The NDA Exam is conducted in two stages—written exam and SSB Interview. Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks in the written exam are only eligible to appear for the SSB Interview. The candidates selected for Services Selection Board are to take Intelligence and Personality Test.
In SSB Interview, candidates for the Army/Navy wings of the NDA and 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) will be evaluated on Officers Potentiality and for the Air Force candidates, in addition to the above (after qualifying SSB) will have to qualify Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS).
After conducting NDA Entrance Exam i.e. written test and SSB test, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) prepares a single list of qualified candidates on the basis of total marks secured in the Written Examination and the Services Selection Board Test.
The final selection of eligible candidates for admission to the Army, Navy, Air Force of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme of Indian Naval Academy (INA) is done according to the available vacancies, medical fitness and merit-cum-preference of the candidates. The qualified candidates who are eligible for multiple Services/Courses will be considered for selection/allocation with reference to their preferences or order and in the event of their final allocation/selection they will not be considered for admission to other remaining Services/Courses.