I want to know the motto of Cadets of National Defence Academy NDA so can you please tell me?

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the Joint Services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together. It is the first tri-service academy in the world.

The NDA is located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra.

Motto of NDA is “Service Before Self”



The motto is fashioned on a ribbon at the base of the insignia upon which the sword hilts and the bottom of the anchor stand.

The motto has been inspired and extracted from the Bhagavat Gita:

Karmanevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachina
(Your duty is action with no eye on the fruits it will bring)

The ideal ('nishkam karma') was put in the scroll in its English translation as 'Service Before Self'.

The initial crest consisted of a sword, a quill pen, an anchor and an eagle, symbolizing the four fields in which the Cadets received education at the National War Academy.

The present Academy insignia was selected in 1948.

The background is maroon, which is an apt Colour of heraldry but also a symbol of chivalry and sacrifice.

The crest is composed of the symbols of the three Services superimposed on each other and mounted on top by the Ashoka Capitol.

The anchor supports the sword and both support the eagle.

In this combined form they are no longer four separate entities but fused into one whole representing jointmanship of the Armed Forces of India.