One has to assure himself a thorough coaching. One of the many prestigious coaching centres in the city is SEA Study Circle which has been imparting coaching to the many career specific aspirants in armed forces.
Let’s speak to the SEA Study Circle, Director, Kishore Balla to give a close picture of NDA Entrance exam and his efforts in shaping up the candidates to build the pride of our nation at his coaching center.
TCG: Your view over NDA Entrance Exam:
Kishore Balla: NDA is a prestigious institution in India. Entrance into this Institution can be compared with that of an IIT entrance. After securing admission in this prestigious institution the individual’s life would not be the same. NDA provides a very successful and fulfilled career to its students who aspire to achieve glorious heights in their career. To get through the NDA entrance conducted by UPSC needs a dedicated and well planned study. This quality in student itself describes about the students ability to get what he wants.
TCG: Why do students choose armed forces against other professions?
Kishore Balla: Career in armed forces is attractive and challenging for youth. Admission into NDA itself means a great opportunity for learning. The student would get phenomenal opportunities to upgrade their skills. Training in NDA and Forces enable the youth to handle any type of difficult situation arising in life or work front boldly and accept the challenges posed by life by itself. While in NDA and after entering into Defence forces the individual is exposed to rather experience: Loyalty, Integrity, Discipline , Healthy work culture , Religion, caste or creed free society , Pollution free life, Very good learning skills which drive the individual always young and energetic unto death , Good listening skills , Leadership qualities , Honour and social responsibility.
TCG: What is the mind set of the students who are appearing for NDA?
Kishore Balla: Basically, students who appear for NDA usually prefer this with either a sense of patriotism towards nation or few are those who get inspired by seeing rescue operations situational scenes depicted in the Cinema or TV serials. Some like to have a gun to save someone around in trouble. By observing a lot of things around and in TV, some develop a sense of heroism.
From then itself they start having a kind of attitude towards being adventurous like the heroes of the film or may be like the rescuer. Basing certain strong characters holding a gun and shooting the enemies make them feel so elated that they feel that they would do when they become young. This is the general mindset and specifically few are more motivated with a strong sense of patriotism and serve nation like their forefathers and great freedom fighters.
TCG: Do you think the awareness of Armed forces as career is in vogue?
Kishore Balla: Yes, of course with IT boom being hit by recession, many are looking for government sector jobs. They feel the most secured job is being in government based employment. Mostly, armed forces where the pay packages as well as the social status they achieve are rewarding. Many are now opting armed forces as their career.
Being army personnel, it gives them an immense pleasure in life. As a savior of the nation, they feel very much proud of themselves. So, many are coming forward to land their career ship in armed forces.
TCG: About Sea Study Circle?
Kishore Balla: Sea Study Circle, started in 2000 is run by Ex-Defence Personnel. It is run by ex-defence personnel which offers result oriented coaching for NDA-I, 2010. The Faculty members are well experienced who have been teaching with us from past 10 to 20 years. Some are even at the age of retirement. The classes and daily tests are conducted regularly.
As for the convenience of the students, we conduct two batches one in the morning and the other in the evening. Students opt either of the batches according to their choice and convenience.
TCG: What if one does not succeed in NDA entrance exam?
Kishore Balla: There are many students who want to make a career in armed forces but due to their restrained time schedule at college they are unable to prepare or go for coaching to appear fir NDA Entrance Exam, which may in turn do not intent them to success, but those who have once appeared for the exam will not hold failure in their arms. He will revert back and climb the success ladder. Those who have gone through the process of the selection, but rejected develop a sense of achieving greater heights in life.
They can complete their graduation and take CDS to join the armed forces. Success is not far away who have gone through the NDA Entrance Exam.
TCG: What is your advice to students those appearing NDA Entrance exam?
Kishore Balla: Rigorous preparation is a must especially in Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Pay more attention on Biology (animal kingdom, diseases and causes and morphology, plant anatomy) Chemistry (chemical analysis, inorganic compounds, concepts of physical chemistry, equilibrium, periodic tables and stress on equivalent weights), Physics (Mechanics, stress on electromagnetism, Thermo dynamics and quantum mechanics) Science: Refer class VIII, XI, X (CBSE) syllabus. For General awareness: Refer The Competition Success Year Book, read daily news papers, listen to English News and improve vocabulary (at least 10 new words a day.)
No previous question is repeated in the test papers. But to get the exam pattern students are advised to go through previous year’s test papers and to get a sense of the exam how it would be and where you could be placed.