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Education Plus
Time to apply for NDA exam
J.S. BABLU
Just finished your Plus Two examination and ready to serve the nation? Take the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy Examination on August 17 for a career in the Army, the Air Force or the Navy as a class 1 commissioned officer.
The Union Public Service Commission normally conducts the examination twice a year. The first this year is being held on April 20 for those who had already applied.
The examination later in the year is for the course starting on June 30, 2009. The number of provisional vacancies is 339 (195 for the Army, 39 for the Navy, 66 for the Air Force and 39 for the executive branch of the Naval Academy). Applicants are required to give their preferences for the service they wish to join. However, the rank they secure in the merit list will decide where they can join.
Examination
The NDA examination comprises a written examination, intelligence tests and group tests. The latter two will be conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB) for candidates who qualify in the written examination. A pilot aptitude test is conducted for Air Force candidates. A candidate who fails in this can never again apply for the Air Force wing.
Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 1990 and not later than January 1, 1993 are eligible to take the examination. The minimum education qualifications needed for the Army wing is pass in 12th class of the 10+2 pattern of school education or equivalent examinations conducted by a State education Board or university. A pass in the 12th class with physics and mathematics is needed for admission to the Air Force and naval wings and the executive branch of the Naval Academy.
Candidates who are appearing for the qualifying examination can also apply.
Applications must reach the Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110 069, by hand or by post/Speed Post or by courier, on or before April 15. However, candidates residing abroad or in certain remote localities can send their applications by post or Speed Post, and not by hand or courier, so as to reach the secretary on or before April 22.
The written examination comprises a mathematics paper of 300 marks and a general ability paper of 600 marks, each of two-and-a-half hours. The questions are objective type. The general ability test consists of English, general knowledge, physics, chemistry, general science, history (Freedom Movement and so on), geography and current events.
For each wrong answer, one-third of a mark will be cut.
The SSB tests span five days. Intelligence tests will have both verbal and non-verbal questions. Group tests comprise group discussions, group planning, outdoor group tasks and brief lectures on specified subjects. These are intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate.
Physical fitness
A candidate recommended by SSB will undergo a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Qualified candidates are sometimes rejected on medical grounds. Candidates are hence advised to get themselves medically examined before submitting their applications to avoid disappointment at the final stage.
The candidate must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease or disability which can interfere with military duties. The minimum height required is 157.5 cm (162.5 cm for the Air Force).
The selected candidates for the three wings are given preliminary training, both academic and physical, for three years at the NDA. On passing out, they will be awarded B.Sc., B.Sc. (computer) and BA degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
The Army cadets then go to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehra Dun, naval cadets to the cadet trainingship and the Air Force cadets to the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.
The Army cadets undergo military training for one year to turn them into officers capable of leading infantry sub-units in the rank of lieutenant.
Naval cadets are selected for the executive, engineering and electrical branches of the Navy and are given sea training on cadet trainingship for six months. On successful completion, they will be promoted to the rank of midshipmen. After further training of six months, they will be promoted to the rank of sub-acting lieutenants.
Air Force cadets receive flying training for a year and a half. After one year, they are given provisional commission in the rank of flying officer and after successful completion of further training of six months, they are absorbed as permanent commissioned officers on probation for a year.
For more details visit www.upsc.gov.in.
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