UPSC - Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2008

Appendix - V for UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam

Guidelines with regard to Physical Standards for Candidates for Combined Defence Services Examination.

Note: Candidates Must Be Physically Fit According To The Prescribed Physical Standards. The Standards Of Medical Fitness And The Guidelines For The Same Are Given Below.

A Number Of Qualified Candidates Are Rejected Subsequently On Medical Grounds. Candidates Are Therefore Advised In Their Own Interest To Get Themselves Medically Examined Before Submitting Their Applications To Avoid Disappointment At The Final Stage.

1. A Candidate recommended by the Services Selection Board will under go a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Women cadidates will undergo Medical Examination by a Medical Board comprising male/ female doctos/ specialists/ Gynaeocologist. 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.

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. Candidates shall automatically report to the hospital opted by them on any working day, keeping in view, the time taken by Postal authorities to deliver their Medical document at the Hospital for medical examination. No call shall be given by the opted hospital and no correspondence in this regard shall be entertained. The candidate must be physically fit according to the prescribed physical standards which are summarised 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 over weight.
c) The minimum acceptable height for Male candidate is 157.5 cms. (157 cms for Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force). For women candidtes 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 for males and females candidates.

These concessions are not applicable for Navy and Air Force. Height and weight standards are given below.

Radial keratotomy and Laser Surgery : Candidates who have undergone or have the evidence of having undergone Radial Keratotomy, to improve the visual acuity, will be permanently rejected for all the three services.

In orer to detect PRK/LASIK all the candidates at SMB will be subjected to the measurement of Axial length by A-Scan biometer.

Candidates who have undergone Laser Surgery for correction of refractive error will be considered for commission in Army if they fulfill following criteria :-

i) Age more than 20 years:
ii) Uncomplicated stable LASIK/Excimer (PRK) laser procedure done for Myopia or Hypermetropia, with stable refraction for a period of six months after the procedure.
iii) A healthy retina.
iv) Corrected vision should be 6/6 in better eye and 6/9 in worse eye, with maximum residual refraction of + 1.50 in any meridian for myopia or hypermetropia.
v) Axial length within permissible limits.

Notes: The candidates will be asked to declare at the time of medical examination that he has undergone LASER procedure as above. He will be subjected to a thorough corneal and retinal evaluation by the ophthalmologist. However, he will be declared unfit at the SMB and those found to be within the acceptable limits for approval as above will be advised to undergo an Appeal Med. Board. During AMB he will be subjected to a thorough corneal and retinal evaluation as also scrutiny of the records by a Senior Adviser in Ophthalmology.

2. In addition to the above, the following medical standards will be applicable in respect of Air force candidates only:

a) Anthropometric measurements acceptable for Air Force are as follows:
Height: 162.5 cms
Leg Length: Min. 99 cms. & Max. 120 cms
Thigh Length: Max. 64 cms
Sitting Height: Min. 81.5 cms. & Max 96 cms

b) X-ray of Cervical and Lumbosacral spine will be carried out. The following conditions detected in the X-ray will be disqualifying:

• Granulomatous disease of Spine.
• Arthritis spondylosis.
• More than mild Kyphosis/Lordosis, Scolosis more than 15" by Cobb's method will be cause for rejection.
• Spondylothesis spondylosis.
• Herniated Nucleus Pulposus.
• Compression fracture of Vertebra.
• Scheuermanns Disease
• Cervical Ribs with demonstrable neurological or circulatory deficit.
• Presence of Schmorl's node at more than one level.
• Atlanto- occipital and Atlanto-axial anomalies.
• Incomplete Sacralisation unilateral or Bilateral.
• Any other abnormality, if so considered by specialist.
• Spenabifida at SV1 and LV5 Leval alone or together.

c) Carrying angle of elbow should not be more than 100 (ten degree).

d) X-Ray of Chest is compulsory.

e) Vision:

Distant Vision 6/6, in one eye and 6/9 Correctable to 6/6 Near Vision N-5 each eye Colour Vision CP-1 (MLT)
Manifest Hypermetropia must not exceed +2.00 Dsph 'Myopia-NIL' & +0.75 DSph.

3. The Medical standards for candidates of Naval Aviation Branch will be the same as for flying duties of Air Force.

4. Detection of any disability in the course of a special test carried out prescribed for one service, may render the candidate unfit for any other service(s), if so considered as disqualifying by Medical Board.

5. Physical Conditioning : Prospective candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition by following the under mentioned routine:

a) Running: 2 to 4 Km. in 15 minutes
b) Skipping
c) Pushups &: Minimum 20 each Sit-ups
d) Chin ups: Minimum 08
e) Rope Climbing: 3 to 4 meters.

UPSC - Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2008