Women to sit for the NDA entrance this year: What’s it all about?

Many patriotic, bright young Indian students want to serve the country, not just as a soldier, but as an officer too. While a career in the armed forces mean a lot of danger, it’s also means life-long privileges and entitlements. The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the country’s premier education centre for this. So far, it was open only for boys. The first batch of girls would be allowed to sit for exams in November 2021, creating history. In fact, the Supreme Court quashed a central government request in September 2021 to stop girls form taking the exam.  

How can one enter NDA?  
Entrance exams for admission in NDA are held every year in March and November. The qualifying age is 16 to 19, and minimum qualification is passing class 12. For Air Force and Navy, Physics and Math at high school level are compulsory. After completing the 3 year course from NDA, candidates go to respective training centres at the IMA for 1 year of specialisation. Cadets begin their army career as Captain, Lieutenant, and Flight Lieutenant. In 2020, 335 cadets, including 226 Army, 44 Naval and 65 Air Force cadets, passed out of NDA.  

What is the history of NDA and why is it so important?  
Established in 1954, the National Defence Academy was the first tri-service academy in the world where a country’s army, navy and air force cadets could train together before specialising in their respective service academies. More interestingly, it was funded by the army itself.  

In 1941, Lord Linlithgow, the then Viceroy of India, received 1,00,000 pounds as a gift from the Sudanese government for the contribution of Indian troops in the liberation of Sudan. The British government created a plan for forming an institution for training officers of the armed forces jointly. After independence, work continued under the new Indian government. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of the NDA at Khadakwasla, Pune on October 6, 1949. The first batch of 190 elite cadets started training from January 11, 1949.  

NDA has now grown to more than 300 seats. NDA has produced 27 Chiefs of armed forces till date. In short, it’s the pinnacle of army education in our country.