Education and Career Forum

What is the difference between CDS and NDA? Which one is more preferrable?

Both are same but NDA is intermediate level and CDS is graduate level.

NDA i.e National Defence Academy is conducted by UPSC twice in a year for recruitment of Air Force wings, Naval wings and Army wings.

The minimum academy qualification to apply for this examination is that the candidate should have completed 10+2 pattern from a recognized school or equivalent qualification. Physics or Mathematics are important subjects while applying for Indian Air Force and Naval Academy. Age should be between 16.5 years and 19 years.

CDS i.e CDS Examination is conducted by UPSC twice in a year. The examination will be conducted in the month of February and September for recruitment of Military Academy, Air Force, Naval Academy and Officer Training Academy.

The candidate should have completed degree course in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent qualification. Physics or Mathematics are important subjects while applying for Indian Air Force and Naval Academy. Age should be between 19 years and 25 years. Age limits are differs from service to service.

CDS and NDA are entrance examinations which are conducted by UPSC every year for candidates who are interested to join in Indian Army/Navy/Air Force. Candidates who have completed 12th standard and those who are interested to join in Indian Defense Services are eligible to appear in NDA examination whereas candidates who have completed Graduation or those who have exceeded the maximum age limit required to appear in NDA examination and those are interested to join in Indian Defense Services are eligible to appear in CDS examination.

Differences between CDS and NDA:

There is a huge difference between Combined Defense Services (CDS) and National Defense Academy (NDA) departments.

i) Candidates who have completed Graduate Degree (Bachelor Degree) in respective qualification only are eligible to apply for CDS Exam. Where as, candidates who have just completed 12th Class are eligible to appear in NDA Entrance Examination.

ii) Both Male and Female candidates are eligible to give CDS Examination. Where as, Only Unmarried male candidates are eligible to give National Defense Academy and Naval Academy Examination.

iii) Candidates with 19 to 24 years are eligible to appear in CDS Examination. Where as, Candidates age must be in 16.5 years to 19 years age limit in order to given NDA Examination.

As far as my knowledge is concerned, CDS is most preferable than NDA & NA, because Graduates can give CDS Examination. Candidates from any discipline can CDS Examination and the maximum age given to join CDS Exam is 25 years. So candidates who ever completed their Graduate Degree are flexible to appear in CDS Examination.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What is the difference between CDS and NDA? Which one is more preferrable?

You can apply for NDA exam after 12th standard but after completion of your graduation degree, you can apply for CDS exam.

NDA stands for National Defence Service exam. NDA Examination is conducted for 3 wings-Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Army.

The candidates who have completed the 12th standard from a recognized board or equivalent exam are eligible for NDA exam. Final year of 12th standard candidate are eligible for NDA exam.

Your age should be in between to 16.5 years to 19.5 years. There is no age relaxation for SC/ST candidates.

CDS stands for COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICE.

The educational qualification and age criteria for CDS exam is given below-

To enter the Indian Military Academy you need to have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university and your age should be in between 19 to 23 years.

To enter the Air Force Academy you need to get a B.Sc degree with physics or mathematics or a bachelor's degree in engineering/technology and your age should be in between 19 to 23 years.

To enter the Naval Academy you need to have a B.E./B.Tech degree in engineering or technology or a bachelor's degree in science with physics or mathematics and your age should be in between 19 to 22 years.

To enter the Officer's Training Academy you need to complete your graduation in any discipline from a recognized university and your age should be in between 19 to 25 years.

CDS and NDA both the entrance examination is conducted by the UPSC twice every year. The examination are conducted for the recruitment in the Army,Navy, Air Force as an officer.

There is not much more difference between both the examination. The difference is on the educational qualification:-

* As in the NDA 10+2 candidates are eligible where as for the CDS graduation passed candidates are eligible.
* In NDA only male candidates are eligible where as in the CDS both the male and female candidates are eligible.
* In NDA candidates age between 16.5-19 years where as for the CDS it is between 19-24 vary for the different wings.

There are not more difference in both the stages and the selection procedure. For more information visit at the www.upsc.gov.in.

CDS stands for the Combined Defense Services and NDA stands for the National Defense Academy. There is no such big difference between NDA and CDS. The entrance examination is conducted by the Union Public Services commission twice every year. Both the entrance exams are gateway to different academies of defense.

At the 10+2 level, you can apply for the NDA exam if you have done 10+2 from a recognized board with PCM as compulsory subjects for Navy and Airforce. The age limit is 16.5-19.5 years.

For Combined defense services, you must have bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university to apply for the exam. Th minimum age limit is 19 years and upper age limit is different for different academies of defense. For more details about CDS Click here .

One of the main difference between CDS and NDA exam is that in NDA exam only unmarried male Indian candidates can apply for the exam whereas in CDS both unmarried male and female candidates can apply for the exam. You can get more details about both of these exam at the www.upsc.gov.in.

There is no such preference both are equally good and totally depends upon you through which entry you want to join defense.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What is the difference between CDS and NDA? Which one is more preferrable?

CDS - Combined Defence Service

NDA - National Defence Academy

Both these exams are a part of UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) and is held every year twice as CDS I and CDS II and likewise NDA I and NDA II. There are eligibility conditions which varies between these exams.

These two exams offers candidates to join in defence forces of India, but the thing which varies is that candidate who has completed +2 and wishing to join in defence can apply for the NDA exam and candidate who have completed a degree in any stream and wishing to join in defence can apply for the CDS exam.

This is the major difference between these exams and you need to satisfy the other eligibility criteria's in order to apply for the exam and they include such as:

• Nationality
• Age limit
• Physical Standard

If you need to know more about the exam check at http://www.upsc.gov.in

NDA stands for National Defence Academy and CDS stands for Combined Defence Academy.

Qualification required is 12th class whereas for CDS it is graduation.

Age limit for NDA : 16.5 to 19 years
Age limit for CDS : 19 to 35 years.

NDA written exam is of 900 Marks where as CDS written exam is of 300 marks. Also the SSB interview of NDA is of 900 marks and SSB interview of CDS is of 300 marks.

Please find the attachment for syllabus of NDA and CDS.

NDS is more preferrable as you will get into Indian Defence Services at minimum age.

NDA exam is written after 12th class where as the CDS exam is written after graduation.
In NDA exam you will get jobs as army men,navy and airforce.
But through CDS exam you will get officer jobs.
by CDS you get high qualified and high status job in army,navy and airforce and military fields.

Difference between CDS and NDA Examination :

>> You should complete graduation for CDS and 10+2 for NDA examination from the recognized board and there is No specific percentage of marks required for CDS and NDA Exams.

>> Age should be in between these limits.

-- For CDS ( 19 to 23 years )

-- For NDA ( 161/2 to 19 years)

>> Only Unmarried Male candidates are eligible for NDA

>> Both Unmarried Male and Female Candidates are eligible for CDS.

The main difference between Combined defense service and National Defense academy is that for CDS both unmarried male and female candidates can apply whereas for NDA only unmarried male can apply.

Minimum academic qualification for NDA is 12th passed or appearing from recognized board whereas for CDS it is bachelor 's degree.

Both are equally preferable as it depends upon your qualification depending upon which you can apply for exam.

CDS and NDA both the entrance examination is conducted by the UPSC twice every year. The examination are conducted for the recruitment in the Army,Navy, Air Force as an officer.

There is not much more difference between both the examination. The difference is on the educational qualification:-

* As in the NDA 10+2 candidates are eligible where as for the CDS graduation passed candidates are eligible.
* In NDA only male candidates are eligible where as in the CDS both the male and female candidates are eligible.
* In NDA candidates age between 16.5-19 years where as for the CDS it is between 19-24 vary for the different wings.