Over 5K appear for NDA-NA, CDS exams in Indore, paper draws mixed reactions

Indore: Over 5,000 aspirants in Indore appeared for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA-NA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) (I) 2026 examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission held across 13 centres.The examinations saw a mix of confidence and concern among candidates. A total of 5,493 aspirants had registered for the examination in Indore. The NDA-NA examination was conducted in two sessions, from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 4:30 pm, while the CDS examination took place in three sessions between 9 am and 6 pm. These are among the country's most competitive recruitment tests for defence services.Candidates reported varied difficulty levels. Kirti Upadhyay from Ujjain, appearing for the first time, described the paper as moderate, with a strong focus on formulas and conceptual understanding. She relied entirely on self-study and felt it was sufficient.Hariom Singh Thakur from Ratlam found the paper tougher and more specific than expected, noting that several questions differed from anticipated trends. Sarthak Dubey from Indore, attempting the exam for the second time, rated it between moderate and difficult and said his performance was average despite coaching support.The examination process was conducted under strict supervision. Divisional commissioner Sudam Khade served as the coordinating officer, while deputy commissioner (revenue) Sapna M Lovanshi was the officer in charge. UPSC officials including N R Rao, Dr D K Seth, and Ameer Yadav were deployed for monitoring, along with local inspection officers at all centres.Authorities ensured drinking water, electricity, and security arrangements at each centre. Armed guards were deployed, frisking was conducted using metal detectors and face authentication was implemented. Entry gates were closed 30 minutes before each session and candidates were barred from carrying electronic devices or any prohibited material into the examination halls.