Table of Contents
01 Minimum Height by Academy
Height is measured without shoes at the SMB. Stand straight — military posture, heels together, chin level.
| Academy | Entry | Male Minimum | Female Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA | Permanent Commission (Army) | 157 cm | n/a (male only) |
| INA | Permanent Commission (Navy) | 157 cm | n/a (male only via CDS) |
| AFA | Flying, PC (Air Force) | 162.5 cm | 162.5 cm |
| OTA | Short Service Commission (Men) | 157 cm | n/a |
| OTA Women | Short Service Commission (Women) | n/a | 152 cm |
AFA Flying has the strictest height requirement. No regional relaxation applies to AFA Flying.
Approximate conversions (for reference)
- 157 cm ≈ 5 ft 2 in
- 162.5 cm ≈ 5 ft 4 in
- 152 cm ≈ 5 ft 0 in
02 Regional Relaxations
Regional relaxations do NOT apply to AFA Flying. The 162.5 cm minimum is absolute for flying branch.
Source: CDS 2025 Notification para 7(b) and 7(c) for Army/IMA/OTA; CDS Notification page 34 for Navy/INA.
| Category | Male IMA/OTA (Army) | Female OTA Women (Army) | Male INA (Navy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribals from Ladakh | 155 cm | 150 cm | 155 cm |
| Andaman & Nicobar / Lakshadweep / Minicoy | 155 cm | 150 cm | 155 cm |
| Gorkhas, Nepali, Assamese, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Uttarakhand | 152 cm | 148 cm | 152 cm |
| Bhutan, Sikkim & North-East Region | 152 cm | 148 cm | 152 cm |
| Extra-talented sports candidates (male) | 155 cm | — | 155 cm |
Army uses 148 cm for female Gorkha/NE region; Navy uses 147 cm for equivalent categories. Both are correct per respective service notifications.
03 AFA Flying Anthropometry
Beyond minimum standing height, AFA Flying also checks body proportions for cockpit fit:
| Parameter | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Standing height | 162.5 cm | (no stated max) |
| Sitting height | 81.5 cm | 96.0 cm |
| Leg length | 99.0 cm | 120.0 cm |
| Thigh length | — | 64.0 cm |
Cockpit dimensions require precise fit. Too tall (long torso or thigh) can prevent ejection seat clearance. Too short means insufficient reach for controls. These are absolute — no regional relaxation.
04 Chest Size Requirements
All CDS/OTA entries (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA):
- Minimum chest circumference: 77 cm
- Minimum expansion: 05 cm (difference between full inspiration and expiration)
Measurement Rules
- Fractions under 0.5 cm are ignored
- Fractions of 0.5 cm are counted as 0.5
- Fractions of 0.6 cm or more are rounded up to 1 cm
At 18–22 years, most candidates comfortably exceed 77 cm. Train swimming, rowing, or breathing exercises to improve expansion.
05 Weight-for-Height Chart
Source: DGMS Army Aug 2019 pages 5–6 (Height range 140–210 cm; age bands: <17, 17–20, 20–30, 30–40, >40).
CDS candidates are typically 19–25 years old — most fall in the 20–30 age band shown below.
Army Graduate Weight Chart — Male, Age 20–30
| Height (cm) | Minimum Weight (kg) | Maximum Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | 44.4 | 56.7 |
| 160 | 46.1 | 58.9 |
| 163 | 47.8 | 61.1 |
| 165 | 49.0 | 62.6 |
| 168 | 50.8 | 64.9 |
| 170 | 52.0 | 66.5 |
| 173 | 53.9 | 68.8 |
| 175 | 55.1 | 70.4 |
| 178 | 56.4 | 72.1 |
| 180 | 58.3 | 74.5 |
| 183 | 60.3 | 77.0 |
| 185 | 61.6 | 78.7 |
| 188 | 63.6 | 81.3 |
| 190 | 65.0 | 83.0 |
| 193 | 67.0 | 85.7 |
| 195 | 68.4 | 87.5 |
This is the age 20–30 band. Candidates aged 17–20 (at time of medical) will use the 17–20 band from the full DGMS chart, which has slightly different figures.
For INA/Navy and AFA, separate weight charts apply (Navy chart in NDA Annexure B pages 43–44; AFA/AFCAT Appendix A/B).
06 Overweight Exceptions
Overweight may be accepted ONLY if ALL conditions are met:
- Documented evidence of body-building, wrestling, or boxing at National level
- BMI < 25 (Army & Navy) / BMI < 27 (Air Force)
- Waist-Hip Ratio < 0.9 (male) / < 0.8 (female)
- Waist circumference < 90 cm male / < 80 cm female (94 cm / 89 cm for Air Force)
- All biochemical parameters within normal limits
Overweight exceptions are genuinely rare and require national-level sports documentation. Do not rely on an exception — bring your weight within the chart before the medical board.
Underweight
Candidates below the minimum weight are temporarily unfit and asked to improve. This is more easily rectified than overweight.
07 Height Measurement Process
How height is measured at SMB
- Candidate stands on a stadiometer without shoes or socks
- Heels together, back of head / shoulder blades / buttocks touching the board
- Eyes look straight ahead (Frankfort horizontal plane)
- Sliding head piece is brought down firmly
- Reading taken on the scale at the bottom of the head piece
Common mistakes that lead to short measurement
- Slouching or bending knees
- Looking down (drops chin and reduces apparent height)
- Thick socks or footwear
- Being measured after a long standing/marching session (spine compresses by 0.5–1 cm)
Tip: Measure in the morning (spine is tallest) and practise correct posture well before your medical board.
08 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum height for IMA through CDS?
The minimum height for IMA (Indian Military Academy) is 157 cm for male candidates. There is no upper height limit. Regional relaxations apply for certain tribal and hill-region candidates — Gorkhas, Assamese, Garhwali, and NE region can qualify at 152 cm; Ladakh tribals and Andaman/Lakshadweep candidates at 155 cm. Source: CDS 2025 Notification para 7(b).
What is the minimum height for OTA Women?
OTA Women's Short Service Commission requires a minimum height of 152 cm. With regional relaxation: 148 cm for Gorkha/Assamese/NE/Uttarakhand/Bhutan/Sikkim region; 150 cm for Ladakh tribals and Andaman/Nicobar/Lakshadweep candidates. Source: CDS 2025 Notification para 7(c).
What is the minimum height for AFA Flying entry through CDS?
The minimum height for AFA Flying via CDS is 162.5 cm. This is an absolute minimum — no regional relaxation applies. In addition, sitting height must be 81.5–96.0 cm, leg length 99–120 cm, and thigh length must not exceed 64 cm. These anthropometric limits exist because of cockpit fit requirements for fighter aircraft ejection seats.
I am 156 cm tall. Can I join any CDS academy?
At 156 cm you fall below the 157 cm minimum for IMA, INA, and OTA (Men). However, if you are from Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar, or Lakshadweep, the minimum is 155 cm and you would qualify. If you are from Gorkha/NE/Uttarakhand/Bhutan/Sikkim region, the minimum is 152 cm and you qualify. OTA Women minimum is 152 cm so you would also qualify for OTA Women (if female). AFA Flying (162.5 cm) would not be accessible at your height.
What is the maximum weight for a 170 cm candidate in CDS IMA?
For a 170 cm male candidate in the 20–30 age band, the maximum permitted weight is 66.5 kg per the DGMS Army weight-for-height chart. The minimum for the same height is 52.0 kg. Weights above the chart maximum require national-level sports certification and additional metabolic checks (BMI < 25, waist-hip ratio, biochemical profile).
What is the chest size requirement for CDS OTA?
Minimum chest circumference is 77 cm at rest, with a minimum expansion of 5 cm on full inspiration. This standard applies to IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. Most candidates of normal build comfortably exceed this — swimming and rowing training helps develop chest expansion.
Does height relaxation apply to women in INA?
The INA (Indian Naval Academy) via CDS is currently male-only for new entries. There is no female INA entry via CDS at present. OTA Women (Short Service Commission) is the female officer entry through CDS. The female minimum height for OTA Women is 152 cm with regional relaxations to 148–150 cm.
I am 19 years old and slightly underweight. Will I be rejected?
Being below the minimum chart weight is classified as temporarily unfit, not permanently unfit. You would be given time to improve your weight — typically assessed at the AMB (Appeal Medical Board) if you are very close to the limit. At age 19, your weight band will use the 17–20 column of the DGMS chart, which has slightly lower thresholds than the 20–30 band. Focus on nutrition and strength training to reach the minimum.