The Shekhawati belt around Sikar and Jhunjhunu is widely linked with families who send their sons, and now their daughters, into the armed forces. Many students here grow up with an uncle in the Army or a neighbour in the Air Force. A uniform does not feel like a distant dream; it feels like a normal career.
That demand has built a real coaching ecosystem. Comparison sites in 2026 list dedicated NDA institutes in Sikar, Jaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Kuchaman and Jhunjhunu. Each city has its own style:
• Sikar: residential academies built around hostels, training grounds and a strict routine.
• Jaipur: mostly day-scholar batches for the written exam and SSB, easy for students who live in the city.
• Kota: a strong exam-prep culture, with online classes and test series offered by some institutes.
• Jodhpur and Jhunjhunu: regional options for western and northern Rajasthan families.
What is an NDA?
The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. It is the main entry route for Class 12 students who want to become officers in the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force. Selected candidates train together at the NDA in Khadakwasla, Pune, and then move on to their own service academy.
Wing | Class 12 requirement | Academy after NDA training |
Army | Pass in any stream | Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun |
Navy | Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 | Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala |
Air Force | Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 | Air Force Academy, Dundigal |
Eligibility can I apply?
Criterion | What UPSC expects |
Nationality | Citizen of India (other categories are listed in the notification). |
Gender and marital status | Unmarried men and unmarried women can apply. |
Age | 16½ to 19½ years at the course start, with no relaxation. For NDA II 2026 the birth window was 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010. Each notification fixes its own window. |
Education | Army wing: Class 12 pass (or appearing), any stream. Navy and Air Force: Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics. |
Height (men) | Minimum 157 cm for Army and Navy; about 162.5–163 cm for Air Force flying roles. Candidates from Gorkha communities and certain hill regions get a 5 cm relaxation. |
Medical | Detailed standards apply to eyesight, dental health, weight-for-height and more. Air Force vision norms are stricter than Army and Navy. |
Attempts | No fixed number; the age window decides how many cycles you can use. |
Exam pattern and marking scheme
The written exam has two objective papers, both held on the same day in two sessions of 2½ hours each. In the NDA II 2026 cycle, Maths was scheduled in the morning and the General Ability Test (GAT) in the afternoon.
Paper | Questions | Max marks | Duration | Marking |
Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2½ hours | +2.5 for a correct answer, −0.83 for a wrong answer |
General Ability Test | 150 | 600 | 2½ hours | +4 for a correct answer, −1.33 for a wrong answer |
Written total | 270 | 900 | 5 hours | Negative marking is one-third of the question’s marks |
SSB interview | – | 900 | 5 days | Intelligence and personality test |
Inside the GAT (600 marks)
Section | Marks | Nature of questions |
Part A: English | 200 | Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension |
Part B: Physics | 100 | Class 11–12 level concepts |
Part B: Chemistry | 60 | Class 11–12 level concepts |
Part B: General Science | 40 | Biology and everyday science |
Part B: History and Freedom Movement | 80 | Indian history, social studies |
Part B: Geography | 80 | India and world geography |
Part B: Current Events | 40 | National and international news |
The NDA coaching map of Rajasthan
City | Institutes frequently listed in 2026 | Typical model |
Sikar | Prince Defence Academy / Prince NDA Academy (Palwas Road), Alpha NDA Academy, Rajasthan Defence Academy, Gurukripa Defence Academy, Navjeevan Defence Academy, PW Defence | Residential campuses, some with school or college integrated with NDA preparation |
Jaipur | Invicta Defence Academy, Rajasthan NDA Academy, B3 Defence Academy, Motions Academy, Karni Defence Academy, PW Defence | Mostly written exam plus SSB coaching for day scholars |
Kota | Edge NDA Academy, PW Kota Vidyapeeth | Classroom plus online classes and test series |
Jodhpur | Generals Defence Academy | Regional option for western Rajasthan |
Jhunjhunu | Mira NDA Academy | Regional option, including girls’ batches |
How to Choose NDA academy
# | Check | What to ask for | Red flag |
1 | Year-wise results | Selections by exam cycle and service, with roll numbers where possible. | One big “total” with no breakdown. |
2 | NDA-specific numbers | Written-exam and SSB selections for NDA, separate from other services. | Mixing Agniveer, police and NDA in one figure. |
3 | Faculty | Who teaches Maths and GAT, and who trains physical fitness. Ex-servicemen help. | Faculty names and experience never shown. |
4 | Infrastructure | Running track, ground, gym, library, classrooms. See them in person. | Only stock photos. |
5 | SSB preparation | A real mock board, GTO ground and trained assessors. | SSB “covered in two lectures”. |
6 | Hostel and safety | Warden, medical help, mess quality, visiting rules, transport. | No clear rules or contact person. |
7 | Test series | Number of full mocks, timing, analysis. | Tests with no feedback. |
8 | Language medium | Hindi or English teaching, to match the student. | A mismatch you discover after paying. |
9 | Fee transparency | Written fee, instalments, cancellation and refund policy. | Fees that change after admission. |
10 | Campus visit | Speak to current students and parents. | Reluctance to let you visit. |
Prince Defence Academy, Sikar
Prince Defence Academy is a defence coaching institute on Palwas Road, Sikar, and part of the Prince Edu Hub group. Its news pages also use the name Prince NDA Academy. According to its About page, it began in 2011 with a simple aim: to help serious students succeed in defence services through quality coaching in the right environment. Today it prepares students for the Air Force, Navy, Army, NDA, CDS, SSB, SSC and police recruitment.
Fact | Details as published on princedefence.com |
Established | 2011 (About page) |
Address | Palwas Road, Sikar – 332001, Rajasthan |
Contact | +91 96107 32222, +91 96107 42222; pdasikar@gmail.com |
Total selections | 3,761 across defence services (homepage counter) |
Campuses and capacity | Two campuses, each with a capacity of 1,500 students (director’s message) |
Team | More than 100 staff including management, faculty and physical trainers (director’s message) |
Programmes | School + competition (classes IX–XII) and degree + competition (B.Sc./B.A. with defence preparation at Prince Degree College, Palwas) |
NDA medium | Hindi-medium NDA preparation is offered (director’s message) |
Training staff | Ex-defence officers and instructors; retired defence physical trainers for daily fitness |
Special batches | Separate batch for Air Force group discussion and psychological tests |
Campus life and the training model
Facility | Why it helps an NDA aspirant |
Modern classrooms and digital library | Focused study of Maths, English and GAT with reference material on hand. |
Long running tracks and sports grounds | Daily stamina work and team sports, which build the qualities seen in GTO tasks. |
Well-equipped gym | Strength and conditioning under trainer supervision. |
Central air-conditioning in classrooms and hostels | Comfort for long study hours in Rajasthan’s heat. |
Mess, hot-water plant, laundry and canteen | Daily needs handled on campus, so students spend time on training and study. |
Medical facility | Quick care for minor injuries and illness during hard physical training. |
Transport to the bus depot and railway station during leave | Safe, organised travel for students and peace of mind for parents. |
PNB ATM on campus | Everyday banking without leaving the campus. |
Courses and fees at Prince Defence Academy
Programme | Fee | Who it usually suits |
One-Year Defence Batch | ₹1,85,000 | Students who have passed Class 12 and want focused preparation for the next exam cycles |
Two-Year Defence Batch | ₹2,95,000 | Students who start earlier and want a longer runway, such as after Class 10 (confirm with admissions) |
Three-Year Defence Batch (non-agreement) | ₹3,85,000 | Students who begin in the early school years and want a continuous journey |
Prince Army Academy Batch (non-agreement) | See website | Army-focused preparation; fee shown on the details page |
Roadmap: from now to the NDA I 2027 paper
Phase | When | What to do |
Baseline | Late Oct to mid-Nov 2026 | Take a diagnostic Maths and GAT test. Note weak chapters. Start daily running and basic strength work. Read the previous-year NDA papers. |
Foundation | Mid-Nov to 22 Dec 2026 | Finish core Maths topics (algebra, trigonometry, calculus basics). Fill the online form before 22 December. Begin a daily current-affairs habit and an English reading routine. |
Build speed | Jan to Feb 2027 | Weekly sectional tests. Start SSB basics: picture description practice, group discussion, speaking in front of others. Balance this with Class 12 board preparation. |
Full mocks | Mar to early Apr 2027 | At least one full-length mock every week in real timing. Review every wrong answer. Cut unforced errors and tune your attempting strategy. |
Exam week | 11 April 2027 | Light revision only, sleep well, carry the admit card and ID, and follow the attempt plan you practised. |
SSB preparation | After the written exam | If you qualify, move fully into SSB mode: mock boards, GTO practice, interview preparation and medical readiness. |
Conclusion
The NDA rewards students who build knowledge, fitness and character at the same time. Rajasthan offers many ways to do that, from tuition-only batches to full residential academies. Use the checklist, look at year-wise results, visit the campus and talk to current students before you decide.
If you are looking for a residential academy in Shekhawati with a long track record, trainer-led fitness, Hindi-medium NDA preparation and school or degree pathways, Prince Defence Academy, Sikar deserves a place on your shortlist. With the NDA I 2027 notification only weeks away, the best time to visit is now.
