SSB Medical Standards & Rejection Guidelines — Army, Navy, Air Force

You have cleared the SSB interview, been recommended, and now walk into the Special Medical Board (SMB) for the 3–5 day medical evaluation that ultimately decides whether you are commissioned. Below is a practical, up-to-date reference of the physical and clinical standards used by the Indian Armed Forces, the most common temporary and permanent rejections, and — most importantly — how to successfully appeal a rejection via the AMB (Appeal Medical Board) and, if needed, the RMB (Review Medical Board).

1. Overview — how the SSB medical works

The medical begins the morning after your Conference Day. Every recommended candidate is admitted to the Military Hospital / Command Hospital attached to the Selection Centre. Over the next 3–5 days you go through a battery of examinations — general medicine, surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, dental, orthopaedics, X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, blood, urine and stool. At the end you are told one of three things:

Fit — Your name is forwarded to IHQ / AFHQ for merit and commissioning.
Temporarily Unfit — You have a treatable condition. You may appeal via AMB within 42 days.
Permanently Unfit — You cannot be commissioned in the current service. You may still appeal to AMB / RMB on limited technical grounds.

2. General physical fitness expectations

Cardiovascular: Blood pressure within 100/60 – 140/90 mmHg. Resting pulse 60–90/min.
Body composition: Body weight within ±10% of the ideal weight for your height and age.
Chest expansion: Minimum 5 cm (2 inches) between full inhalation and full exhalation. Ensure you have practiced deep breathing before the medical.
Hearing: You must hear a forced whisper at 610 cm (20 feet) in each ear separately.
Dental: Minimum 14 dental points and no bleeding gums or open cavities.
Speech: No stammering. Clear articulation. This is also cross-checked by the psychologist earlier.
Skin: No active infection, chronic eczema, psoriasis or extensive tattooing on visible parts.

3. Height & weight standards (indicative)

The exact table is service-specific; below is a widely used indicative reference for age band 18–22. Add +5% for age 23–27, +10% for age 28–32. Deviations up to ±10% are usually acceptable if body composition is good; beyond that expect a temporary rejection for over/under weight.

Height (cm)	Height (ft/in)	Male — ideal wt (kg)	Female — ideal wt (kg)
152	4'11"	42.5	41.0
155	5'1"	44.0	42.5
157	5'2"	45.5	43.5
160	5'3"	47.0	45.0
162	5'4"	48.5	46.5
165	5'5"	50.0	48.0
167	5'6"	51.5	49.5
170	5'7"	53.0	51.0
173	5'8"	54.5	52.5
175	5'9"	56.0	54.0
178	5'10"	58.0	55.5
180	5'11"	60.0	57.0
183	6'0"	62.5	59.0
185	6'1"	65.0	61.5
188	6'2"	67.5	64.0
190	6'3"	70.0	66.0

Minimum heights: Army & Navy men — 157.5 cm (5'2"); Air Force men — 162.5 cm (5'4"). Women — 152 cm (5'0") for all three services. Relaxations up to 5 cm exist for candidates from hilly regions, the North-East and Gorkha communities.

4. Eyesight standards by service

Service / Branch	Uncorrected distance vision	Correction limit	Colour perception
Army — all arms	6/6, 6/9	Myopia up to -3.5 D; Hypermetropia up to +3.5 D	CP-III minimum
Navy — Executive / Submarine	6/6, 6/9 (correctable to 6/6, 6/6)	Myopia ≤ -0.75 D; Hypermetropia ≤ +1.5 D	CP-I mandatory
Navy — Naval Aviator	6/6, 6/6 both eyes	Same as IAF pilot	CP-I mandatory
IAF — Pilot / Flying Branch	6/6, 6/9 (better eye 6/6 mandatory)	Hypermetropia only, up to +1.5 D. Myopia not permitted.	CP-I mandatory
IAF — Ground Duty / Technical	6/6, 6/9 (correctable to 6/6, 6/6)	Myopia up to -3.5 D; Hypermetropia up to +3.5 D	CP-II / CP-III depending on branch

LASIK / PRK: Now permitted for IAF pilots subject to strict conditions — pre-op refractive error not more than ±3.5 D, procedure done at least 12 months before medical, stable refraction, no complications, and healthy retina/cornea. Carry your LASIK card and OCT / topography reports.

5. Common temporary medical rejections (correctable)

If your rejection falls into this list, do not lose hope — treat the condition, obtain the post-op fitness certificate, and appeal via AMB within 42 days. Most such appeals succeed.

Surgical (day-care / minor)

Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS) — septoplasty
Varicocele Grade II / III — varicocelectomy
Hydrocele — hydrocelectomy
Piles / Fistula — routine surgery + heal
Gynecomastia (true) — subcutaneous mastectomy
Umbilical / Inguinal hernia — mesh repair
Undescended testis — orchidopexy

Non-surgical / lifestyle

Knock knees < 8 cm — orthotics + physio + weight loss
Over/under weight — reduce ±5% before appeal
Anaemia — dietary correction + iron supplementation
High BP borderline — 3 months of exercise + salt cut
Dental caries / gingivitis — routine dental treatment
Wax / infected ears — ENT clearance
Pseudo-gynecomastia — cardio + weight loss
Vitamin D / B12 deficiency — supplementation

6. Common permanent disqualifications

Rigid flat foot (adult acquired flat foot with no arch on tip-toe)
Structural knock knees requiring surgical correction
Colour blindness for pilots / submariners / executive branch
History of recurring epileptic seizures, psychiatric disorder or drug abuse
Congenital heart disease, valvular defects, uncorrected arrhythmias
Uncorrected refractive error beyond service limits (without LASIK eligibility)
Chronic asthma, uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal or liver disease
Poor hearing not correctable to normal range
Loss of a limb, congenital limb deformity, spinal deformity
HIV positive, active tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis

7. Ladies-specific standards

Minimum height 152 cm (5'0") for Army / Navy / Air Force.
Regular menstrual history; last menstrual period is noted.
Pregnancy at the time of medical is a temporary bar (no medical is conducted).
Gynaecological consult is part of the standard workup.
All other clinical, dental, eyesight and hearing standards are identical to men, adjusted for the female height-weight chart.

8. The AMB / RMB appeal process — step by step

Collect the SMB proceedings. Ask for the signed Special Medical Board sheet stating the exact ground of rejection. Without this document, no appeal is possible.
Treat the correctable condition. Consult a specialist immediately. Complete surgery / treatment and obtain the discharge summary along with a written post-op fitness certificate.
File the AMB petition within 42 days. Send a written appeal on the prescribed format to the AMB Nodal Officer at the Command Hospital allotted for your zone. Enclose SMB proceedings, treatment records, discharge summary, post-op fitness certificate and identity proof. The 42-day clock starts on the date the SMB was signed.
Undergo the Appeal Medical Board. Usually 3–5 days at the Command Hospital, where you are re-examined by every specialist relevant to the ground of rejection. If found fit, the AMB proceedings are forwarded to the concerned Selection Centre.
Review Medical Board (RMB), if AMB also rejects. Petition DGAFMS Delhi Cantonment within 42 days of AMB. RMB is admitted only in limited categories and typically requires a fresh specialist opinion. Its decision is final.

9. Documents to carry for the SSB medical

Original PIQ, birth certificate, class 10/12 marksheets, graduation certificate (if applicable).
Any past medical records — surgery discharge summaries, imaging films, specialist opinions.
Spectacle prescription with current pair (and spare pair). LASIK card if applicable.
Blood group report and complete vaccination record (COVID + routine).
Personal essentials for the 3–5 day hospital stay — 2 pairs of pyjamas, slippers, toiletries, reusable water bottle, a small notebook and pen.
Contact number of a family member who can courier extra reports if needed.

10. Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum height for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force?

The baseline for men is 157.5 cm (5'2") for the Army and Navy and 162.5 cm (5'4") for the Air Force. Women aspirants need 152 cm (5'0") for the Army/Navy and 152 cm for the Air Force. There are documented relaxations for candidates from hill regions, the North-East, and Gorkha communities — usually 5 cm less. For flying branches the Air Force additionally checks sitting height, leg length and thigh length.

I have flat feet — will I be rejected in the SSB medical?

Yes for the Air Force flying branch and for infantry combat arms, but not automatically for the Army/Navy in most non-combat streams. Flat foot is confirmed by the pedograph. Mild flexible flat foot with a visible arch on tip-toe is often acceptable. Rigid flat foot is a permanent bar. Get a pedograph done well before the SSB so you know your status and can appeal informed.

I have knock knees. Am I permanently rejected?

Not necessarily. The intermalleolar distance is measured with feet together. Up to 5 cm is generally acceptable. Beyond that, you are rejected as temporarily unfit and given time (usually 6 months) to correct it through physiotherapy, weight reduction and orthotic exercises. Severe / structural knock knees requiring surgery is a permanent bar.

Gynecomastia — is it a permanent SSB medical rejection?

True glandular gynecomastia (breast tissue) is a temporary rejection. It is treatable by minor day-care surgery, after which you become fit and can appeal. Pseudo-gynecomastia (only fat, no gland) responds to weight reduction and cardio — you do not need surgery. The medical board differentiates the two on palpation.

What is the eyesight requirement for the Indian Air Force pilot?

For an IAF pilot: uncorrected distance vision 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye, correctable to 6/6 only with hypermetropia up to +1.50 D. Myopia (short-sight) is not permitted. LASIK / PRK surgery is accepted for pilots subject to strict criteria — pre-op error not more than -3.5 D / +3.5 D, procedure done at least 12 months before medical, stable refraction, healthy retina and cornea. For Ground Duty and Technical Branch the limits are more relaxed.

What eyesight is acceptable for the Army and Navy?

Indian Army: distance vision 6/6 and 6/9, correctable to 6/6 and 6/6 with glasses; myopia up to -3.5 D and hypermetropia up to +3.5 D. Indian Navy: for Executive and Submarine branch a stricter standard applies (correctable to 6/6 both eyes, myopia ≤ -0.75 D). For Naval Aviator the standard is the same as IAF pilot. Colour perception CP-I is required for pilots, executive and submarine; CP-III is enough for most technical branches.

Are dental problems a rejection factor?

You need a minimum of 14 dental points (each fully functional tooth counts as one point). Cavities and gum disease can be treated pre-SSB. Impacted wisdom teeth with pain or infection are a temporary bar until treated. Fully edentulous jaw or severe malocclusion is a permanent bar.

What is varicocele? Will I be rejected?

Varicocele is enlargement of the veins in the scrotum. Grade I (small, only on straining) is generally accepted for most services. Grade II and III require surgical correction; you are declared temporarily unfit and can be re-examined after successful surgery.

What is a deviated nasal septum (DNS)?

DNS with septoplasty deformity, breathing difficulty or repeated sinusitis is a temporary bar. It is corrected by a minor surgery (Sub-Mucosal Resection). After 6 weeks of healing you can appeal with the operative and post-op fitness certificate.

What if I have piles / fistula / hydrocele?

All three are treatable and lead to a temporary rejection until surgically corrected and healed. Post-treatment you can appeal via the AMB/RMB with the discharge summary and post-op fitness certificate — most candidates pass on appeal.

What is the Appeal Medical Board (AMB) and Review Medical Board (RMB)?

If the Special Medical Board (SMB) at your SSB declares you temporarily or permanently unfit, you have the right to appeal within 42 days at an Appeal Medical Board at a designated military hospital (Command Hospital or equivalent). If AMB also rejects you, you have one final chance — the Review Medical Board (RMB) at DGAFMS Delhi within 42 days of AMB, but only for very limited grounds. Ensure you carry every medical record, imaging, treatment history, and a written petition.

What documents should I carry for the SSB medical?

PIQ, birth certificate, all reports of any past illness or surgery, spectacle prescription and current pair, blood group report, and if applicable — LASIK/PRK card, pedograph, and any specialist opinion. Also carry pyjamas, slippers, and reusable water bottle. The medical takes 3–5 days; you stay in the hospital wards during that time.

Can I take the SSB medical again if I was rejected?

You cannot take the medical again for the same SSB call, but for a subsequent SSB call (after clearing a fresh entry exam) you get a fresh full medical. Treat the earlier medical opinion as helpful diagnostic feedback — get the treatable conditions fixed before your next attempt.

Does BMI matter in the SSB medical?

A high BMI does not directly disqualify but is examined alongside the height-weight chart and body composition. Being 10% above the ideal weight is generally tolerable; beyond that you may be declared temporarily unfit for obesity and asked to reduce weight. Under-weight below the acceptable range is treated the same way.

Are tattoos allowed in the SSB medical?

Small, indelible tattoos on the inner forearm and back of the palm are permitted, and religious tattoos on the wrist for tribal candidates. Anything else — including large tattoos, tattoos on the face/neck, or offensive content — is a bar to entry. This is a policy check, not a medical one, but it is enforced at the SSB documentation stage.

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