How do doctors test for flat feet in NDA medical?

The examiner first observes your foot arch while you stand normally (flat-footed). Then you are asked to stand on your tip-toes — if an arch forms, the flat feet are classified as flexible. You are then asked to skip and hop on your toes to assess functional ability. The examiner also palpates the tarsal joints for tenderness, checks for eversion of the heel (valgus heel), and looks for a prominent talus.

What type of flat feet leads to rejection in NDA?

Rigid or gross flat feet lead to rejection. Specifically: if your arch does not reappear when standing on toes, if you cannot balance or skip on your toes, if you have planovalgus deformity (flat + everted heel), if your heel everts outward, if you have tender tarsal joints, if you have a prominent talus, or if there is any rigidity in the foot structure.

Is flat feet allowed in Indian Air Force?

The same flexible vs rigid distinction applies to the Air Force. Flexible flat feet — where the arch reappears on toe-standing and functional ability is normal — are generally accepted. Rigid flat feet, planovalgus, or any condition that prevents normal balance and skipping on toes leads to rejection under AFCAT 02/2023 para 25(g)(vi).

Can I join NDA with flexible flat feet?

Yes. Flexible flat feet are acceptable for NDA entry provided: the arch reappears when you stand on your toes, you can skip and run normally, your feet are supple and pain-free, there is no eversion of the heel, no prominent talus, and no tender tarsal joints. All these criteria must be met simultaneously.

What is the difference between flexible and rigid flat feet for NDA?

Flexible flat feet: the foot looks flat when weight-bearing (standing normally) but an arch forms when you stand on tip-toes or when the foot is non-weight-bearing. The foot is supple and mobile. This type is accepted in NDA. Rigid flat feet: the foot remains flat regardless of position — no arch forms even on tip-toes, the foot is stiff, and there is usually associated heel eversion or tarsal joint tenderness. This type is rejected.

Is pes cavus (high arch) allowed in NDA?

Mild idiopathic pes cavus (high arch) without functional limitation is generally acceptable for NDA. Moderate or severe pes cavus, or pes cavus due to an underlying organic neurological or musculoskeletal disease, leads to rejection.

Is club foot (talipes) allowed in NDA?

No. Club foot (talipes) in any form and at any severity — including cases that have been surgically corrected — is rejected for NDA. There are no exceptions listed in the NDA notification for post-surgical acceptance of talipes.

Is Flat Feet Allowed in NDA? 2026 Test Criteria Explained

Updated: May 2026 · Covers: AFCAT 02/2023 para 25(g)(vi) & NDA Annexure B para 21

Quick Answer

FIT Flexible flat feet: arch reappears when standing on tip-toes and you can skip normally.

UNFIT Rigid / gross flat feet: arch does not return on toe-standing, or you cannot balance/skip on your toes.

Key Test Can you stand on your toes and skip? That single functional test determines a significant part of the outcome.

The NDA Flat Feet Test — What Happens at the SMB

The flat feet assessment at the Service Medical Board (SMB) is a clinical examination combining visual inspection, a functional toe-standing test, palpation, and observation of foot mechanics. Here is the step-by-step process:

Normal standing inspection: The examiner observes your foot arch (the medial longitudinal arch) while you stand normally with full body weight on both feet. Flat feet will appear as an absent or reduced arch — the inner aspect of the sole may make near-complete contact with the floor.
Tip-toe standing (the arch test): You are asked to rise onto your tip-toes and hold that position. If a visible arch forms in the foot during this manoeuvre, your flat feet are classified as flexible — a positive sign. If the foot remains flat with no arch even on tip-toes, the flat feet are classified as rigid.
Skipping / hopping on toes: You are asked to skip or hop on your toes. This assesses functional ability — whether the foot can generate the push-off and dynamic arch function required for military activity. Inability to skip is a significant negative finding.
Palpation of tarsal joints: The examiner palpates the bones and joints of the midfoot (tarsal joints) to check for tenderness, which may indicate inflammatory arthropathy, tarsal coalition, or degenerative joint disease underlying the flat foot.
Heel alignment check: The examiner examines the heel from behind. In flat feet, the heel often everts (tilts outward) — this is called planovalgus. Eversion of the heel is a sign of more significant deformity and is a negative finding.

The arch that is assessed is the medial longitudinal arch — the curve along the inner side of the foot, running from the heel to the base of the big toe. This is the arch that is absent or reduced in flat feet.

Fit and Unfit Criteria at a Glance

All the fit criteria must be met simultaneously. A single unfit criterion is sufficient for rejection.

Fit — All of these must be true

Foot arches reappear when standing on toes
Can skip and run normally on toes
Feet are supple and mobile (not rigid)
Feet are painless
No eversion of heel
No prominent talus
No rigid deformity of any cause
No tender tarsal joints

Unfit — Any one of these = rejection

Rigid or gross flat feet
Planovalgus deformity (flat + everted heel)
Eversion of heel
Cannot balance on toes
Cannot skip on toes
Tender tarsal joints
Prominent talus
Foot rigidity of any cause

Flexible flat feet with a normal toe-standing test are not a barrier to joining NDA. Many candidates with mild flat feet pass the SMB without issue provided all functional criteria are met.

Grading of Flat Feet — and What Each Grade Means for NDA

Clinically, flat feet are often graded on a three-point scale based on severity and rigidity. Understanding where you fall on this scale can help you anticipate your SMB outcome.

Grade	Clinical Description	Arch on Tip-Toes	Functional Ability	NDA Likely Outcome
Grade 1 — Mild / Flexible	Reduced arch when weight-bearing; supple foot; no structural deformity	Arch visible	Normal — can skip and run	FIT (if all criteria met)
Grade 2 — Moderate	Flat arch when weight-bearing; partial arch on tip-toes; possible mild heel eversion; may have minor tenderness	Partial or reduced arch	Mildly reduced	Borderline — depends on all findings
Grade 3 — Severe / Rigid	No arch in any position; rigid foot; significant heel eversion (planovalgus); tarsal tenderness; prominent talus	No arch visible	Impaired — cannot skip	UNFIT

In practice, the SMB does not formally assign a "grade" — but the functional tests (especially toe-standing and skipping) serve as the de facto grading criteria.

Pes Cavus (High Arch) — NDA Rules

Pes cavus is the opposite of flat feet: the medial longitudinal arch is abnormally high, creating a highly curved, rigid-looking foot. It is far less common than flat feet but is assessed at the SMB.

Type of Pes Cavus	Description	NDA Status
Mild idiopathic pes cavus	High arch with no underlying disease and no functional limitation — normal walking, running, and balance	ACCEPTABLE
Moderate or severe pes cavus	High arch with some functional limitation, difficulty running, claw toes, or calluses under the ball of the foot	REJECTED
Pes cavus due to organic disease	High arch secondary to a neurological condition (e.g., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinal conditions) or musculoskeletal disease	REJECTED

If your pes cavus has a neurological cause, the underlying neurological condition is itself likely to be a disqualifying factor, independent of the foot arch.

Club Foot (Talipes) — No Exceptions

Club foot (talipes equinovarus or any other form of talipes) is rejected for NDA in all cases. This is an absolute disqualifier with no exceptions listed in the official notification.

Post-surgical correction does not make talipes acceptable. Even if a candidate has undergone successful surgical correction in childhood, the NDA notification does not list post-surgical talipes as acceptable. The SMB will assess on the current clinical findings, but candidates should be aware that the condition is treated as an absolute disqualifier.

Talipes includes several variants — all are rejected:

Talipes equinovarus: The most common form — foot points downward and inward.
Talipes calcaneovalgus: Foot is excessively dorsiflexed and everted.
Talipes equinovalgus, calcaneovarus: Other positional variants — all rejected.

Can Flat Feet Be Corrected Before the NDA Medical?

For candidates with flexible flat feet, targeted strengthening exercises can improve the arch and functional ability over months of consistent practice. The goal is to strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles and extrinsic muscles that support the arch dynamically.

Recommended Exercises (Start at Least 12 Months Before Your Medical)

Toe curls: Place a towel or marbles on the floor and curl your toes to pick them up. 3 sets × 15 reps each foot, daily.
Towel scrunches: Lay a small towel flat and scrunch it toward you using only your toes. 3 sets × 20 scrunches each foot, daily.
Calf raises (heel raises): Stand on the edge of a step, lower your heels below the step level, then rise onto your toes. This builds calf and posterior tibialis strength that supports the arch. 3 sets × 15 reps daily.
Short-foot exercise: While seated or standing, try to shorten the foot by drawing the ball of the foot toward the heel without curling your toes. This activates the intrinsic foot muscles directly. 3 sets × 10-second holds each foot, daily.
Barefoot walking on varied terrain: Walking barefoot on grass or sand activates intrinsic foot muscles that remain dormant in shoes. 20–30 minutes daily if comfortable.
Single-leg balance: Stand on one foot with eyes open, then closed. Progress to standing on an unstable surface (folded towel). This improves proprioception and functional arch support.

Custom orthotics can support the arch and reduce pain during training, but they do not strengthen the underlying muscles or fix structural flat feet. Do not rely on orthotics as a substitute for exercise-based rehabilitation.

Surgical Correction of Rigid Flat Feet

For candidates with rigid or structural flat feet (Grade 3), orthopaedic surgery — such as a lateral column lengthening, calcaneal osteotomy, or subtalar fusion — is an option. However:

Recovery typically involves 3–6 months of non-weight-bearing and rehabilitation, with full functional restoration taking 9–18 months.
The NDA notification does not specify a post-surgical acceptance timeline or criteria for flat foot surgery specifically.
The SMB will assess the candidate's current foot structure and functional ability at the time of the medical, regardless of surgical history.

If you have had flat foot surgery, bring the operative notes, post-operative reports, and a functional assessment from your orthopaedic surgeon to the SMB. The board will assess on the clinical findings they observe on the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is flat feet allowed in NDA?

Flexible flat feet are allowed in NDA. If your foot arch reappears when you stand on your tip-toes and you can skip normally, you will likely be declared fit. Rigid or gross flat feet — where the arch does not return on toe-standing, or you cannot balance or skip on your toes — are grounds for rejection.
How do doctors test for flat feet in NDA medical?

The examiner first observes your foot arch while you stand normally. Then you are asked to stand on your tip-toes — if an arch forms, your flat feet are classified as flexible. You are then asked to skip and hop on your toes to assess functional ability. The examiner also palpates the tarsal joints for tenderness, checks for eversion of the heel (valgus heel), and looks for a prominent talus.
What type of flat feet leads to rejection in NDA?

Rigid or gross flat feet lead to rejection. Specifically: if your arch does not reappear when standing on toes, if you cannot balance or skip on your toes, if you have planovalgus deformity (flat foot with everted heel), if your heel everts outward, if you have tender tarsal joints, if you have a prominent talus, or if there is any rigidity in the foot structure.
Is flat feet allowed in Indian Air Force?

The same flexible vs rigid distinction applies to the Air Force. Flexible flat feet — where the arch reappears on toe-standing and functional ability is normal — are generally accepted. Rigid flat feet, planovalgus, or any condition that prevents normal balance and skipping on toes leads to rejection under AFCAT 02/2023 para 25(g)(vi).
Can I join NDA with flexible flat feet?

Yes. Flexible flat feet are acceptable for NDA entry provided: the arch reappears when you stand on your toes, you can skip and run normally, your feet are supple and pain-free, there is no eversion of the heel, no prominent talus, and no tender tarsal joints. All these criteria must be met simultaneously.
What is the difference between flexible and rigid flat feet for NDA?

Flexible flat feet: the foot looks flat when weight-bearing but an arch forms when you stand on tip-toes. The foot is supple and mobile. This type is accepted in NDA. Rigid flat feet: the foot remains flat regardless of position — no arch forms even on tip-toes, the foot is stiff, and there is usually associated heel eversion or tarsal joint tenderness. This type is rejected.
Is pes cavus (high arch) allowed in NDA?

Mild idiopathic pes cavus (high arch) without functional limitation is generally acceptable for NDA. Moderate or severe pes cavus, or pes cavus due to an underlying organic neurological or musculoskeletal disease, leads to rejection.
Is club foot (talipes) allowed in NDA?

No. Club foot (talipes) in any form and at any severity — including cases that have been surgically corrected — is rejected for NDA. There are no exceptions listed in the NDA notification for post-surgical acceptance of talipes.

Sources

AFCAT 02/2023 — para 25(g)(vi): Flat feet and pes planus fitness criteria — flexible flat feet acceptable; rigid, gross, or planovalgus flat feet leading to rejection.
NDA Notification — Annexure B para 21: Acceptable defects on entry and physical fitness standards for lower limbs.
NDA Notification — Annexure B para 7: Spine and lower-limb disqualifiers including club foot (talipes) absolute rejection.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. NDA medical standards are subject to change with each official notification. Always refer to the most recent NDA notification and, where in doubt, consult a qualified orthopaedic surgeon and refer directly to the official notification published by UPSC.