Similiarly, candidates interested in carving out a career in armed forces can get ready to apply for NDA and NA (II).

As per the UPSC exam calendar, registration for NDA and NA II would begin from June 9 this year.

The exam is conducted twice a year and candidates who pass the exam attend an interview conducted by Services Selection Board (SSB).

The first edition of the exam is called NDA and NA (I) and the second edition of the exam is called NDA and NA (II).

Interview is where the candidates are tested on their personality, communication ability, team work ability, leadership qualities.

Candidates who pass the interview undergo a medical checkup to find out their physical and medical fitness.

Those who pass the medical test are selected to join Indian Army, Indian Navy or Indian Air Force.

Individuals desiring to apply for NDA and NA must be a pass in plus-two from a recognised institution.

Candidates willing to join army through this exam can be a plus-two pass in any stream.

Whoever are interested in navy or air force must pass plus-two with maths, physics and chemistry as subjects.

NDA and NA 2021 (I)
NDA and NA 2021 (I) registration began on 30 December last year and last date to submit application was 19 January this year.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted this exam. The time to withdraw the application with regards to NDA and NA 2021 (I) was 27 January to 2 February.

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Halltickets for NDA and NA 2021 (I) were made available on 26 March. The exam was conducted on 18 April.

The result for the exam is to be announced soon.

NDA and NA 2021 (I) result
Candidates can visit the official website of UPSC to check the result of NDA and NA 2021 (I).

UPSC official website can be reached at the link ‘https://www.upsc.gov.in/’

After the webpage downloads, candidates can click the appropriate link for the result.

Once the link is clicked, the result will be displayed in from of a document which mostly would be in PDF format.

The document is nothing but a list of roll numbers of those who have passed NDA and NA 2021 (I) exam.

Candidates can either open the document on the website or download it on their computer and open the document and check for their roll number in that list.

The last date to submit applications for NDA and NA 2021 (II) is 29 June. The date to withdraw application for the candidates will be announced later.

The exam is to be conducted on 5 September this year. The result for NDA and NA 2021 (II) will be announced tentatively in November this year.

Point to remember
Applicants for NDA and NA 2021 (II) must remember to check the official website of UPSC which conducts the exam at regular intervals to know updates.

There could be changes exam schedule due to factors like COVID-19 situation.

Individuals willing to apply for NDA and NA 2021 (II) must keep themselves aware of latest developments with regards to the exam.

Candidates can keep themselves prepared by knowing the updates regularly.

NDA and NA 2021 (II) result
The method to view the result for the second edition of the exam is the same as that of NDA and NA 2021 (I).

Students desiring to be a part of our armed forces through NDA and NA 2021 must stay fit physically and mentally.

They have to not only read well but also regularly exercise to stay fit.

The registration fee
Applicants for NDA and NA 2021 have to pay the registration fee of Rs 100.

However, applicants who are children of JCOs, NCOs and ORs are exempted from paying the registration fee.

Even applicants from SC/ST categories too need not pay the registration fee.

Exam pattern
The questions in NDA and NA  (II) will be of objective type. The question papers of Mathematics and Part B of General Ability Test will be in English and Hindi.

The questions, applicants have to answer in the exam will be of plus-two level.

They will be mostly from lessons usually taught at plus-two classes across the country.

Also, candidates are to have proficiency in English and General Knowledge.

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Their research focuses on creating a geopolymer using industrial byproducts and waste materials, such as water treatment sludge (WTS), fly ash (FA), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS).

Water treatment plants worldwide generate approximately 100,000 tons of sludge daily. Traditional disposal methods, like landfilling or using sludge as soil additives, have proven to be costly and environmentally risky, as heavy metals can leach into groundwater.

Through the process of geopolymerisation, silicon and aluminum from these materials react with alkaline activators to form a three-dimensional alumino-silicate structure, said Prof Anil of IIT Guwahati.

This results in a material that matches traditional cement in performance while significantly reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption, he said.

Key applications

One of the key applications of the WTS-FA-GGBS geopolymer is in road construction. The research team evaluated the mechanical properties of the geopolymer, specifically its suitability as a subgrade material for roads and pavements, say sources from IIT Guwahati.

The subgrade layer forms the foundation of roads, determining the pavement’s strength and longevity. Using the WTS-based geopolymer as a stabilizer was found to significantly enhance road performance, particularly in soft or weak soils, say sources from IIT Guwahati.

Geopolymerising

In addition to WTS, the team is also focused on geopolymerising construction and demolition (C&D) waste, which exceeds 10 billion tons annually and constitutes over 35% of global waste.

They have developed applications for C&D waste, including base and subbase layers for road pavements and paver blocks, contributing to effective waste management and reduced environmental impact.

IIT Guwahati research team

Furthermore, IIT Guwahati research team is investigating the treatment of landfill-mined fine fractions from old municipal solid waste dumpsites, offering promising solutions while supporting circular economy initiatives.

They are also exploring the stabilization of petroleum sludge by incorporating fly ash and GGBS, aiming to immobilize hazardous heavy metals and prevent environmental leaching.

Tests

Tests conducted by the IIT Guwahati team, including Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) assessments, revealed that the WTS-FA-GGBS geopolymer exceeds the minimum strength requirements for cement-stabilized subgrade materials.

Durability tests confirmed its ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions, making it a reliable choice for infrastructure projects across diverse climates, say sources from IIT Guwahati.

Key concerns

This research by Prof. Mishra’s team from IIT Guwahati addresses several key concerns in modern civil engineering and waste management. By recycling industrial waste, the project helps reduce landfill burden and minimizes the environmental damage caused by traditional disposal methods.

The innovative geopolymer technology opens new avenues for industries, municipalities, and governments to adopt eco-friendly construction practices while addressing the growing issue of industrial waste disposal.

As India continues to urbanize and industrialize, innovations like this play a vital role in building a greener, more sustainable future.

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