A one-month push before the UPSC paper
A crash course is not a shortcut, and anyone who tells you that a month replaces a year is selling something. What a month can do, when it is run well, is turn scattered preparation into a tidy exam plan. It can fix the three or four topics that cost you marks, build the habit of finishing a paper in time, and replace panic with a routine. That is what our NDA crash course in Dehradun is for.
The programme runs for one month, in person, at Street 1, Subharti Road, Nanda Ki Chowki, Lower Kolhupani. We do not offer online classes. It is designed for students who have already studied the syllabus, whether at school, in another batch or on their own, and who want a final month of structured revision and mock practice before the written examination.
It suits:
- Class 12 students who have finished most of the syllabus and want a focused revision month
- repeaters who know where they lost marks last time and want to fix them
- students who joined an academy late in the cycle and need to catch up
- candidates who studied alone and want to test themselves in an exam-like setting
It is not the right choice if you have not yet started. A student with no preparation will gain far more from our full NDA coaching in Dehradun batch, and a student in Class 10 should look at the NDA foundation course. We would rather tell you this on the first call than after the fee is paid.
Eligibility: check this before you enrol
The crash course does not change who can apply for the NDA. The conditions below come from the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 notification, issued by UPSC on 20 May 2026. The birth-date window moves in every cycle, so please read the notification for the examination you are targeting.
| Condition | NDA and NA (II) 2026 notification |
|---|---|
| Candidates | Unmarried male and female candidates who meet the nationality conditions in the notification |
| Age | Born not earlier than 1 January 2008 and not later than 1 January 2011 |
| Army wing | Class 12 pass of the 10+2 pattern, or an equivalent examination |
| Air Force and Naval wings, and the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy | Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics |
| Students in Class 12 | Those appearing in Class 12 can also apply; those appearing in Class 11 are not eligible |
UPSC also allots examination centres on a first-apply-first-allot basis, with a ceiling for each centre, so students who plan their application early are likelier to get the city they want. Our counsellors can check your dates with you before you decide to join.
Sources
The paper you are revising for
A month is short, so the plan starts from the marks. The UPSC notification gives the structure.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Mathematics | 300 | 2½ hours |
| II | General Ability Test: English 200, General Knowledge 400 | 600 | 2½ hours |
Both papers are objective type, the Mathematics paper and the general knowledge part are set in Hindi and English, calculators are not allowed, and each wrong answer costs one-third (0.33) of the marks for the question. The notification says the general knowledge part carries approximate weightages of 25% for Physics, 15% for Chemistry, 10% for General Science, 20% for Social Studies, 20% for Geography and 10% for Current Events.
This is how those numbers shape a month of revision. Mathematics is one third of the written marks (300 of 900), and the General Ability Test is the other two thirds (600 of 900). The Mathematics syllabus covers algebra, matrices and determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus, vector algebra, statistics and probability. English is a third of the General Ability Test and rewards steady practice in grammar, vocabulary and comprehension. Within general knowledge, Physics and the two social science areas together carry nearly two-thirds of that half, so we spend revision time there before current affairs. A student with limited time should follow the marks, not the headlines.
And the SSB afterwards
The crash course focuses on the written paper, because that is the next gate. We do, however, give students an orientation to the Services Selection Board, which UPSC’s notification describes in two stages: the Officer Intelligence Rating tests and the Picture Perception and Discussion Test first, then the interview, group tasks, psychology tests and conference over four days. A candidate who clears the written paper should not meet the board unprepared. The stand-alone SSB interview coaching course, in 12-day and one-month formats, follows naturally.
How a one-month crash course is usually structured
This is how a one-month crash course is usually structured: diagnosis, repair, practice and calm. Your batch plan is shared at counselling, and exact dates and timings depend on the batch.
- Week one, diagnose: a mock test in the UPSC layout, then a topic-by-topic analysis of where marks were lost. Every student ends this stage with a short list of priorities.
- Week two, repair mathematics: the highest-value topics in algebra, trigonometry, calculus and coordinate geometry, with timed problem sets and a discussion of common mistakes.
- Week three, repair the General Ability Test: English grammar and comprehension sets, plus focused revision of Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography and Current Events in line with their weightages.
- Week four, simulate: full papers at the exam timing, review sessions, and strategy on which questions to attempt first, which to skip and how to use negative marking sensibly.
Physical training continues alongside, because fitness is checked at later stages and exercise keeps the mind steady. Students should arrive with their own notes and past papers; we use them to find gaps.
Fees for the crash course
The fee table for the NDA crash course is shown further down this page, with the one-month option. The fee structure page explains registration and the other charges, including hostel and mess for outstation students. Ask the counsellor about the start date of the next batch, since a crash course is only useful if it ends a few days before the paper and not after it.
Hostel and mess for one month
Students who live outside Dehradun can use the academy’s hostel and mess for the duration of the course, with separate hostels for boys and girls. Day scholars from the city are welcome too. A month away from home is easier when travel, food and a quiet place to study are settled in advance. The hostel and mess page has the details, and the contact page explains how to reach us from the railway station, the ISBT and the airport.
NDA crash course: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppIs one month enough to prepare for the NDA?
Not from scratch. A month works for students who have already studied the syllabus and need revision, mock practice and exam strategy. Beginners should join the full batch.
Who is the crash course for?
Class 12 students and repeaters who have covered most of the syllabus, and candidates who studied alone and want to test themselves in exam conditions.
When should I join?
Choose a batch that ends a few days before the written paper. The counsellor can match the start date to the UPSC examination date once the notification is out.
Does it include the SSB?
It includes an orientation to the SSB. For full preparation after the written result, the SSB interview coaching course is the next step.
Can girls join?
Yes. Girls join the same batch and can use the separate girls' hostel.
Is it available online?
No. The crash course is held in person in Dehradun.
Related courses
- NDA coaching in Dehradun, the full-year batch
- NDA coaching for girls with the girls’ hostel details
- SSB interview coaching after the written result
- NDA foundation course for students after Class 10
- Why students from across India choose Dehradun