UPSC NDA & NA SSB Interview and Personality Assessment Syllabus

What does SDT (Self Description Test) require the candidate to write about?

The candidate's own opinion plus the opinions of parents, teachers/employer, friends about themselves, and what kind of person they want to become.

The SDT is also commonly called by what other name?

The Self Appraisal Test (it assesses self-awareness and honesty).

What does GTO stand for, and what does the officer assess?

Group Testing Officer; assesses candidates' Officer Like Qualities through a series of indoor and outdoor group and individual tasks.

Over how many days are the GTO tasks conducted, and what are the two sets called?

Two days — GTO Day 1 (e.g., GD, GPE, PGT, HGT, Group Obstacle Race, Lecturette) and GTO Day 2 (Individual Obstacles, Command Task, Final Group Task, etc.).

List the typical GTO tasks (the nine tasks) assessed by the Group Testing Officer.

Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race), Lecturette, Individual Obstacles, Command Task, and Final Group Task (FGT).

What is the Group Discussion (GD) task at SSB, and how many topics are usually discussed?

An unstructured discussion where the group talks on given topics with no leader appointed; usually two topics are discussed (often candidates choose one), with no formal conclusion required.

What does GPE stand for, and what materials are provided?

Group Planning Exercise (also called the Military Planning Exercise); a model/map with a written narrative of several simultaneous problems is provided for the group to plan a solution.

What are the stages of the Group Planning Exercise (GPE)?

Reading of the narrative by GTO, candidates read the model themselves, ~5 min individual written plan, then group discussion to reach a common plan, and finally a nominated candidate presents the group's plan.

What does PGT stand for and what is its objective?

Progressive Group Task; the first outdoor group task where the group crosses a series of progressively harder obstacles using helping materials (plank, rope, load) while obeying rules.

What are the standard rules (color/structure rules) common to PGT and other outdoor group tasks?

Group rule (stay together), colour rule (don't touch red/out-of-bounds; white is safe, black/blue/green for helping materials), distance rule, and rule that the load and helping materials are treated as commodities subject to the same rules.

What is the Half Group Task (HGT)?

An outdoor task similar to PGT but with the group split into two halves, each crossing one obstacle, so the GTO can observe individuals more closely.

What is the Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race) at SSB?

A competitive outdoor task where groups race over a set of obstacles while carrying a rolled tent/log (the 'snake'), testing team spirit, stamina, and competitive drive.

What is the Lecturette task and how is it conducted?

An individual task where each candidate gives a short extempore talk (about 3 minutes) on a topic chosen from a card of four topics, after about 3 minutes of preparation.

What does the Lecturette primarily assess?

A candidate's confidence, general awareness/knowledge, ability to organise thoughts, and power of expression while speaking before a group.

What are the Individual Obstacles at SSB, and how are they scored?

A set of 10 obstacles of increasing difficulty, each numbered 1–10 (the number is its point value); the candidate attempts as many as possible alone within about 3 minutes to maximise total points.

How much total time is given for the Individual Obstacles task and may an obstacle be repeated?

About 3 minutes total; a candidate may repeat any obstacle to score more points but each successful obstacle counts only once.

What is the Command Task at SSB?

An individual task where each candidate, acting as commander, calls subordinates of their choice to help cross an obstacle, testing leadership, planning, and the ability to command and use resources.

What does FGT stand for and how does it differ from PGT?

Final Group Task; the last outdoor group task — a single obstacle the whole group crosses together as one unit (no progressive series), demanding teamwork to round off the GTO assessment.

What is the Personal Interview at SSB and who conducts it?

A one-on-one interview conducted by the Interviewing Officer (IO), a personal conversation covering the candidate's background, family, education, hobbies, and current affairs to assess personality and Officer Like Qualities.

What is the PIQ form and how is it used in the Personal Interview?

The Personal Information Questionnaire — a form filled by the candidate giving personal, family, educational, and activity details; the Interviewing Officer bases many interview questions on it.

What is the Conference at SSB, and who attends it?

The final stage where the candidate appears before the full board of assessors (President, Deputy President, Psychologist, GTOs, IOs) who discuss and take the final accept/reject decision.

What is the purpose of the Conference (closing) at SSB?

To pool the independent assessments of the three techniques (Psychologist, GTO, IO) and arrive at a consensus recommendation on whether to recommend the candidate.

What are the three broad results a candidate can get after the SSB Conference?

Recommended (selected for further medical), Not Recommended (rejected), and in some cases a borderline review; recommended candidates then undergo the medical examination.

What are the four factors (head groups) under which the 15 Officer Like Qualities are classified?

Factor I: Planning and Organising; Factor II: Social Adjustment; Factor III: Social Effectiveness; Factor IV: Dynamic (Drive). (Together they cover the 15 OLQs.)

Name the qualities grouped under Factor I (Planning and Organising) of the OLQs.

Effective Intelligence, Reasoning Ability, Organising Ability, and Power of Expression.

Name the qualities grouped under Factor II (Social Adjustment) of the OLQs.

Social Adaptability, Cooperation, Sense of Responsibility.

Name the qualities grouped under Factor III (Social Effectiveness) of the OLQs.

Initiative, Self Confidence, Speed of Decision, Ability to Influence the Group, and Liveliness.

Name the qualities grouped under Factor IV (Dynamic/Drive) of the OLQs.

Determination, Courage, and Stamina.

How does the PP&DT (screening) differ from the TAT (psychology) even though both use pictures?

PP&DT uses one slightly hazy picture followed by a group discussion and is a screening tool; TAT uses 11 pictures (including a blank) with no discussion and is a projective psychology test scored only by the Psychologist.