NDA physical and medical standards: how to read the current official rules safely

Medical standards are not one universal table. A candidate may need to read different sections for:

• Army entry;
• Naval/Navy entry;
• Air Force Ground Duty pathways;
• Air Force Flying, where additional anthropometric and aviation medical standards can apply.

That distinction matters more than memorising one headline height number.

After the selection stages, recommended candidates undergo medical examination according to the applicable service procedure. The medical board, not a website, coaching centre or self-measurement, determines the official result.

If the current notification provides an appeal or review process for a medical decision, reproduce that process exactly from the notification and service instructions. Do not paraphrase deadlines from memory.

The current official standards may cover:

• height and height-related concessions where applicable;
• weight in relation to height and age;
• chest and musculoskeletal assessment;
• vision and colour-vision standards;
• hearing and ENT assessment;
• dental standards;
• cardiovascular and respiratory assessment;
• surgical or medical history;
• service-specific anthropometric measurements for aviation roles.

The production page should show the current official table or an accurately transcribed, reviewer-checked summary only after source verification. A number without its service, sex, age, concession rule and measurement context is incomplete.

Do not treat a home measurement as a medical-board verdict. Use it only as an early planning signal.

Safe workflow:

1. Identify the exact service/branch you are considering.
2. Open the current UPSC notification medical section.
3. Read the matching table and all footnotes, concessions and age conditions.
4. If you have a genuine concern, discuss it with an appropriately qualified clinician.
5. Rely on the official service medical assessment for the selection decision.

Air Force Flying and other aviation duties can have additional medical and anthropometric requirements. These should not be collapsed into a generic "NDA eyesight rule." The Air Force page should be cross-linked for service-specific context, while the current UPSC notification remains the cycle authority.

• using an old NDA notification as if it were current;
• mixing Army, Navy and Air Force numbers;
• treating a coaching site's summary as the governing rule;
• ignoring footnotes and regional concessions;
• assuming that meeting one measurement means full medical fitness;
• self-diagnosing a condition from a list on the internet.

This page can help you locate the correct official standard. It cannot diagnose you. Bring relevant medical records to an appropriate doctor if you need professional advice, and follow official instructions if you are called for a service medical board.