Defence and paramilitary recruitments enforce the most demanding physical and medical selection filters in India. Every year, thousands of candidates who achieve high scores in written examinations are declared medically unfit due to preventable conditions, incorrect posture, or undetected physical defects.
Because requirements differ between officer entries (NDA, CDS) and soldier entries (Agniveer, Constable), understanding official testing procedures is critical.
1. Physical Fitness Tests (PFT) & Endurance Standards
The Physical Fitness Test evaluates cardiovascular endurance, upper-body strength, and functional agility:
| Recruitment Stream | Primary Running Benchmark | Upper Body / Strength Event | Obstacle & Agility Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army Agniveer (GD / Trades) | 1.6 km (1 Mile) Run: • Group I: ≤ 5 min 30 sec (60 M) • Group II: 5 min 31s – 5 min 45s (48 M) | Pull-ups (Beam): • 10: 40 Marks • 9: 33 Marks • 8: 27 Marks • 7: 21 Marks • 6: 16 Marks (Min pass) | • 9-Feet Ditch Jump (Pass/Fail) • Zig-Zag Balancing Beam (Pass/Fail) |
| Navy Agniveer (SSR/MR) | 1.6 km Run: • Male: 6 min 30 sec • Female: 8 min 00 sec | Squats (Uthak Baithak): • Male: 20 reps | Female: 15 reps Push-ups: Male: 12 reps Bent Knee Sit-ups: Female: 10 reps |
| Air Force Agniveervayu | 1.6 km Run: • Male: 7 min 00 sec • Female: 8 min 00 sec | Push-ups: 10 reps (Male) Sit-ups: 10 reps (Male) Squats: 20 reps (Male) | Female: 10 Sit-ups, 15 Squats within timed windows |
| NDA / CDS Cadets (Pre-Entry) | Recommended: 2.4 km in 15 mins, 20 push-ups, 8 chin-ups, rope climbing | Assessed comprehensively during the 5-day SSB test battery | Standard military obstacle courses (Tarzan swing, Tiger leap, Commando walk) |
2. Regional Height & Chest Measurement Standards
Minimum height specifications account for regional anthropological diversity across India:
Regional Height Table for Soldiers / Agniveer (Male):
- Western Himalayan Region (J&K, Himachal, Garhwal, Kumaon): 163 cm (Chest: 77 cm + 5 cm expansion)
- Eastern Himalayan Region (Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam): 160 cm (Chest: 77 cm)
- Western Plains (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Western UP): 170 cm (Chest: 77 cm)
- Eastern Plains (Eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand): 169 cm (Chest: 77 cm)
- Central Region (MP, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra): 168 cm (Chest: 77 cm)
- Southern Region (AP, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala): 166 cm (Chest: 77 cm)
- All Gorkhas (Nepalese and Indian): 157 cm
Female candidates: Standard minimum height across central defence entries is generally 152 cm (147 cm for Gorkhas and North-Eastern regions).
3. General Health & Surgical Inspections
During detailed medical examination (DME) by military medical specialists:
- Knock Knees (Genu Valgum): While standing at attention, the inner malleoli of ankles must touch without the knees overlapping. A minimum separation of 5 cm between knees is checked.
- Flat Foot (Pes Planus): The arch of the foot must be clearly visible. Candidates with completely flat arches fail weight-bearing endurance checks.
- Carrying Angle: The carrying angle of the elbow must be between 10° and 15° for males and up to 18° for females. Angles exceeding 20° are disqualified (Cubitus Valgus).
- Surgical Scars & Hernia: Abdominal surgery scars must be completely healed and hernia-free. Active hydrocele, varicocele, piles, or un-descended testes cause temporary or permanent rejection.
- Ears & Dental Points: Ear wax must be cleaned prior to medicals; eardrum perforations cause instant unfitness. Candidates must secure a minimum of 14 dental points out of 22.
4. Visual Acuity & LASIK Surgical Policies
Ocular fitness standards vary significantly by branch:
| Service Cadre | Distant Vision | Correctable Limit | Refractive Surgery (LASIK) Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army (General Duty) | 6/6 (Right), 6/9 (Left) | Correctable to 6/6 | LASIK not permitted for soldier entries |
| Army (Technical / Clerk) | 6/12 each eye | Correctable to 6/6 | Spectacles permitted within ±2.50D |
| Navy (SSR / MR) | 6/6, 6/9 without glass | 6/6 with glass | LASIK not permitted |
| Air Force Flying Branch | 6/6 each eye | Uncorrected | Strictly NO refractive surgery permitted |
| Air Force Ground Duty (Tech) | 6/12 each eye | Correctable to 6/6 | LASIK permitted only if age > 20 and specific corneal thickness criteria met |
Review our guides on What is NDA, What is CDS, and What is Agniveer.