Medical Examination and Physical Fitness Test

Medical Examination and Physical Fitness Test:     

Guidelines for Physical Standards:

Candidates must be Physically and Mentally fit according to prescribed physical standards. Medical fitness criteria given blow are as per existing guidelines as on date of current requirement, these are subject to revision.

Candidates are also advised to rectify minor defects/ailments in order to speed up finalization of medical examination conducted at the Military Hospital after being recommended at the SSB. List of a few of such commonly found defects/ailments are given below:

1. Wax (Ears)
2. Deviated Nasal Septum 
3. Hydrocele/Phimosis
4. Overweight/Underweight
5. Under Sized Chest
6. Piles
7. Gynaecomastia
8. Tonsillitis 
9. Varicocele 

Note-Tattoos:

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. Comdt Selection Centre will be competent auth for clearing such cases.  

           Civilian candidates appearing for all types of commission in the Armed Forces will be entitled to outpatients treatment from service sources at public expense for injuries sustained or diseases contracted during the course of their examination by the Selection Board. They will be entitled to in-Patient treatment at public expense in the Officer’s ward of a hospital provided-

(a) The injury is sustained during the tests or,

(b) The disease is contracted during the course of the examination by selection board and there is no suitable accommodation in local civil hospital or it is impracticable to remove the patient to the civil hospital; or,

(c) The medical board requires the candidate’s admission for observation.

Note: They are not entitled to special nursing.

Medical Examination Board for selection of officers and pre-commissioning training academies are convened at designated Armed Forces Medical Services Hospitals near Service Selection Boards (SSBs). These Medical Boards are termed as ‘Special Medical Board’ (SMB). Candidates who clear SSB interview are referred to Armed Forces Medical Services Hospital with identification documents. Staff Surgeon of Hospital will identify the candidate, guide the candidate to fill the relevant portions of the AFMSF-2, organize investigations and examination by Medical, Surgical, Eye, ENT and Dental specialists.  After examination by Specialists, the candidate is brought before Medical Board. Medical Board once satisfied with findings of Specialists will declare fitness of candidate.

If any candidate is declared ‘Unfit’ by SMB, such candidates can request for ‘Appeal Medical Board’ (AMB). Detailed procedure for AMB will be provided by President SMB. Candidates who are unfit may apply for AMB to be completed within 42 days of SMB. Candidates declared unfit by AMB will be intimated by the President AMB about procedure of challenging the findings of AMB. 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.

In case a review by the Review Medical Board is to be requested, it is required for the candidate to submit a personal application addressed to the DGAFMS, to be handed over to the President AMB within 24 hours (i.e latest by the next calendar day). The office of the DGAFMS will inform the date and place (Delhi and Pune only) where the candidate will appear for a RMB, if sanctioned by DGAFMS on merit of the case.

(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 Military duties.

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

(c)         The minimum acceptable height is 157 cms. For Gorkhas and individuals belonging to hills of North-Eastern regions of India, Garhwal and Kumaon, the minimum acceptable heights will be 5 cms, Less. In case of candidates from Lakshadweep the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cms. Height and standards are given below:

Height/Weight Standers for Army:

TABLE-I

Note : Height relaxable upto 2.5 cm may be allowed where the Medical Board certifies that the candidate is likely to grow and come up to the required standard on completion of his training.

 “Individual’s weight is considered normal if it is within 10% departure from average weight 0given in the table I”. However, in individuals with heavy bones and broad build as well as individuals with thin build but otherwise healthy this may be relaxed to some extent on merit.

(d)         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.

(e)         There should be no maldevelopment or impairment of function of the bones or joint.

(f)          Mild Kyphosis or Lordosis where deformity is barley noticeable and there is no pain or restriction of movement will not preclude acceptance.

(g)         In case of noticeable Scoliosis or suspicion of any other abnormality or spinal deformity, more than mild, appropriate X-rays of the spine are to be taken and the Examinee referred for specialist’s advice.

(h)         Routine X-ray Spine is not carried out for Army candidates. However, if the same is done for any other purpose, the candidates with the following conditions will be disqualified for entry to Armed Forces:

(i)          Granulomatius disease of spine.

(ii)         Arthritis/spondylosis- Rheumatorid arthritis & allied disorders and ankylosing spondylitis.

(iii)        Scoliosis more than 10 degree as measured by Cobb’s Method.

(iv)        More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis

(v)         Spondylolisthesis/Spondylosis/Spondylolysis

(vi)        Herniated nucleus pulposes.

(vii)       Compression fracture of Vertebra.

(viii)      Sacaralisation Disease.

(ix)        Cervical ribs with demonstrable neurological or Circulatory deficit.

(x)         Presence of Schmorl’s node at more than one level. 

(xi)        Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies.           

(xii)       Incomplete Sacaralisation Unilateral or Bilateral.

(xiii)      Spina Bifida other SV 1 and LV 5 if completely Sacralised.

(xiv)      Any other abnormality, if so considered by specialist.

(j)          A candidate should have no past history of mental breakdown or fits.

(k)         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.

(l)          There should be no signs of functional or organic disease of the heart and blood vessels. Blood pressure should be normal.

(m)        There should be no enlargement of liver or spleen. Any evidence of disease of internal organs of the abdomen will be a cause for rejection.       

(n)         Un-operated hernias will make a candidate unfit. In case of Hernia which has been operated, a minimum of one year must have passed prior to final medical examination before commencement of the course.

(o)         There should be no hydrocele, varicocele or piles.

(p)         Urine examination will be done and any abnormality if detected will be a cause for rejection.

(q)         Any disease of skin which is likely to cause disability or disfigurement will also be a cause for rejection.

(r)          Vision:

Distance Vision (Corrected): Better Eye 6/6; Worse Eye 6/9. Myopia should not be more than2.5D including astigmatism and manifest hypermetropia not more than +3.5D including Astigmatism. Internal examination of the eye will be done by means of ophthalmoscope to rule out any disease of the eye. A candidate must have good binocular vision. The colour vision standard will be CP-III (Defective Safe). Candidates should be able to recognize white, signal red and signal green colours correctly as shown by Martin’s Lantern at a distance of 1.5 metre or read the requisite plate of Inshihara Book/Tokyo Medical College Book. Candidates who have undergone or have evidence for having undergone Radial Keratotomy, to improve the visual acuity will be permanently rejected for all the services. Candidates who have undergone Laser surgery for correction of refractive error are also not acceptable to defence services.

(s)         “Candidates who have undergone PRK (Photo Refractive Keratotomy/Lasik (Laser in Situ

Keratomileusis) will be unfit for commissioning in the all branches”. Candidates having undergone cataract surgery with or without IOL implants will also be declared unfit. Binocular vision must possess good binocular vision (fusion and stereopsis with good amplitude and depth).

(t)          USG abdomen examination will be carried out and any congential structural anomaly or disease of the abdominal organs will be a cause for rejection in Armed Forces

(u)         The candidates should have sufficient number of natural and sound teeth. A minimum of 14 dental points will be acceptable. When 32 teeth are present, the total dental points are 22. A candidate should not be suffering from severe pyorrhea.

(v)        Routine ECG for candidates must be within normal limits.  

(w)        SMB: The following investigations are carried out mandatorily during Special Medical Board. However, Medical Officer/ Medical Board examining a candidate may ask for any other investigation as required as indicated:

(i)            Complete Haemogram.

(ii)           Urine RE/ME.

(iii)          X Ray chest PA view.

(iv)          USG abdomen & pelvis.

(x)         Physical conditioning:

Prospective candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition, by following the under mentioned routine:

(i)            Running 2.4km in 15 minutes.

(ii)           Skipping.

(iii)          Push-ups and sit ups (minimum 20 each).

(iv)          Chin ups (minimum 08).

(v)           Rope climbing 3.4 metres.

Note: Candidate should not have been debarred from appearing in any examination by UPSC. Candidate should not have been arrested/convicted by a criminal court or involved in any court case.