Physical fitness

Physical fitness:

Guidelines with regard to Physical Standards for Candidates for Combined

Defence Services Examination.

Note-I: Candidates must be physically and mentally fit according to the prescribed physical standards. Medical fitness criteria given below are as per existing guidelines as on the date of publication and these guidelines are subject to revision.

A number of qualified candidates are rejected subsequently on medical grounds. All candidates are, therefore advised in their own interest to get themselves medically examined before submitting their applications to avoid disappointment at the final stage.

Candidates are also advised to rectify minor defects /ailments in order to speed up finalization of medical examinations conducted at the Military Hospital after being recommended by SSBs.

Few of such commonly found defects/ailments are listed below: -

(i) Wax (ears)

(ii) Deviated Nasal Septum

(iii) Hydrocele/Varicocele/Phimosis

(iv) Overweight/Underweight

(v) Piles and

(vi) Gynaecomastia

Note-II: Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on inner face of forearm i.e. from inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of hand. Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable and candidates will be barred from further selection. Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing custom and traditions will be permitted on a case to case basis.

Commandant Selection Centre will be competent authority for clearing such cases.

Note: A candidate recommended by the Services Selection Board will undergo a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Women candidates will undergo Medical Examination by a Medical Board comprising male/female doctors/specialists/Gynaecologist. There will be a Lady Medical Officer as Member of Board. Only those candidates will be admitted to the Academy who are declared fit by the Medical Board. However, the candidates declared unfit will be intimated by the President of the Medical Board and procedure for request for an Appeal Medical Board (AMB) will also be intimated to the candidate.

Note: Candidates who are unfit may apply for Appeal Medical Board (AMB) to be completed within 42 days of SMB and may request for Review Medical Board (RMB) within one day of completion of Appeal Medical Board. Candidates declared unfit by AMB will be intimated by the President AMB about procedure of challenging the findings of AMB. The candidates will also be intimated that holding Review Medical Board (RMB) will be granted at the discretion of DGAFMS based on the merit of the case and that RMB is not a matter of right.

Note: The candidate must be physically fit according to the prescribed physical standards which are summarized below:

(a) The candidate must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/disability which is likely to interfere with the efficient performance of duties.

(b) There should be no evidence of weak constitution, bodily defects or underweight. The candidate should not be overweight or obese.

Height:

The minimum acceptable height for male candidates is 157.5 cms. (157 cms for Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force).

For Women candidates minimum acceptable height is 152 cms.

For Gorkhas and individuals belonging to hills of North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali and Kumaon, the Minimum acceptable height will be 5 cms less. In case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cms.

NOTE: To meet special requirement as a pilot in the Air Force the acceptable measurements of leg length, thigh length and sitting height will be as under:

Height 162.5 cms.

Weight: Average weight of male is considering around 44 kg to 81 kgs.

Average weight of female is considering around 39 kg to 54 kgs.

According to height and age of candidate. Individual’s weight is considered normal if it is within ±10% departure from average weight.

Chest should be well developed. Fully expanded chest should not be less than 81 cms. The minimum range of expansion after full inspiration should be 5 cms. The measurement will be taken with a tape so adjusted that its lower edge should touch the nipple in front and the upper part of the tape should touch the lower angle of the shoulder blades behind. X-Ray of the chest is compulsory and will be taken to rule out any disease of the chest.

NOTE: A candidate should have no past history of mental breakdown or fits.

Visual Standards:

Eyes and Vision standards:

Should have: -

(1) Objective Convergence. It should be ≤ 10 cm.

(2) Accommodation. It should be ≤ 12 cm

(3) Binocular Single Vision (BSV). It should be at least grade-III

(4) Visual Fields. Should be complete.

(5) Vision:

Visual Standards for Air Force:

Candidates who habitually wear spectacles are not eligible for Air Force.

Minimum distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in other correctable to 6/6 only for

Maddox Rod Test

Vision Standards for Naval Candidates:

Note: The following ocular diseases will make a candidate unfit:

(a) Ptosis.

(b) Corneal Opacity.

(c) Pterygium.

(d) Lenticular opacity.

(e) Uveitis.

(f) Nystagmus.

(g) Entropion/Ectropion.

(h) Squint.

(j) Night blindness.

(k) Retinal lesions.

(l) Naso-Lacrimal occlusion.

Note: Vision Correction: Radial Keratotomy is not acceptable. Laser Surgery for correction of visual defects should not have been done earlier than 20 years of age on the date of operation, and also within one-year period of reporting for medical examination. Photo Refractive Keratotomy (PRK) and LASIK (Laser in Situ Kerotomileusis) are not permitted for Navy GS(X) and Hydro entry.

Hearing: The hearing should be normal. A candidate should be able to hear a forced whisper with each ear at a distance of 610 cms. in a quiet room. There should be no evidence of present or past disease of the ear, nose and throat. There is no impediment of speech.

Note: In your own interest you are advised to undergo a preliminary medical check-up for wax in ears, refractory error of eyes, fungal infection of skin etc. before reporting for the SSB interview.

NOTE: The following are usual causes for rejection, the list is not exhaustive and Medical Board is the final authority on fitness.

(i) Sinus, fistulae and hernia, cyst, hyper/hypo pigmented patches, swelling, naevus, vascular malformations scars anywhere on the body.

(ii) Head and neck: Muscolo-skeletal deformities which can interfere in using safety gear, cervical rib.

(iii) Chest. Musculoskeletal deformities viz pectus excavatum, pigeon chest, rickety rosary, pleural effusion, parenchymal lesions of lungs, active or residual lesions of tuberculosis.

(iv) Abdomen and reproductive system: Hernia, organomegaly, vascular deformities. Renal deformities, gall stones, renal tones etc. Deformities of reproductive system.

(v) Upper limbs, lower limbs and spine: Hyper flexible or restricted movements of joints, Cubitus valgus, Cubitus Varus, genu recurvatum, deformities of hands and feet, kyphosis, scoliosis, congenital deformities, like spina bifida etc.

(vi) Skin: Vitiligo, scars, vascular malformations chronic skin diseases.

Note: Medical Examination of Female Candidates. General methods and principles of medical examination of female candidates will be the same as for male candidates. However, special points pertaining to medical examination of female candidates are given in succeeding paragraphs. A detailed menstrual and gynaecological history in the form of a questionnaire is to be obtained from the candidate. A detailed physical and systemic examination will be carried out of the candidate and she should be examined by a lady Medical Officer or a lady Gynaecologist or male medical officer in the presence of female attendant.

There many examinations for female candidates which will leads to unfit, so please thoroughly go through the Notification and get examine yourself to avoid any problem at the time of final selection.  

IMP NOTE: there are many more MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR CDS, it is advice to you refer notification for full details, before final conclusion.