WHAT YOU NEED DO TO JOIN THE NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY:

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An officer’s day begins very early, says Group Captain R.K. Das, a cadet of the 1977 batch at the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadhakwasla, Pune. Physical training (PT), then a parade. A proper British breakfast and then to office to tackle some paperwork. Most of the work is completed by noon when it is time to head home or to the regimental mess for lunch. Afternoons are reserved for playing the sport of your choice. And in the evening, the officers congregate at the club.

If you are punctual, organised and disciplined, a career in the armed forces makes sense. And if adventure sports is your passion, you’ll get all the infrastructure and encouragement to pursue it. After all, risk is an integral part of army life. The first step to becoming an officer in the defence services, is three rigorous years at the NDA.

Those were the best years of his life, says Das who is now the chief public relations officer, ministry of defence. He had to slog from early morning till late in the evening. There was never a moment to spare. From academics to group tasks to intricate problem solving — it was one hell of a roller-coaster ride. “It wasn’t all work. River rafting, parajumping, horse riding, shooting and trekking spiced up our lives,” says Das.

Since its inception in 1949, many have walked through the hallowed portals of the academy and blazed a trail of glory as military leaders. So what makes it one of the most sought after institutions in the country? “At NDA, one gets to experience something which one cannot find elsewhere. The constant pressure on an individual to perform several tasks within the stipulated time teaches one how to manage time. The rigorous routine teaches one to be disciplined. The training ensures no one passes out without excelling, mentally and physically. The academic curriculum is set in such a way that not only is the chosen subject taught in detail but a foundation is laid in all the courses offered,” says cadet Gaurav Hridaya.

“The opportunities offered are enough to make one a jack of all trades as well as a master of some. The training at NDA doesn’t just make one a complete individual but also teaches camaraderie, leadership and chivalry, qualities expected of any service officer,” he adds.

But how does one get into NDA? Only male applicants who have passed Class XII and are between the age of 16 and a half and 19 can appear for the exam. Those who have appeared in the Class XII examination are also eligible to apply. Advertisements for admission to the academy appear twice a year — in March or April and October or November. The process of selection is divided into three phases.

The written examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Those who pass the written exam are called for an interview conducted by the Service Selection Board (SSB). Shortlisted candidates have to then undergo a medical examination carried out by the service medical board.

The written examination is of five hours’ duration. It comprises mathematics and a general ability test (two and a half hours each). The total marks allotted to mathematics is 300 and for general ability, 600. In the mathematics paper, questions are asked from arithmetic, mensuration, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics. The general ability paper consists of English (maximum marks 200) and general knowledge (maximum marks 400). Questions are asked from physics, chemistry, general science, history, the freedom movement, geography and current events.

“Any one who is good in mathematics, physics and chemistry is likely to crack the exam. All the questions are objective type and are of Class X to XI level. Since the questions do not require any problem-solving ability, students from any stream can take a shot at the exam. I have come across hotel management students who have cracked the test,” says Group Captain Das.

Major General (retired) M.P.S. Kandal, an NDA alumni and director of C.S. Institute of Defence Management, Bhopal, says three to four months’ intensive preparation is required to crack the exam. “It is better to get admitted to a coaching institute and appear in regular mock tests as it prepares you for the rigours of the five-hour examination. Also, it is necessary to practise solving question papers of the last seven to eight years,” he says.

“The exam is obviously tough as around 8,000 out of 2,00,000-odd examinees are shortlisted for interviews. From them, around 300 make it to the final list,” he adds.

After the written test is the interview, spread over five days. “The interview is basically a personality test which tries to assess a candidate’s intellectual and leadership quality. A candidate’s team spirit and his attitude to prevailing situations are taken note of,” says Major General Kandal.

The first stage of the interview is the screening process. It is a rough and ready check to assess a candidate’s suitability for a career in the army. The second stage comprises a psychology test, which involves a thematic appreciation test (it assesses the outlook of a candidate through his responses to pictures or slides), word association test (this attempts to gauge the psychological make-up of the candidate on the basis of his response to words in everyday usage), situation-reaction test (the reaction of the candidates in response to everyday situations is analysed. Certain instances, which may occur in the day-to-day life of ordinary individuals are put to the candidates and they have to give their immediate reaction from among the choices given) and self-description test (candidates have to describe their personality). The next stage, known as group testing officers’ test (held on the third and fourth day), involves a group discussion, group planning exercises, group obstacles race, individual obstacles and command task (this exercise gives candidates an opportunity to assume command and get a task executed with the involvement of group members). On the fifth day, candidates are required to appear before the board of examiners following which the final list is declared. Those selected have to then appear for a medical examination at a military hospital.

“The interview process is such that only the best and the brightest are selected,” says Colonel R.S. Gadhok, a former SSB member and a faculty member of Olive Greens, a Chandigarh-based institute that prepares students for the NDA exam.

“We look for cadets who can be moulded into military leaders. And it’s not just leadership that we look for; it is leadership with character and integrity. Every six months we get a batch of 300 cadets after a strenuous selection process. They are turned into officers through a gradual approach,” says Air Marshal T.S. Randhawa, commandant, NDA.

Following a candidate’s selection in one of the three services — army, navy and air force, he is given preliminary training, both academic and physical, for a period of three years at NDA. The training during the first two and a half years is common to the cadets of the three wings. All the cadets who join the NDA are trained at the academy for three years, leading to a graduate degree (BA, BSc or BSc in computer science) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

On passing out from NDA, army cadets go to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, naval cadets to INS Cochin, the cadets’ training ship, and air force cadets to the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.

At the IMA, army cadets are known as gentleman cadets. They are given strenuous military training for a period of one year to train them as officers capable of leading infantry sub-units. On successful completion of their training, the cadets are granted a permanent commission in the rank of lieutenants at a salary of around Rs 28,000.

On passing out, naval cadets are selected for the executive, engineering or electrical branches of the navy, and are given sea training for six months on the cadet training ship, on successful completion of which they are promoted to the rank of midshipmen. After training for another six months, they are promoted to the rank of acting sub-lieutenant.

Air force cadets receive flying training for a period of one and a half years. At the end of a year-long training they are given provisional commission in the rank of pilot officer. After successful completion of further training of six months, they are absorbed as permanent commissioned officers on probation for a period of one year.

Male graduates between 19 and 24 years who wish to join the army can do so through the Combined Defence Services Exam. This examination is conducted by the UPSC twice a year, in May and October, for which a notification is published in November and April, respectively. The written examination comprises English, general knowledge and elementary mathematics. This is followed by interviews conducted by the SSB. Those who pass the interview join the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

The Indian Army also offers a choice to those who aspire to serve it for a few years. It is called the short service commission. Here a person can serve as a commissioned officer for five years. After his tenure is over he can opt for a permanent commission. Alternatively, he can also choose a five-year extension and choose to resign from his post any time during this period.

So if you think you have the strength and courage to become a soldier, just fasten your belt and brace yourself for the road ahead.

Sources: The Telegraph Kolkata, India)