‘Service Before Self’ – NDA, world’s first tri-services military training academy, turns 68

Pune. With its motto of ‘Service Before Self’, the National Defence Academy at here, the world’s first tri-services training academy, that turned 68 on Jan 16, has emerged as an iconic Military Academy over years, attracting not only the finest young men from all corners of the country but also from friendly foreign countries.

In the seven decades of its glorious existence, the National Defence Academy has grown both in grace and grandeur. From its portals have graduated the ‘The Leaders of the men’, who have proved their worth and have demonstrated the essence of inter-services camaraderie and jointmanship, thereby vindicating the faith and vision of its founding fathers.

The alumni of NDA include 3 Param Vir Chakra recipients and 12 Ashoka Chakra recipients. NDA has also produced 27 Service Chiefs till date.

The current Chiefs of Staff of the Indian Army, General Bipin Pande; Indian Navy, Admiral R. Hari Kumar; and the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Choudhary, are from the same course.

The Supreme Court of India passed an order in August 2021that allowed women candidates to appear for all the upcoming NDA entrance examinations.

The first batch of women cadets is currently undergoing training at the NDA.

National Defence Academy is recognized by the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, since 1973 for the award of B.A./B.Sc./B.Sc (Computer Science) for Army Cadets and B Tech degree for Navy and Air Force Cadets.

Academic excellence is a prerequisite for continued trainability. Academic instruction at the NDA is imparted by qualified and highly motivated Academic officers Civilian and Service Instructors. The curriculum is well-rounded but demanding and is supported by up-to-date libraries and laboratories. The aim is to achieve excellence in academic pursuits without compromising on outdoor activities.

The mission of service training is to provide the highest standards of military training keeping in view the requirements of modern-day warfare, inculcate in cadets qualities of leadership, a desire for self-improvement, and a drive to excel in every sphere; to incorporate a culture of jointmanship in training and promote the spirit of jointmanship in thought, word, and deed; and emphasize on overall personality development of a cadet by inculcating a sense of self-discipline, honor, integrity, camaraderie, and spirit-de-corps.