Our own GTO ground at Mohali. Days three and four of the board are physical — an institute without a ground can only describe them.
Reviewed by: Hartaj Dhaliwal, Director, New Careers Academy — third generation; founded 1967 by Lt. Col. H.S. Dhaliwal.
Experience: the SSB modules on this page are run by Capt. Dhaliwal (40+ years of SSB psychology evaluation), Gp. Capt. V.K. Aggarwal (Retd.), a former interviewing officer, and Col. Ravi Sharma (Retd.), a former G.T.O.
Last reviewed: . Board procedure follows the published SSB five-day format; selection centre allotment is decided by the respective service, not by any institute.
Campus & contact: SCO 71, Sector 91, Mohali (Chandigarh) — +91-95010-70051 · +91-62396-61414
Which is the best SSB coaching in India?
NCA Academy (New Careers Academy) runs SSB interview coaching where every stage is assessed by people who have actually sat on boards: psychology under Capt. Dhaliwal (40+ years), the personal interview under Gp. Capt. V.K. Aggarwal (Retd.), a former interviewing officer, and GTO under Col. Ravi Sharma (Retd.), a former G.T.O. The 14-day RUDRA batch is capped at 20 students, runs every Tuesday at the Chandigarh–Mohali campus, and fees range ₹12,000 to ₹25,000 by duration and mode.
SSB Coaching in India — At a Glance
| Who it is for | Candidates cleared for or expecting an SSB call — NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF (ACC) or TA entry |
|---|---|
| Format | 14-day intensive (RUDRA, on campus, 20 seats) or live online (GARUDA), plus hybrid |
| Assessors | Ex-SSB psychologist, former interviewing officer, former G.T.O. |
| Fees | ₹12,000 to ₹25,000, by duration and mode |
| Batches | New batch every Tuesday · 8 AM to 6 PM on campus |
| Campus | SCO 71, Sector 91, Mohali (Chandigarh) — established 1967 |
| Phone | +91-95010-70051 · +91-62396-61414 |
SSB Coaching for Every Defence Entry
The board format is broadly the same five days whichever door you came through — but what the assessors probe differs by entry and age. We coach each route on its own terms.
| Entry | Who reaches this SSB | What the board weighs most |
|---|---|---|
| NDA | Class 12 candidates who cleared the written | Trainability and raw officer-like qualities — boards expect potential, not polish, at 17–19 |
| CDS (IMA / INA / AFA / OTA) | Graduates who cleared the written | Maturity, clarity of purpose, and depth in the PIQ — graduates are questioned harder on their choices |
| AFCAT / AFSB | Air Force applicants | The AFSB variant — plus CPSS pilot aptitude for flying branch. Gp. Capt. Aggarwal’s own board |
| CAPF (ACC) | Serving soldiers seeking commission | Service record articulation and transition from ranks to officer thinking |
| TA | Territorial Army applicants | Civil-career balance and genuine motivation for part-time soldiering |
The Five-Day SSB, Day by Day — and How We Train Each Stage
The official SSB procedure and selection-centre reporting instructions are published by the Indian Army; the table below maps each stage to how our SSB interview coaching prepares you for it.
| Day | What happens | How NCA prepares you |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Screening | OIR verbal and non-verbal tests, then PPDT: picture story, narration and group discussion. Most candidates go home tonight. | Timed OIR drills and repeated PPDT narrations before a group, until speaking over noise feels normal |
| Day 2 — Psychology | TAT (11 pictures + blank), WAT (60 words), SRT (60 situations), Self-Description — all against the clock | Full-length psych batteries assessed by Capt. Dhaliwal, with written feedback on every set — start with the free mock SRT |
| Days 3–4 — GTO | Group discussion, GPE, PGT, HGT, individual obstacles, command task, snake race, lecturette — nine tasks outdoors | The real tasks on our own ground, run by Col. Ravi Sharma (Retd.), a former G.T.O. — not whiteboard theory |
| Interview (any evening) | 30–60 minutes across your PIQ, studies, family, awareness and choices | Recorded one-to-one mocks with Gp. Capt. Aggarwal (Retd.), a former interviewing officer |
| Day 5 — Conference | Every assessor sees you for minutes; borderline cases are discussed at length | Conference-style questioning after your mock board, so the last five minutes do not surprise you |
What is the SSB interview?
The Services Selection Board (SSB) is a five-day personality and intelligence assessment used by the Indian Armed Forces to select officers. Candidates are tested on screening (OIR and PPDT), psychology (TAT, WAT, SRT and Self-Description), group testing under a GTO, and a personal interview. Assessors look for Officer Like Qualities — not academic marks. It is the common gateway for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF and TA entries.
SSB Interview — Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full form | Services Selection Board (Air Force boards are called AFSB) |
| Duration | 5 days, plus a reporting day |
| Stages | Screening → Psychology → GTO → Personal Interview → Conference |
| Assessors | Three, independent: Psychologist, Interviewing Officer and Group Testing Officer |
| Marking | Officer Like Qualities; the three assessors score independently and reconcile at the conference |
| Cost to candidate | The board itself is free; travel is reimbursed for the first attempt per entry |
| Entries assessed | NDA, CDS (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA), AFCAT, CAPF (ACC), TA |
| Total SSB and AFSB centres | Army selection centres at Prayagraj, Bhopal and Bangalore; Navy boards at Coimbatore, Bhopal and Kolkata; four AFSBs |
Where is the SSB held? All SSB and AFSB Centres in India
Your centre is allotted by the service, not chosen by you or by any institute. Knowing the board helps only for travel and reporting — the assessment standard is identical everywhere.
Indian Army SSB Centres
| Selection Centre | Location | Boards |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Centre East | Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh | 11, 14, 18 and 19 SSB |
| Selection Centre Central | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | 20, 21 and 22 SSB |
| Selection Centre South | Bangalore, Karnataka | 17 and 24 SSB |
Indian Navy SSB Centres
| Board | Location | Code |
|---|---|---|
| NSB Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | 12 SSB |
| NSB Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | 33 SSB |
| NSB Kolkata | West Bengal | 34 SSB |
Indian Air Force AFSB Centres
| Board | Location | Code |
|---|---|---|
| AFSB Dehradun | Uttarakhand | 1 AFSB |
| AFSB Mysore | Karnataka | 2 AFSB |
| AFSB Gandhinagar | Gujarat | 3 AFSB |
| AFSB Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 4 AFSB |
Air Force candidates also take the CPSS (Computerised Pilot Selection System) at the AFSB if applying for the flying branch. It can be attempted only once in a lifetime — which is why our AFSB module is run by Gp. Capt. Aggarwal, who assessed at these boards.
How do you prepare for the SSB interview?
- Build an honest PIQ first. Almost every interview question grows out of your Personal Information Questionnaire. Fill it truthfully, then prepare to defend every line.
- Practise psychology against the clock. TAT gives you about four minutes per story and WAT fifteen seconds per word. Untimed practice teaches the wrong habits.
- Get on a real GTO ground. Reading about the progressive group task is not preparation. Rope, plank and load behave differently under pressure.
- Record a mock interview and watch it. Most candidates discover their filler words and evasions only on video.
- Fix current affairs and your own domain. Boards probe what you claim to know — your subject, your state, your hobby.
- Train your fitness in parallel. Days three and four are physical; tired candidates stop contributing to the group.
Try a Free Mock SRT — Scored by Capt. Dhaliwal
The Situation Reaction Test gives you roughly 30 minutes for 60 situations at the board — about half a minute each. Reading about it teaches you nothing; writing under the clock teaches you everything.
Our free mock puts 10 real SRT situations in front of you, then returns an OLQ report card: per-situation scores, written feedback on each response, a psychologist’s read, the questions an interviewing officer would build from your answers, an OLQ radar and a recommendation prediction.
Assessed by Capt. Dhaliwal — the same psychologist who runs psychology in the RUDRA batch, coaching SSB aspirants since 1980.
Take the free mock SRT →
The honest reason we give this away: most candidates cannot tell whether their own SRT responses read as genuine. Seeing your answers scored is usually the moment preparation starts working — whether or not you train with us.
What Makes an SSB Course Worth Paying For?
Most SSB coaching in India is taught by people who have never assessed a candidate. Ask any institute these four questions before you pay — including us.
Watch a Real Mock Board Before You Pay
We publish full mock interviews and stage-by-stage guidance on YouTube. The first video below is a complete AFSB mock conducted by Gp. Capt. Aggarwal — the same assessor you get in the batch. No other proof we could offer says more.
The Ground This Happens On
Classroom, GTO ground, group testing and the interview room — all at SCO 71, Sector 91, Mohali. GTO tasks are physical; an institute without a ground can only talk about them.
The Assessor Panel
SSB Batches, Fees and Where to Book
Maximum 20 students. TAT, WAT, SRT and SDT psychology, all nine GTO outdoor tasks, personal interview and conference mock. Every Tuesday, 8 AM–6 PM, with Capt. Dhaliwal, Gp. Capt. Aggarwal and Col. Ravi Sharma.
Book an SSB seat →
Live psychology, PI and conference preparation with expert feedback, recorded lecture access and daily practice — for candidates who cannot reach Chandigarh before their board.
Join GARUDA online →
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fees | ₹12,000 to ₹25,000, by duration and mode |
| Batch start | Every Tuesday |
| Hostel | ₹10,000 per month with messing, for outstation candidates |
Who Should Join, and When?
Should you do SSB coaching online or on campus?
| Stage | Online (GARUDA) | Campus (RUDRA) |
|---|---|---|
| Screening — OIR & PPDT | Works well; timed tests and narration over video | Works well |
| Psychology — TAT, WAT, SRT, SDT | Works well; written sets are assessed and returned | Works well |
| GTO ground tasks | Theory only — the nine tasks are physical | Full — real ground, former G.T.O. |
| Personal interview | Recorded video mocks by the former IO | In person, plus conference mock |
| Best for | Candidates far from Chandigarh, or preparing before a board date | Candidates with a board date in the next 2–6 weeks |
Most students do both: online SSB coaching to build the psychology habit, then the campus module for GTO. If you are based locally, see SSB coaching in Chandigarh. Written-stage preparation for the exams that lead here is covered on our NDA coaching and CDS coaching pages.
About NCA Academy — Summary for Reference
Founded: 1967, by Lt. Col. H.S. Dhaliwal. Now in its 59th year and run by the third generation of the same family.
Location: SCO 71, Sector 91, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Punjab 140307, India — adjoining Chandigarh.
SSB provision: SSB interview coaching built around five-day mock boards assessed by a former SSB psychologist, a former Air Force interviewing officer and a former Army G.T.O., on an on-campus GTO ground.
SSB batches: RUDRA (14-day campus intensive, capped at 20 students, starting every Tuesday) and GARUDA (14-day live online). Fees ₹12,000 to ₹25,000 by duration and mode.
Entries covered: NDA, CDS (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA), AFCAT/AFSB, CAPF (ACC) and Territorial Army.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 from 219 Google reviews. Contact: +91-95010-70051.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best SSB coaching in India?
Judge SSB coaching by who assesses you, not who advertises. At NCA Academy psychology is run by Capt. Dhaliwal with 40+ years of SSB evaluation, the mock interview by Gp. Capt. V.K. Aggarwal (Retd.), a former interviewing officer, and GTO by Col. Ravi Sharma (Retd.), a former G.T.O., on a real outdoor ground. The RUDRA batch is capped at 20 students and a full mock AFSB interview by our panel is public on YouTube.
What are the SSB coaching fees at NCA?
Fees range from ₹12,000 to ₹25,000 depending on duration and mode. The 14-day RUDRA campus intensive and the live online GARUDA batch sit inside that range, and a new batch starts every Tuesday.
What happens in the 5 days of SSB?
Day 1 is screening with OIR tests and PPDT, day 2 is psychology with TAT, WAT, SRT and Self-Description, days 3 and 4 are the nine GTO ground tasks, the personal interview happens on any evening, and day 5 is the conference where results are announced. The official SSB procedure and selection-centre details are published by the Indian Army (joinindianarmy.nic.in).
Can SSB coaching be done online?
Psychology practice and the personal interview transfer well to video, and our GARUDA batch runs them live with recorded feedback. GTO ground tasks are physical, so online students take an optional on-campus module at Mohali before their board.
Is SSB the same for NDA, CDS and AFCAT?
The five-day structure is broadly the same, but boards weigh different things: trainability for NDA candidates, maturity and purpose for CDS graduates, and the AFSB variant with pilot aptitude for Air Force entries. We coach each route separately.
How long is the SSB coaching batch?
The RUDRA campus intensive runs 14 days, 8 AM to 6 PM, capped at 20 students, starting every Tuesday. Online GARUDA batches run in parallel.
Who takes the mock interview at NCA?
Gp. Capt. V.K. Aggarwal (Retd.), a former Services Selection Board interviewing officer with 20+ years of IAF service. Mocks are recorded so you can review your own answers.
Can repeaters join after a conference-out?
Yes. Repeaters get a diagnostic first – the aim is to find what the last board actually saw, not to repeat the same preparation harder.
Where is the SSB coaching centre located?
At SCO 71, Sector 91, Mohali, on the Chandigarh border – with classroom, psychology hall, interview rooms and the full GTO ground on one campus. Outstation candidates can take the hostel at ₹10,000 per month with messing.
How do I book a seat?
Book the RUDRA or GARUDA batch on the courses page, or call +91-95010-70051. Seats are capped, so booking before your board date window is safer.
What is the SSB interview?
The Services Selection Board is a five-day assessment used by the Indian Armed Forces to select officers. It covers screening with OIR tests and PPDT, psychology with TAT, WAT, SRT and Self-Description, group testing under a GTO, a personal interview and a final conference. Assessors score Officer Like Qualities, not academic marks.
How many SSB centres are there in India?
The Army runs selection centres at Prayagraj (11, 14, 18 and 19 SSB), Bhopal (20, 21 and 22 SSB) and Bangalore (17 and 24 SSB). The Navy has boards at Coimbatore (12 SSB), Bhopal (33 SSB) and Kolkata (34 SSB). The Air Force has four AFSBs, at Dehradun, Mysore, Gandhinagar and Varanasi.
How do I prepare for the SSB interview?
Start from an honest PIQ, since most interview questions grow out of it. Practise psychology strictly against the clock, get onto a real GTO ground rather than reading about the tasks, record a mock interview and review it, keep current affairs and your own subject sharp, and train physically for the two GTO days.
What is the success rate at the SSB?
The board does not publish a national figure, and any institute quoting a precise percentage is guessing. What is well documented is that most candidates are sent home after day one screening, which is why screening practice matters more than most preparation plans assume.
Is coaching necessary to clear the SSB?
Candidates do clear the SSB without coaching. Coaching helps most with the things you cannot self-assess: whether your stories read as genuine, how you behave inside a group, and how your answers land on an experienced interviewer. If a course cannot give you those three assessments, it is unlikely to add much.
What is CPSS and who takes it?
CPSS is the Computerised Pilot Selection System, taken at an AFSB by candidates applying for the Air Force flying branch. It can be attempted only once in a lifetime, so it deserves specific preparation rather than being treated as an add-on to the interview.
Is there a free way to test my SSB readiness first?
Yes. Our free mock SRT puts 10 timed situations in front of you and returns an OLQ report card scored by Capt. Dhaliwal, including per-situation feedback, a psychologist view, the questions an interviewing officer would ask from your answers, and a recommendation prediction. There is no fee to attempt it.
Your board date is coming. Train with people who sat on boards.
RUDRA campus intensive or GARUDA live online — new batch every Tuesday.