NDA stands for National Defence Academy. It is the tri-service academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together before they go to respective service academies for further pre-commissioning training. The NDA is located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra and is the first tri-service academy in the world.
History of NDA
The National Defence Academy was established in 1954, by an Act of Parliament. It was set up by the Indian government to give youth of the country an opportunity to serve the nation. The NDA is the first tri-service academy in the world. The Academy was inaugurated by late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 07 Dec 1954.
Admission to NDA
The admission to NDA is through an All India Competitive Examination conducted by UPSC twice a year. The Competition is open to all Male Indian Citizens, and selected citizens of Nepal and Bhutan. To be eligible, a candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination from any recognized board. The age limit to appear in NDA is 16.5 to 19.5 years.
Courses Offered by NDA
The National Defence Academy offers various courses in the field of Defence and Security Studies. The courses are divided into two categories- Undergraduate and Postgraduate. The Undergraduate courses include Bachelor of Technology (BT), Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc). The Postgraduate courses include Master of Technology (MT) and Master of Science (MSc).
Training at NDA
The training at NDA is conducted in two phases- Pre-Commission Training and Commissioned Training. The Pre-Commission Training is a three year course. In this course, the cadets are trained in military skills, physical fitness and academics. The Commissioned Training is a one year course. This course is designed to prepare the cadets to be commissioned as Officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
Facilities at NDA
The National Defence Academy provides various facilities to its cadets. These include hostel facilities, sports facilities, medical facilities, mess facilities, recreational facilities and library facilities.
Conclusion
The National Defence Academy is the first tri-service academy in the world. It offers various courses in the field of Defence and Security Studies. The cadets at NDA are given rigorous training in military skills, physical fitness and academics. It also provides various facilities to its cadets like hostel facilities, sports facilities, medical facilities, mess facilities, recreational facilities and library facilities.
