What is the Difference between and AFCAT and NDA entry ?
1. What is AFCAT and NDA?
AFCAT means Air Force Common Admission Test through this exam an aspirant can join Air Force’s flying branch, as techie or in ground duty branch as an officer. Here both male and female candidate can apply. Examination is conduct twice in a year.
NDA (National Defence Academy) in this exam only male candidates can apply. An aspirant can join any of the wing (Air Force, Army, Navy) as per choice, merit and vacancy. Here the candidate will get bachelor degree in arts, science (maths, chemistry, physics and computer science) and humanities arts
Education Qualification: This entry requirement is graduate from recognise university with BSc, BE, B Tech passed with securing 60% and 10+2 passed with maths and physics.
2. Eligibility Criteria for AFCAT and NDA
Eligibility for AFCAT
Technical Branch: Candidates would be eligible if they have undergone a minimum of four year degree qualification from a recognised University or cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies. Candidates should have studied minimum 8 subjects mentioned here.
Flying Branch: Graduates (Minimum three year degree course) in any discipline from a recognised University who have attained minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together and have passed Maths and Physics at 10+2 level or BE / B Tech degree (Four year course) from a recognised University with minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.
GDOC: Graduate Degree (Minimum three year degree course) in any discipline with a minimum of 60%marks in aggregate of all papers put together or a Post Graduate Degree / equivalent Diploma in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate of all papers put together. For Education Branch, Post Graduate Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate of all papers put together.
Eligibility Criteria NDA
Educational Qualification: 10+2 passed with maths and physics for Air Force and for Navy with 70%. For army 10+2 require from any stream with 70% other information www.nda.nic.in
a citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Bhutan, or
(iii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iv) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
(v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
Certificate of eligibility will not, however, be necessary in the case of candidates
(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University
(ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University
Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination
3.Age Criteria for AFCAT and NDA
Age Criteria for AFCAT
Flying Branch – Age: 20 to 24 years as on 01 Jan 2018 i.e. Born between 02 Jan 1994 to 01 Jan 1998 (both dates inclusive). (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and Current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable up to 26 years i.e. born between 02 Jan 1992 to 01 Jan 1998 (both dates inclusive).
Technical Branch– Age: 20 to 26 years as on 01 Jan 2018 i.e. born between 02 Jan 1992 to 01 Jan 1998 (both dates inclusive).
GDOC– Age: 20 to 26 years as on 01 Jan 2018 i.e. born between 02 Jan 1992 to 01 Jan 1998 (both dates inclusive).
Age Criteria for NDA
Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02nd July 1999 and not later than 01st July 2002 are eligible
4. Exam pattern for AFCAT and NDA
AFCAT exam pattern
AFCAT exam pattern consists of a single paper which comprises of English, GA, Mathematics and reasoning making a total of 100 questions to be done in 2 hours.
CDS Exam Pattern
Paper 1- Mathematics Duration 2.5 hours Marks allotted -300
Paper 2- General Ability Test 2.5 hours Marks allotted – 600
General Ability Test
Part A – English – 200 marks
Bart B – General Knowledge – 400 marks
5. When to the AFCAT and NDA results come out
AFCAT Results
AFCAT results are declared within a month of conduction of exam i.e. for AFCAT 1 by end of March and for AFCAT 2 by the end of September after which the qualified candidates are called for SSB’s.
NDA Results
Usually NDA written exam results are declared after 90 Days / 3 Month from day of conduct of exam on upsc web portal.
6. When is the AFCAT and NDA exam conducted
AFCAT Exams
AFCAT 1 is conducted in the last week of February and AFCAT 2 in the last week of August
NDA Exam
NDA Exam is conducted twice a year.
The notification comes out in the months of Dec-Jan and May-June and the exam is conducted in the months of April and September.
For detailed info, visit upsc.gov.in
7. When does the notification for AFCAT and NDA exams come
For AFCAT
For AFCAT 1 the notification comes in the first week of December and lasts for a month. For AFCAT 2 notification comes in first week of June and applications are accepted for a month
For NDA
NDA & NA exam is conducted twice a year.
The notification comes out in the months of Dec-Jan and May-June and the exam is conducted in the months of April and September.