What is the official motto of the National Defence Academy NDA of India?

Introduction / Context:
The National Defence Academy, usually called NDA, is a premier joint services academy in India where cadets of the Army, Navy and Air Force train together. Like many military institutions, it has a concise motto that reflects its core values. Questions about such mottos are common in defence related exams and general knowledge tests, because they symbolise the ethos of national service and sacrifice expected from officers in training.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The institution in question is the National Defence Academy of India.
• The question asks for its official motto.
• Options are Do or Die, Service Before Self, Courage and Honour, and Nation First Always.
• We assume the exam style answer follows the widely accepted motto associated with NDA and the broader Indian defence ethos.

Concept / Approach:
The motto Service Before Self, expressed in Sanskrit as Seva Paramo Dharma in many Indian defence contexts, captures the idea that duty and service to the nation come before personal interests. This phrase is strongly associated with Indian Army traditions and is also linked with the training philosophy at NDA. While other options sound like motivating slogans, Service Before Self is the specific motto that appears in official usage and in standard general knowledge references for defence academies, making it the correct choice here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is asking for a formal motto, not just any inspiring phrase.Step 2: Recall that Service Before Self is the best known motto associated with Indian Army culture and with the training ideals of NDA.Step 3: Compare the options and identify Service Before Self as the one that matches this established motto.Step 4: Select Service Before Self and treat the remaining options as generic motivational lines not specifically adopted as the NDA motto.

Verification / Alternative check:
Defence oriented reference books, academy brochures and exam preparation guides consistently highlight Service Before Self as the motto that captures the spirit of training at the National Defence Academy and the Indian Army. The Sanskrit equivalent Seva Paramo Dharma reinforces the same meaning. These sources do not list phrases like Do or Die, Courage and Honour or Nation First Always as the official NDA motto. Checking more than one such reference confirms that candidates are expected to associate Service Before Self with NDA in objective questions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Do or Die is a strong phrase often used in speeches and motivational contexts but it is not recognised as the formal motto of NDA. Courage and Honour and Nation First Always sound appropriate for military life but are not the officially adopted motto shown on emblems or formal documents for the academy. Because the question asks for the motto and not for any phrase that might be found in inspirational literature, only the option that matches the recognised motto, Service Before Self, is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may be tempted by Do or Die because it sounds dramatic and military themed. Others might think that Nation First Always must be correct simply because it mentions the nation explicitly. These are psychological traps built into the options. The safe strategy is to rely on what is printed in textbooks and official materials, namely the motto Service Before Self, and to memorise it clearly as linked to NDA and the Indian Army traditions.

Final Answer:
The official motto associated with the National Defence Academy and the broader Indian Army ethos is Service Before Self, so Service Before Self is the correct option.