Reasons for NDA Medical Rejection: Can those who wear glasses be selected for the NDA? Find out the rules regarding vision and tattoos..

Reasons for NDA Medical Rejection: Every year, lakhs of young people in the country dream of becoming officers in the Indian Armed Forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA). Clearing the UPSC NDA/NA written examination and the rigorous five-day SSB interview is no easy task. Immediately after clearing the SSB, candidates must also undergo a medical examination. Often, despite thorough preparation, candidates are declared unfit during the medical round due to minor physical shortcomings.

Military officers are required to operate under extremely challenging conditions; therefore, fitness standards in the armed forces are very strict. Every year, hundreds of promising candidates are disqualified simply because they were unaware of their physical shortcomings or medical issues in time. If you also dream of joining the armed forces via the UPSC NDA or NA, here are the five major reasons why the board rejects candidates.

These 5 reasons could shatter your dream of joining the NDA
Robust physical fitness is essential for a career in the armed forces. If a candidate fails to meet the military's established standards, they are declared unfit.

1. Knock-knees and Flat Feet

These are the most common reasons for rejection in the NDA medical examination.
Knock-knees: This condition occurs when the knees touch each other while standing straight. It causes difficulties during running and marching.
Flat Feet: The absence of a normal arch in the sole is known as flat feet. Having flat feet can adversely affect the legs and spine when running long distances.

2. Weak Vision and Eye Conditions

Vision standards vary and are strict across the three branches of the armed forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force).
For the Air Force (Flying Branch), perfect 6/6 vision is mandatory; the use of spectacles or LASIK surgery is not permitted. Candidates with conditions such as color blindness, squint, or night blindness are immediately declared permanently unfit.

3. Being Overweight or Underweight
The medical board assesses the candidate's weight-to-height ratio (BMI).
If the weight deviates by more than 10% from the official chart, the candidate is declared temporarily unfit (Temporary Rejection).
The advantage here is that 42 days is granted for a re-medical examination, allowing time to bring the weight under control.

4. Ear Wax, Excessive Sweating, and DNS
DNS (Deviated Nasal Septum): A crooked nasal bone that causes breathing difficulties.
Hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating on the palms and soles of the feet; this makes it difficult to grip weapons.
Ear issues: Perforated eardrums or excessive earwax accumulation. Even a minor issue like earwax can lead to being declared unfit during the initial examination.

5. Tattoos and Skin Conditions
The Army has very strict regulations regarding tattoos on the body.
Tattoos are completely banned on the inner forearm (from elbow to palm), the back of the hand, and any other visible part of the body.
Additionally, candidates are rejected if they suffer from eczema, vitiligo (white patches), or other serious skin diseases.

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