Physical & Medical Standards
for Assistant Commandants
All candidates must meet stringent physical and medical standards as prescribed in Appendix-V of the official notification. These benchmarks are non-negotiable and strictly enforced at the Physical Standards Test (PST) and Detailed Medical Examination (DME) stages.
Physical standards are mandatory — minimum height, chest, and weight benchmarks are non-negotiable for all candidates.
Vision standards are strict — glasses and LASIK are permitted but must meet specific refractive error limits.
DME & RME process — candidates declared UNFIT at DME can appeal before a Review Medical Board on the next day.
Disqualifying conditions — chronic diseases, prohibited conditions, and deformities will result in immediate disqualification.
All candidates must fulfill the minimum physical standards as outlined below. These are strictly adhered to and any deviation may result in disqualification.
| Criteria | Male Candidate | Female Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| Height | Male 165 cm | Female 157 cm |
| Chest | Male 81 cm (unexpanded) + minimum 5 cm expansion | N/A Not Applicable |
| Weight | Male Minimum 50 kg | Female Minimum 46 kg |
Vision is a critical requirement for all CAPF personnel. Both corrected and uncorrected standards are assessed at the time of the medical examination.
Distant Vision: 6/6 or 6/9
(with or without glasses)
Near Vision: N6
(corrected)
Distant Vision: 6/9 or 6/12
(with or without glasses)
Near Vision: N9
(corrected)
| Parameter | Better Eye | Worse Eye |
|---|---|---|
| Distant Vision | 6/6 or 6/9 (with or without glasses) | 6/9 or 6/12 |
| Near Vision | N6 (corrected) | N9 (corrected) |
| Color Perception | Must be CP-III — assessed by Ishihara Plates | |
- Correction Permitted: Use of glasses or LASIK surgery is allowed
- Myopia: Up to −4.00 D (including cylindrical correction)
- Hypermetropia: Up to +4.00 D (including cylindrical correction)
- Color Perception: Must be CP-III, assessed using Ishihara Plates
Candidates will be assessed for conditions across multiple body systems. The presence of any of the following disqualifying conditions will lead to being declared UNFIT.
Carrying Angle
Male: Must not exceed 15 degrees
Female: Must not exceed 20 degrees
Ear Examination
No deafness or persistent ear discharge. No atresia of meatus, exostosis, or tumors. No history of frequent earaches, tinnitus (ringing), or vertigo (dizziness).
Nasal Conditions
Disqualifying: Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS), atrophic rhinitis, tubercular ulcerations, and chronic sinusitis.
Dental Standards
Must possess a sufficient number of healthy teeth for proper chewing. Must not suffer from severe pyorrhea (gum disease).
Neck & Cervical Spine
No enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid swelling, or other neck masses. No restricted or painful neck extension. No evidence of spinal disease or cervical vertebral issues.
Venereal Diseases
There should be no active or clinical signs of any venereal disease at the time of examination.
Skin Conditions
Must be free from: Leprosy, chronic dermatitis, extensive Pityriasis Versicolor, Psoriasis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Speech & Communication
Candidate must have clear speech without stammering. Any impediment in speech that affects communication may result in disqualification.
Candidates must be free from chronic illnesses and physical deformities. Full systemic fitness is required to be declared medically FIT for CAPF service.
Chest & Pulmonary
Well-developed chest with no flat chest, pigeon chest, or rickety rosary. Free from TB, asthma, and other pulmonary diseases.
Limbs & Joints
Fully formed and functional limbs. No malunited or deformed fractures. Free movement in all joints. No congenital deformities or malformations.
Feet & Lower Limbs
Well-formed feet and toes. Free from flat foot, knock knees, and varicose veins.
Cardiovascular
No cardiovascular diseases. No visible glandular swellings. Free from hypertension (high blood pressure).
Chronic Conditions
No tuberculosis, arthritis, diabetes, or any chronic illness impairing health. No evidence of past or chronic disease affecting fitness.
Mental & General Fitness
Must be mentally and physically sound and capable of carrying out all duties without restriction. No genito-urinary diseases.
Hernia & Abdominal
No hernia, scrotal swelling, or prolapsed rectum. (For males only) Both testicles must be present in the scrotum and of normal size.
Glands & Systemic
No visible glandular swellings. Free from any disease of the genito-urinary system. No signs of past systemic disease impairing health.
Pulse rate is assessed to ensure cardiovascular fitness. Both excessively high and abnormally low resting pulse rates are disqualifying.
Tachycardia — DISQUALIFYING
A resting pulse rate exceeding 100 beats per minute indicates tachycardia and will result in being declared UNFIT for CAPF service.
Bradycardia — DISQUALIFYING
A resting pulse rate below 50 beats per minute indicates bradycardia and will equally result in disqualification from CAPF service.
Candidates suffering from any of the following conditions will be deemed automatically UNFIT and will not be eligible for appointment as Assistant Commandants in CAPFs.
Tattoos are permitted under specific conditions to respect India's secular ethos while maintaining service discipline. All three criteria — content, location, and size — must be satisfied simultaneously.
Tattoos must not depict objectionable material of any kind.
Only the following are permitted, as accepted under Indian Army norms:
- Religious symbols
- Names (personal or cultural)
- Cultural motifs accepted in Indian tradition
Tattoos must be limited to non-saluting limbs only:
- Inner side of the left forearm
- Back of the hand (dorsum)
Tattoos on any other part of the body are not permitted and will be assessed as a disqualifying condition.
The size of the tattoo must not exceed one-fourth (¼) of the area where it is located — for example, the elbow or hand area.
Tattoos that exceed this proportional limit — even if compliant in content and location — will result in disqualification.
The medical examination is conducted in strict accordance with revised uniform guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
Detailed Medical Examination (DME)
All shortlisted candidates will undergo a full Detailed Medical Examination. Guidelines are issued vide MHA UO dated 20.05.2015.
Review Medical Examination (RME)
Candidates declared UNFIT at DME can appeal and appear before a Review Medical Board, preferably the next day. RME guidelines vide MHA UO No. E-32012/ADG(Med)/DME&RME/DA-1/2020 dated 31.05.2021.
Declared FIT
Candidate meets all required medical and physical standards across every parameter assessed during the DME / RME process.
Declared UNFIT
Candidate fails to meet one or more prescribed standards. They will be issued an UNFIT certificate and may appeal for the Review Medical Examination.
Physical & Medical Readiness Checklist
Verify each point carefully to assess your readiness for the PST and Medical Examination stages.