NATIONAL DEFENSE

ACADEMY
‘सेवा परमो धमम’
{Service Before Self}
THE ROOTS OF
NDA
After the independence of
India in Aug. 1947, the
Chiefs of Staff Committee
immediately initiated an
action plan in late 1947 to
commission a permanent
defense academy . The
foundation stone for the
academy was laid by
then Prime Minister of
India, Jawaharlal Nehru on
THE CAMPUS
The NDA campus is
located about 17 km
southwest of Pune city,
north-west of
Khadakwasla Lake. It
spans 7,015 acres. The
building is a 3-storey
basalt and granite
structure constructed with
Jodhpur red sandstone.
Its architecture features
an exterior design
testing, team skills as well as
ADMISSION
physical and social skills, along
with medical tests. About
4,50,000 applicants sit for each
written exam. About 320 cadets
are accepted to the academy
each semester. About 70
cadets are accepted for the Air
Force, 42 for the Navy and 208
for the Army. Cadets who are
accepted and successfully
complete the program are sent
to their respective training
academies for one year of
training before granting of
commission.
study. Academic studies are
ACADEMICS
split into three categories,
the Compulsory Course,
the Foundation Course and
the Optional Course. Cadets
spend the first four semesters
on the Compulsory
Course and the Foundation
Course. They take
the Optional Course during the
fifth and sixth semesters. They
may transfer to other Service
academies for the optional
courses.
and physical robustness,
TRAINING
leadership and a sense of keen
observation. Life in NDA is all
about learning discipline and
adhering self improvement. NDA
has an excellent infrastructure for
all-round training of cadets and a
vast array of facilities like spacious
and well-maintained classrooms,
well-equipped labs, two Olympic
size swimming pools, a
gymnasium, 32 football fields, 2
polo grounds, a cricket stadium
and a number of squash and tennis
courts. The academic year is
divided into two terms, viz. Jan to
May and July to Dec.
while No. 5 has 2 squadrons. A
SQUADRONS
Squadron comprisingANDa healthy and
wide-ranging mixture of cadets from
BATTALIONS
diverse backgrounds and varying
abilities is a veritable melting pot,
where the bonds of camaraderie are
forged. The Squadron spirit is
inculcated and nurtured throughout the
cadet's stay. The prestigious Inter
Squadron Championship Trophy
awarded to the best Squadron
epitomizes the pinnacle of teamwork
and team spirit. The rudimentary import
of the NDA's motto "Service before
Self" is first taught in the environs of the
Squadron, where a cadet learns the
importance of putting the Squadron's
requirements well above his own.
Cadets are taught subjects such as
SERVICE
Tactical Training, Weapon Training,
Map Reading, Military Writing,
TRAINING
Field Engineering, Organization
and Administration and Radio
Telephony
Navy : The major emphasis is laid
on Navigation, Seamanship and
Communication. . Practical
instructions are imparted in the
Watermanship training Centre.
Air Force: The Air Force Training
Team aims at training Air Force
cadets in the basics of military
aviation through ground training
and flying training.
ALUMNI
record of numerous gallantry
awards and achieving
3 Param Vir Chakras,
31 Maha Vir Chakras,
160 Vir Chakra, 11 Ashok
Chakras, 40 Kirti
Chakras and 135 Shaurya
Chakras. 11 Chiefs of Army
Staff, 10 Chiefs of Naval
Staff and 4 Chiefs of Air
Staff of the Indian Armed
Forces have been NDA
alumni.