The physical requirements for NDA for female candidates are an essential part of the selection process. These requirements ensure that every aspirant has the basic health, fitness, and stamina needed to serve in the Indian Armed Forces.

The National Defence Academy has opened a new path for young women to join the military and serve the nation with pride.

But while many prepare for the written test, it’s the physical and medical standards that often cause confusion.

Don’t let fear stop you — every strong cadet once started with doubt, but chose to train instead of quit.
– Guided by Alpha NDA Academy, where courage begins with preparation.

We help every girl understand these standards clearly and train accordingly, so there are no surprises during the SSB or medical examination.

In this guide, you’ll learn the exact height, weight, fitness, and medical standards required to qualify for NDA as a female candidate, along with practical NDA preparation tips from the experts at Alpha NDA Academy.

Physical Requirements for NDA for Female Candidates: Why Physical Standards Matter for NDA Girls

Before we get into numbers, it’s important to know why these standards exist. The armed forces demand physical strength, endurance, and mental toughness.

The selection process is designed to check whether you are ready to handle training and life as a cadet.

Physical standards are tested mostly during the medical examination after the written and SSB stages.

Many girls pass the written exam but are unaware of the basic physical checks. That’s where early awareness becomes crucial.

At Alpha NDA Academy, we don’t just train you for the exam — we prepare you for the overall journey, including medical and physical readiness.

Read More: Best NDA Coaching for Girls

Minimum Height for NDA for Female Candidates

Height is one of the first things checked during your medical test. It determines whether you’re eligible and is non-negotiable in most cases.

The minimum height for NDA for female candidates is 152 cm. This applies to the Indian Army and Navy (for non-flying roles).

For the Air Force, the requirement is stricter. You need to be at least 162.5 cm tall for flying roles. They also check sitting height, leg length, and thigh length to ensure safety in aircraft operations.

There are relaxations for girls from specific regions. If you’re from the North Eastern states, Gorkha community, or hilly areas like Kumaon or Garhwal, you may be eligible with a height of 148 cm. But this must be supported by proper documents.

At Alpha NDA Academy, our counsellors verify each student’s eligibility and guide those eligible for height relaxations.

Weight Required for NDA Female Aspirants

Weight is assessed in relation to your height. There is no fixed number for all — what matters is that your weight is proportionate and falls within a healthy range.

Here are some common examples:

• A girl who is 152 cm tall should weigh between 42 to 45 kg.
• At 158 cm, ideal weight is around 46 to 50 kg.
• At 162 cm, a healthy weight is between 50 to 54 kg.

Weight is judged alongside BMI (Body Mass Index). A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is usually acceptable.

Overweight or underweight candidates are either given time to correct it or declared unfit depending on severity.

Alpha NDA Academy includes fitness training and regular health checks as part of your preparation to keep your body within the right range.

Running and Stamina Requirements

Many students ask whether running is a part of the physical test. While there is no official NDA running test at the time of selection, your overall fitness is observed during SSB tasks and assessed during medical exams.

That means stamina, breathing capacity, and basic physical fitness matter a lot.

The ideal running benchmark to aim for is completing 2.4 km (1.5 miles) in 12 to 15 minutes. This level of fitness ensures you can handle the training later at NDA, where daily physical routines are mandatory.

At Alpha NDA, we train our female cadets to gradually build stamina through controlled running plans, yoga, and bodyweight workouts.

Physical Fitness Examples from Training

Let’s say you’re a 17-year-old girl who weighs 48 kg and stands 155 cm tall. Your weight falls in the normal range, and you’re physically eligible.

But if you have never exercised before, even walking long distances during the SSB GTO tasks may feel tiring.

This is where our students start light — walking, breathing exercises, step-ups — and progress to daily running and flexibility training over 4–6 months. The goal is not just to pass but to be fully confident.

Vision Standards for NDA Girls

Eyesight is another important physical requirement for NDA girls. You don’t need perfect vision, but it should be within acceptable limits.

Here’s what’s usually expected:

• Distant vision should be 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other (correctable with glasses).
• No color blindness.
• No night blindness.
• No eye conditions like squint or retinal issues.

For Air Force roles, the rules are even stricter. Contact lenses and recent eye surgeries are generally not accepted unless specific conditions are met.

We recommend every Alpha NDA Academy student go for a vision check-up at least 6 months before applying, so if correction is needed, there’s enough time.

Chest and Breathing Health

There’s a common myth that girls must meet the same chest expansion standards as boys. While chest expansion is still checked, the standards are different and less strict for females.

However, a strong respiratory system is non-negotiable. You must not have conditions like asthma, tuberculosis, or chronic cough. Breathing tests may be done during your medical examination.

At Alpha NDA Academy, we include deep breathing exercises, yoga-based lung strengthening, and awareness about lung health in our physical training.

Other Medical Checks You Must Know

Apart from height, weight, and vision, several other factors are checked during your NDA medical exam:

• Hearing must be normal in both ears.
• No chronic ENT issues like ear discharge or nasal blockages.
• No skin diseases, active acne, or fungal infections.
• No spinal deformities or flat feet.
• No dental cavities or severe misalignment.

Even small things can lead to temporary rejection, which can be avoided with advance preparation. That’s why at Alpha NDA Academy, our team conducts mock medical reviews and refers students to doctors if any issue is found.

NDA Physical Test List for Females – What’s Actually Checked?

There is no fixed physical test like a sports competition. Instead, medical officers evaluate your natural physical condition, endurance, balance, posture, and ability to handle physical stress.

SSB tasks like group obstacles, outdoor activities, and long task days test your stamina indirectly. Weakness in these areas may affect your recommendation even without an official physical exam.

So while there is no formal running test, your physical readiness is silently judged.

At Alpha NDA coaching, our training prepares you for these silent evaluations, so you never feel out of breath or weak during the SSB process.

Minimum Education and Eligibility for Female NDA Aspirants

To appear for NDA, you must:

• Be a female candidate aged between 16.5 to 19.5 years.
• Be unmarried and physically fit.
• Have passed Class 12 or be appearing for it.

If you are aiming for Air Force, you must have studied Physics and Math in 12th standard. For Army and Navy, candidates from any stream are eligible.

Alpha NDA helps you plan your attempt timing smartly based on your age, academic stream, and physical condition.

Read More: NDA Eligibility 2026

Common Reasons for Medical Rejection – And How to Avoid Them

Every year, many brilliant girls are rejected due to small issues that could have been fixed if caught early. These include:

• Being underweight or overweight.
• Vision problems not corrected in time.
• Flat foot, knocked knees, or postural issues.
• Skin conditions, fungal infections, or dental issues.
• Poor stamina or visible physical weakness.

Alpha NDA Academy’s pre-medical fitness checks help identify and resolve such issues well in advance, saving students from last-minute panic.

How Alpha NDA Academy Prepares You for NDA Physical Requirements

We believe preparation should be holistic. That’s why we focus not just on studies, but on building the body and mindset needed for the armed forces.

Here’s how we help:

• Individual fitness plans based on your height, weight, and stamina.
• Nutritional advice to gain or lose weight naturally.
• Yoga and running sessions for endurance.
• Regular mock medical checks.
• Confidence-building drills and stress training.

We train you to be fit, focused, and fully prepared — not just eligible on paper.

NDA Physical Requirements for Girl Candidates (Summary Table)

Category	Requirement / Standard
Minimum Height	152 cm (relaxed to 148 cm for specific regions like NE states, Gorkhas, Kumaon, Garhwal)
Ideal Weight Range	Must be proportionate to height (e.g., 152 cm = 42–45 kg, 158 cm = 46–50 kg approx.)
BMI Range	Between 18.5 and 24.9 (healthy range)
Running/Stamina	2.4 km run in 12–15 minutes recommended (not officially tested but important for training)
Vision Requirement	6/6 or 6/9 (correctable), no color or night blindness, no major eye defects
Chest Expansion	Not strict for females, but healthy lungs and breathing capacity are important
Hearing	Normal hearing required in both ears
Medical Fitness	No flat feet, spinal issues, major dental or skin problems
Age Limit	16.5 to 19.5 years
Education Requirement	Passed or appearing in Class 12 (with Physics & Math for Air Force)

Conclusion

The physical requirements for NDA for female candidates include the right height, proportionate weight, good vision, stamina, and overall medical fitness.

These standards are practical and achievable for any dedicated aspirant.

At Alpha NDA Academy, we make sure every student not only meets these requirements but exceeds them with the right preparation, guidance, and mindset.

Whether it’s understanding the minimum height for NDA girls, staying within the correct weight range, preparing for running endurance, or clearing the vision and medical test, we are here with you at every step.

For every girl dreaming of wearing the uniform, meeting the physical standards is the first step — and with Alpha NDA Academy, that step becomes clear, guided, and achievable.

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