National Defence Academy
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
The training system
The system Examined after cadet deaths, 2025
Deaths In Training in 2025
Oct 23 NDA | Cadet Aditya D Yadav dies during swimming session
Oct 10 NDA | Cadet Antriksh Kumar Singh dies by suicide
Sept 10 IMA | Gentleman Cadet S Balu dies during a swimming session
July 6 OTA-Gaya | Gentleman Cadet Kumbhar Atharv Sambhaji dies during cross country run
May 19 OTA Chennai | Gentleman Cadet Umang Khar dies from a heat stroke
March 28 Naval Academy | Cadet R Rabijith dies during training
Overview
The National Defence Academy (NDA), located in Khadakwasla, Pune, is India’s premier military training institution for cadets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The NDA’s selection and training regimen is widely regarded as among the toughest in the world, with an intake process and a campus culture emphasizing discipline, endurance, and leadership.
Recruitment and Selection System
Entrance and Screening: Nearly 600,000 candidates apply annually, competing for roughly 400 seats. Entry involves clearing a UPSC-conducted written exam, the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview (lasting four days for those who clear initial screening), followed by medical and fitness assessments.
SSB Assessment: SSB evaluations focus on leadership potential, group dynamics, and psychological resilience. Physical tests include individual obstacle courses such as rope climbs and bridge crossings, although determination is sometimes prioritized over absolute physical ability.
Reporting to NDA: Cadets who pass all filters are inducted into specific squadrons at NDA, where their training and education begin.
Training System
Duration and Structure: The academic year is divided into Spring and Autumn terms. Cadets complete six academic and training terms before graduating. Training integrates academics (BA, BSc, or BTech degrees), physical drills, parade routines, and joint-service exposure.
Physical Training: Rigorous daily schedules include physical training (PT), cross-country runs, swimming, weapon handling, endurance exercises, and service-specialized modules such as flying or navigation.
Mentorship and Buddy System: Each fresher (“first-termer”) is mentored by a senior cadet (“overstudy”), under officer supervision. The aim is to help newcomers adjust to the demanding environment and develop resilience through peer guidance.
Progressive Challenges: The first term is notably intense, with a focus on “ragda” (mental and physical hardening). Adjustment difficulties are common, especially among cadets from civilian backgrounds unfamiliar with regimentation.
Problems Facing the NDA Training System
Cadet Deaths and Dropouts: There have been at least nine cadet deaths in the past 20 years, including suicides and accidental deaths during training, with notable recent incidents sparking investigation and introspection. Annual dropout rates have been as high as 16-20%, with many cited as “medically unfit”.
Physical Fitness Assessment Issues: Expert critiques highlight that SSB physical tests are not uniformly scientific, and physical deficiencies overlooked during selection may surface during harsh training, leading to injuries or dropouts.
Pressure and Hazing: The mentor (“buddy”) system, while intended for support, is sometimes reported to cross ethical boundaries, with cases of excessive pressure, humiliation, and encouragement to perform unsafe acts. Informal “unscientific traditions” conducted by senior cadets sometimes lead to physical harm or breakdowns.
Mental Health and Counselling: Psychological tests at SSB are seen as insufficient, and sustained psychological evaluation and support during NDA training are recommended. Cadets from non-military schools face culture shock, and a stigma around counselling inhibits help-seeking.
Grievance and Monitoring: Families of affected cadets often allege inadequate transparency and impartiality in NDA’s investigative responses to untoward incidents.
What NDA says
Mentorship | Cadets follow a clear hierarchy within each squadron, ensuring continuous guidance. Five officers are assigned to every squadron, with officers on site, regularly interacting with cadets
Confidential Grievance Redress To ensure that cadets can raise concerns without fear, NDA runs a confidential Cadet Suggestion Forum — overseen by highest Academy authorities, monitored daily
Psychological Support | Each squadron has two dedicated counsellors, along with service officers who provide additional guidance. This process is monitored by the battalion commander (a colonel-rank officer).
Scientific Training | Training is scientific and progressive, designed for gradual physical and mental conditioning. The routine for first-term cadets is engineered with flexibility to facilitate a smooth settling-in period and reduce stress. Cadets needing extra physical support receive bespoke training.
Languages taught
Urdu/ 2019
September 1, 2019: The Times of India
The National Defence Academy has restarted teaching Army cadets Urdu language in the sixth term.
The language is commonly used in Jammu and Kashmir, where many young officers are posted once they are commissioned into service after completing the one-year advanced military training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
“Three instructors, including a serving officer, are conducting Urdu classes for the cadets. They would mainly focus on basic aspects of the language. The aim behind this move is to reduce dependence on interpreters once they get posted in conflict zones,” Rear Admiral SK Grewal, the deputy commandant of NDA, told TOI.
The academy had started Urdu classes in the past but had to discontinue them owing to administrative constraints. This time, the academy has hired dedicated staffers to conduct the lectures.
