NDA SSB Interview: Dates, Eligibility & Medical Standards

National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is one of the most difficult tests taken in India which is required to join the Navy, Army or Air Force. NDA candidates fill out the application form each year. The written exam and the SSB interview are the major stages of the NDA selection procedure. The SSB interview (NDA) process is only open to those who pass the written exam. Aspirants can check the detailed topic-wise NDA syllabus and exam pattern on the link provided.  

After completing the written exam based on an entrance exam, a candidate would be chosen from the merit list based on the candidate’s academic records for the next round, which is the SSB interview. A candidate’s abilities are evaluated at an SSB Interview, also known as a Service Selection Board Interview, on a combination of their mental, physical, psychological and group activity-based skills. The Service Selection Board (SSB) procedure takes place over the course of five days.

Most applicants are unable to pass the NDA SSB interview even after completing the written test. To help all the aspirants for the Defense exams, we have provided all the required information regarding the SSB interview in the given article.

Details of the NDA Notification 2023 page are given here. Interested candidates can check the detailed notification of the NDA 1 2023 exam in the linked article.

NDA Exam: Overview

• For admission to the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy, the UPSC holds a national-level entrance exam which is known as the NDA (National Defence Academy).
• The candidate is required set of documents for the Service Selection Board (SSB) NDA exam interview, which must be presented at the time of the interview for document verification and other formalities.
• The primary goal of the NDA selection process is to assess candidates for the necessary aptitude that the Indian Army, Indian Air Force or Indian Navy Services require in their Commissioned Officers.
• The NDA 1 SSB interviews will be held after the first phase of the exam, a written exam, which will be held on April 16, 2023. The final merit list will be prepared following the conclusion of the NDA 1 SSB interviews. The NDA 2 written exam is scheduled for September 3, 2023. Following the release of the results, the board will conduct the NDA 2 SSB interview in 2023. Upon the completion of the NDA 2 SSB interviews, the final merit list will be compiled. 

Candidates can go through preparation strategies for competitive exams to do diligent preparation for the examination.

NDA Exam: Eligibility

Entering the Indian army as an officer is a technical entry, it is called a TES entry. The TES stands for Technical Entry Scheme. TES is a chance for applicants to join the technical branch of the Indian army after completing their 10+2 exams, although depending on the vacancies, they may also choose to join other branches such as infantry, artillery, etc. The TES stands for Technical Entry Scheme. The TES is similar to UES & TGC entry for the Indian army, except applicants for UES & TGC must have completed their engineering from outside.

Eligibility requirements for 10+2 TES entry in the Indian Army are discussed briefly in the section below. 

• Nationality: To be eligible, a candidate must be either an Indian citizen.
• Age Limit: The candidates must be between the age of 16.5 years and 19.5 years.
• Education: Only candidates who have successfully completed the 10+2 Exam, or its equivalent, with a minimum cumulative score of 70% in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from an accredited educational board are eligible to submit an application for this exam.

Detailed NDA eligibility criteria are given in the linked article.

NDA SSB Interview Exam Dates

The schedule for NDA 1 and NDA 2 written exams has been announced for the year 2023, but the SSB interview dates are not yet announced. Once the SSB interview dates are announced, the space will be updated accordingly. 

Find the dates of the NDA SSB interview in the table given below:

Visit NDA Books for a detailed list of books required to prepare for the exam, in the linked attached.

NDA Written Exam

For the National Defence Academy’s Army, Navy and Air Force wings, the UPSC holds the NDA 2023 national-level entrance exam twice a year for eligible candidates. The subjects for the written exam, the time allotted and the maximum marks given to each subject are given below:

Details of NDA Result are available in the article linked here. 

NDA SSB Interview: Overview

The NDA SSB is established by the Indian Ministry of Defense (Service Selection Board). The NDA SSB is the body in charge of planning, organising, and holding the SSB interviews for candidates to the Indian Armed Forces. There are a total of 13 SSBs set up across the country for the selection process for the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy Services (4). The NDA SSB centres will conduct the organisation of this interview designated by NDA SSB.

The Service Selection Board’s objective is to evaluate candidates’ aptitude during the five-day NDA Selection Process and determine whether candidates possess the level of intelligence needed for officers in the Indian Armed Forces. 

Each candidate is examined by three distinct examiners interviewing officer, the group testing officer, and the psychologist—before each examiner makes their own conclusion. Moreover, an intelligence and personality exam will be part of the NDA SSB interview in 2023. Candidates applying to the Air Force must independently meet the requirements for the CPSS and PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test).

Check details related to Government exams after 12th in the given link. 

NDA SSB Interview Selection Procedure

The NDA SSB interview process is divided into two stages: Stage 1 and Stage 2. Only stage 1 qualifiers are permitted to appear for stage 2. The full procedure is outlined below:

• Stage 1: This level consists of the PP & DT and OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating) examinations (Picture Perception & Description Test). It is a screening test. The OIR Test, PP & DT and combined performance of the candidates will be used to shortlist final candidates.
• Stage 2: This stage lasts for four days. Stage 2 includes conferences, interviews, GTO Tasks (Group Testing Officer Tasks), and psychology tests.

Detailed information about these 5 days is covered in the sections below.

• Reporting Day (Day 0): The duty GTO provides them with an initial briefing that covers the testing schedule, dos and don’ts and other important information. The candidates are then required to complete a Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ) form.

• • Day 1: Screening Tests: Three tests are used in screening. They are given below,

• Picture Perception & Description Test (PPDT): A projection test, or P.P.D.T., is a part of the screening. The candidates presented a blurry image for 30 seconds. They must then compose a story in 3 minutes while considering the fundamental seven criteria, 

• • • • Mood
      • Character
      • Age
      • Sex
      • Future (what will he do)
      • Present (what is going on in the story)
      • Past (what he did)

• Tests: Verbal & Non-Verbal: Questions on both verbal and non-verbal reasoning can be found on this test. 50 to 60 verbal questions must be answered in 30 minutes, while roughly 50 non-verbal questions must be answered in 40 minutes. Topics like series, the odd one out, speed/distance/time, and blood ties are the subjects of verbal quizzes. Non-verbal examples include viewing the image, seeing a mirror image of it, and experiencing picture distortion.

• Day 2: Psychological Test

A psychological exam is a tool for tracking candidates’ varied behavioural and emotional responses. During the SSB, candidates must pass the following four psychological exams, which are described below:

• Day 3: Group Task

It comprises of nine various examinations that must be taken in groups and are administered by the group testing officer over a period of two days. These exams consist of both interactive indoor and outdoor activities that require both mental and physical effort. The nine tests are listed below in the sequence they are to be administered.

• Group Discussion: In this test, a group of candidates is presented with a certain scenario or topic (often one related to current events). They are expected to talk about various aspects of the problem. It is not a formal debate, but rather a conversation. 20 minutes are allotted for each topic. It is not necessary to draw a firm conclusion when discussing. Throughout the group discussion, the Group Task Officer monitors each candidate.

• • Group planning exercise (Military Planning Exercise): In the group planning exercise, also known as the military planning exercise, candidates are exposed to a simulation of actual practical situations. They must put their strategy in writing for solving the cited issue. It is essential to outline the group’s answer and to draw a firm conclusion. It consists of five stages: 
    • A model explanation, 
    • A GTO reading of the narrative, 
    • Five minutes for candidates to read the passages aloud to themselves, 
    • Ten minutes for each candidate to write their own written answers, and
    • Twenty minutes for a group discussion. 

• Progressive Group Task: During a GTO interview, this is the first outside task. Four obstacles are to be completed in a series of four in 40 to 50 minutes, with the level of difficulty increasing. The group is given structures, assisting materials and loads. In this test, a group of candidates must overcome difficulties while using a variety of aids, including a rope, plank and wood log. 

• • Half Group Task: The group size for this test will be cut in half from that of PGT. Candidates have additional opportunities to showcase their abilities.

• Lecturette: The candidate must present a brief discussion to the group as part of an individual activity. Candidates have three minutes to prepare any one of the four lecture topics listed on the lecturette cards. Candidates’ self-assurance, perspective, and views are some of the requirements for passing this exercise. The lecturette task requires that each participant present a three-minute lecture on a subject of their own choosing.

• Day 4: GTO Session 1
  • Individual Obstacles: TTen obstacles are expected to be handled one at a time. Each obstacle’s point value is indicated by its number, which ranges from one to ten. Three minutes will be allocated to each person to complete the obstacles.
  • Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race): The fourth activity requires all groups to compete in a race while pulling a rolled-up tent that resembles a snake over a sequence of six obstacles. 
  • Command Task: In this stage, a candidate will serve as a commander. With the assistance of two or three subordinates, he will be required to overcome some obstacles. This task is administered prior to FGT in order to assess candidate competence. Candidates are allowed to pick two people from the group. The obstacle must be cleared in the specified time and using the available resources.
  • Final Group Task: This round is comparable to that of PGT. Candidates get another chance to show their potential. There is just one obstacle. A 5 foot long Fatta, a balli, a latha, a steel pipe, two ropes, and a 5 kilogramme load are given to each group. This task has a time limit of 15 to 20 minutes. The SSB GTO job comes to a close with this task.

The interview with the candidate will take place the same day. It includes a one-on-one interview with a recruiting officer. The interview lasts about 35 to 40 minutes. 

Day 5: Conference / Final Selection: The last day schedule invilvesthe following stages: 

• Closing address by Deputy President of the Board
• Conference
• Announcement of results
• Dispersal

On the final day, all the NDA SSB board members gather with the candidates and have a conversation with them to ask some general questions. The purpose of the conference is to simply make a recommendation for an officer position in the Indian Defense Forces. The entire Board of Examiners, which consists of the President, Deputy President, all of the psychologists & technical officers and all of the GTOs, will evaluate candidates.

This brings the interview process to a close by highlighting the candidate’s overall conduct, thought process and words. Prior to the merit list, candidates are sent for a medical exam.

After the board meeting is over, the NDA SSB result will be made public in an hour. The chosen candidates go through an extra three to five days of medical tests. The final merit list will be released after the candidate passes their medical examination.

Aspirants of the NDA 2023 exam and other government examinations can check the given links for assistance – 

• Government Exam Free Online Mock Tests
• Government Exam Previous Year Question Papers

NDA SSB Medical Requirements

If a candidate is not physically and medically fit, they cannot be selected for the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force. So, it is advised for candidates to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy through exercise in addition to studying diligently for the exams in order to pass the physical and medical tests.

Following are the physical conditions which candidates must meet in order to be selected for the NDA exam.

Vision Standards: The following standards must be met in order to qualify the medical examination for the NDA exam.

Height and Weight: The recommended weight and height are listed below:

Note: 

• Chest Dimensions: It’s important to have a well-developed chest. No less than 81 cm should be measured for a completely extended chest. After full inspiration, the minimum expansion should be 5 cm.
• Where the Medical Board confirms that the candidate is likely to grow and come up to the requisite standard after completing his training, the height relaxable up to 2.5 cm may be allowed.
• A minimum height of 157 cms is permitted (and 162.5 cms. for Air Force). 
• The minimum permissible height will be 5 cm less for Gorkhas and people from the hills of North-Eastern India, including Garhwal and Kumaon. 
• The minimum height that is permissible for candidates from Lakshadweep can be lowered by 2 cm. 

For better exam preparation, it is advised to take the NDA mock test and practice previous years’ NDA papers. Checking the government exam’s previous year’s questions will help the candidates with a good score.

Indian Army TES Entry Training

After the candidates qualify both the written exam and the SSB interview, candidates are given training of 5 years. The details of the training are given below:

• One year of basic Military Training is given at the Officer Training Academy Gaya.
• After one year cadets are sent for Technical Training which includes two phases: 
  • Phase-I (Pre Commission Training): 3 Years (CME Pune or MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad), 
  • Phase-II (Post Commission Training): 1 year at CME Pune or MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad.
• Award of Degree: After successfully completing the training described above, the cadets will be given an Engineering degree. It is to be noted that the cadets will not be eligible for any ante-date seniority preference due to their engineering degree.
  • If any candidate fails to qualify for the following year’s examination, it will result in loss of seniority for the period of delay in passing the Engineering degree examination. If candidates fail to qualify within 3 years of commissioning, their commission will be terminated.
• Commissioning: Cadets will be awarded a permanent commission in the Army with the rank of Lieutenant after completing the four-year course.
• Seniority: Cadets will be given seniority based on the combined order of merit from the three technical institutes, i.e., CME, MCEME, and MCTE, and if their commissioning date falls on the same day as the IMA, Dehradun, they will be placed in the block just below IMA (NDA or ACC or DE Course).

The detailed rank-wise NDA Salary, allowances, perks and other monetary benefits accredited to NDA Officers are given in detail in the article linked above.

Aspirants of other exams conducted by UPSC can go through the given links for assistance-