NDA Exam Syllabus

NDA means National Defense Academy. Both boys and girls are permitted to write NDA examinations.

(i) 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.
(ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence
Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian
Naval Academy :—12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and
Mathematics of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent
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 for this examination.

Physical Standards:
Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards
for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy
Examination.

TWO-STAGE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Two-stage selection procedure based on Psychological Aptitude
Test and Intelligence Test has been introduced at Selection
Centres/Air Force Selection Boards/Naval Selection Boards. All
the candidates will be put to stage-one test on first day of reporting
at Selection Centres/Air Force Selection Boards/Naval Selection
Boards. Only those candidates who qualify at stage one will be
admitted to the second stage/remaining tests. 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 pass certificate or equivalent in support of
educational qualification.

To be acceptable, candidates for the Army/Navy/Naval Academy
and Air Force should secure the minimum qualifying marks
separately in (i) Written examination as fixed by the Commission at
their discretion and (ii) Officer Potentiality Test as fixed by the
Services Selection Board at their discretion. Over and above
candidates for the Air Force, and all the SSB qualified candidates
as per their willingness, eligibility and preference for flying branch
of Air Force, should separately qualify the CPSS.

B. SYLLABUS OF THE EXAMINATION
PAPER-I
MATHEMATICS
(Code No. 01)
(Maximum Marks-300)

  1. ALGEBRA
    Concept of set, operations on sets, Venn diagrams.
    De Morgan laws, Cartesian product, relation, equivalence relation.
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    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 of
    triangles.
  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 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, Standard 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.
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  6. INTEGRAL CALCULUS AND DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS :
    Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by
    substitution and by parts, standard integrals involving algebraic
    expressions, trigonometric, exponential and hyperbolic functions.
    Evaluation of definite integrals—determination 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 equations, solution of first order
    and first degree differential equations of various types—examples.
    Application in problems of growth and decay.
  7. VECTOR ALGEBRA :
    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
    geometrical problems.
  8. STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY :
    Statistics : Classification of data, Frequency distribution,
    cumulative frequency distribution—examples. Graphical
    representation—Histogram, Pie Chart, frequency polygon—
    examples. Measures 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 statistical—examples. Elementary
    theorems on probability—simple problems. Conditional probability,
    Bayes’ theorem—simple problems. Random variable as function on
    a sample space. Binomial 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 of English and workman like use of
    words. The syllabus covers various aspects like : Grammar and
    usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion in extended text
    to test the candidate’s proficiency in English.
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    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
    Laws 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. Sound waves and their properties, Simple
    musical instruments. Rectilinear propagation of Light, Reflection
    and refraction. Spherical mirrors and Lenses, Human Eye.
    Natural and Artificial Magnets, Properties of a Magnet,
    Earth as a Magnet.
    Static and Current Electricity, conductors and Nonconductors, 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; Lightening 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 Carbondioxide, Oxidation and Reduction. Acids,
    bases and salts. Carbon—different forms. Fertilizers—Natural and
    Artificial. Material used in the preparation of substances like Soap,
    Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches and Gun-
    25
    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. Constituents 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 India. Panchayati Raj, Co-operatives 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. Lattitudes 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 India. 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.
    26
    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 Sections ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ will carry
    approximately 25%, 15%, 10%, 20%, 20% and 10% weightages
    respectively.
    Intelligence and Personality Test
    The SSB procedure consists of two stage Selection process
  • stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I
    are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are :
    (a) Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are
    Picture Perception * Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates
    will be shortlisted based on combination of performance in OIR
    Test and PP&DT.
    (b) Stage II Comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks,
    Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conducted
    over 4 days. The details of these tests are given on the website
    joinindianarmy.nic.in.
    The personality of a candidate is assessed by three
    different assessors viz. The Interviewing Officer (IO), Group
    Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist. There are no separate
    weightage for each test. The mks are allotted by assessors only
    after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate
    holistically in all the test. In addition, marks for Conference are
    also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in
    the three techniques and decision of the Board. All these have
    equal weightage.
    The various tests of IO, GTO and Psych are designed to
    bring out the presence/absence of Officer Like Qualities and their
    trainability in a candidate. Accordingly candidates are
    Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.