Career guidance › After 12th

National Defence Academy (NDA) and defence entry after 12th

Competitive exam

NDA trains young people for officer careers in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Selection is by a written exam and an SSB interview. Medical fitness matters.

Who can join

12th pass. Army wing: any stream. Air Force and Naval wings: Physics and Maths. Age limits and gender rules are set in each UPSC notification.

Courses and options inside this path

• NDA (Army, Navy, Air Force)
• Naval Academy entries (10+2 Cadet Entry)

Entrance exams and entry routes

• NDA and NA exam by UPSC – official site

What you can do after this

• Commissioned officer in the armed forces
• Free training and a degree through the academy

Next steps

1. Read the UPSC NDA notification for age, eligibility and dates.
2. Start physical fitness training and prepare for the written exam.
3. Learn about the SSB interview process on the official defence recruitment sites.

Official links

• UPSC
• Join Indian Army
• Join Indian Navy
• Indian Air Force

Fees change every year and differ by college and state, so they are not listed here. Check the fee structure on the official admission site before you decide. Career guidance on this page is general information compiled from official sources and is not a substitute for the official notification of an exam, college or scheme. Dates, eligibility and fees change every year. Always confirm on the official link before you pay or apply.

Frequently asked questions

Related options

• Armed forces entry as a soldier or sailor (Agniveer and other direct entries)