The National Defence Academy is a unique and premier tri-services military training institution in the world. It attracts the best talent amongst the youth of our nation and from friendly foreign countries and imparts military and academic education to the cadets to acquire physical, intellectual, mental and moral qualities for a meaningful career in the defence services as permanent commissioned officers. NDA is the world’s first tri-services academy unique in its design and concept. It has acquired an iconic status and has encouraged many other countries to emulate this core concept of enforcing synergy at the entry level itself.
The construction of a grand and imposing academy complex was commenced at Khadakwasla, Pune. Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone on 06 Oct 1949. While laying the foundation stone, Pandit Nehru called it a “Monument in the Making”. The Academy started functioning on 16 Jan 1955.
As the Cradle of Military leadership, NDA trains junior leaders for the Indian Armed Forces. Nearly 33,000 cadets have passed out of its portals since its inception in 1949. These include about 1050 international cadets from friendly countries. NDA alumni have provided leadership across the entire spectrum of conflict - from the cutting edge of the tactical level to the level of operational art and the domain of strategic guidance and direction of campaigns. Many of them have become the Chiefs of the three Services.
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