Which is easier to crack NDA or CDS exam?

If we compare both entries written examinations. CDS written is easier then NDA written examination . But as in case of SSB the recommendation of candidates is tougher in CDS as compared to NDA.

what is the age criteria for NDA and CDS entry?

Both male and female candidates can apply for CDS and NDA category. The age criteria for NDA entry is 16.5-19.5 and 19-25 for CDS entry.

What is the rank assigned after completion of training in NDA and CDS entry?

You are given a rank of cadet when you qualify for NDA or CDS. After the completion of training you are given the rank of Lieutenant in Army and respective ranks in other forces.

NDA SSB VS CDS SSB: Know Similarity & Key Differences Here

Q: What is the difference between NDA & CDS SSB interview?

The SSB interview process of both NDA and CDS is the same. Chances of selection through NDA entry are higher because a young person is trainable if he has good qualities if not the exceptional ones. But a person nearly steeping in adulthood is difficult to be trained to change his traits.

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 11th, 2023

NDA SSB vs CDS SSB: Every year, lakhs of students appear for NDA and CDS written examinations. Out of them, only a few thousand are selected for the SSB Interview. Most of the time, students are not fully aware of the SSB interview process. This leads to failure as one may be intelligent in academics, but do not have required personality traits like Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Presence of mind, and confidence, which can only be gained through practice.

Table of content

1. What is SSB Interview?
2. Similarity & Differences Between NDA & CDS Entry
3. Chances of Selection in NDA and CDSE SSB Interview

What is SSB Interview?

Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview is a process to filter out the candidates who fit best for the job. SSB does not mean that those candidates who are not recommended are a failure in life, but it only means that they are not fit to be an Officer or do not have Officers-like qualities.

SSB Interview is conducted for both NDA and CDS entries, the main difference in the level of expectations from a candidate. Let’s discuss what are some similarities and differences between the NDA SSB Interview and the CDS SSB Interview.

Similarity & Differences Between NDA & CDS Entry

For beginners, let’s go through the basic difference and similarities between the NDA & CDS exam –

Parameter	NDA	CDS
Age	16.5-19.5 Years	19-25 Years
Eligibility	Both Men & Women can Apply	Men & Women both can Apply
Educational Qualification	The candidate should have a 10+2 Certificate	Candidate should be Graduate
Scheme of Examination	Written exam + SSB interview	Written exam + SSB interview
Frequency of the Exam	Conducted Twice a Year	Conducted Twice a Year
Training Centres	National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune Indian Military Academy, Dehradun Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala Indian Air Force Academy, Hyderabad	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun for Army Cadets Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala for Navy Cadets Indian Air Force Academy, Hyderabad for Air Force Officers Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
Degrees awarded	Army Cadets – B.Sc./ B.Sc. (Computer)/BA / B.Tech degree Naval Cadets – B.Tech degree Air Force Cadets – B.Tech degree	Army Cadets in IMA – PG Diploma in ‘Military and Defence Management OTA Chennai – Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies
The rank assigned after the training completes	Lieutenant	Lieutenant

Chances of Selection in NDA and CDSE SSB Interview

Frankly speaking, the chances of selection in NDA are far more robust than that of the CDSE. There are two major reasons for that:

1. The rejection levels are high in CDSE because according to SSB, the graduate-level entries can only be recommended if the candidate is perfect in all sense.

The SSB expects that the candidate taken through the CDSE examination should in a tailor-made officer material already and in the 5-6 day interview, they just look for all such traits in his/her personality. As the scope of correction is very less after the selection, so they do not take any chance while selecting the CDSE candidates.

If any NDA candidate shows a little spark, the chances of selection become high. It is because a young person is trainable if he has good qualities if not the exceptional ones. But a person nearly steeping in adulthood is difficult to be trained to change his traits.

2. The vacancies in CDSE are very less compared to NDA. This difference in the selection ratio is also a major counting factor. In the CDS SSB batch, in one batch of 100 persons, on average, only 2-5 are selected.

Though the value is not fixed, generally, it is so. There may be a chance that more candidates are selected or no candidate is selected at all.

Join NDA online classes to prepare for NDA exam & SSB Interview at BYJU’S Exam Prep. NDA online course offers video lectures, interactive classes, live doubt sessions, free mock tests, quizzes, PDFs, etc.

Important Links
Know about 5 Days SSB Interview Procedure	Importance of Physics and Chemistry for NDA Exam
How to Prepare for the Next SSB Interview?	NDA Syllabus and Exam Pattern

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