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BMI Calculator India

Calculate your Body Mass Index and check against NDA, Army, Police & CAPF physical standards.

Your BMI

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Category

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Healthy Weight Range

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Underweight
<18.5 Normal
18.5–23 Overweight
23–27.5 Obese
>27.5

Physical Standards for Indian Defence & Police Exams

ExamMin Height (Male)Min Height (Female)Note
NDA (Army Wing)157.5 cm—Male only; weight proportional
NDA (Air Force / Navy)162.5 cm—Additional vision standards
CDS (IMA/OTA)157.5 cm152 cmWeight proportional to height
Indian Army (Soldier GD)169 cm—165 cm for hilly areas
CRPF / BSF / CISF170 cm157 cm+5 cm relaxation for NE states
Delhi / State Police170 cm157 cmVaries by state
Indian Coast Guard157 cm—Weight 50–75 kg for 157–163 cm
SSB / Intelligence Bureau165 cm150 cmMedical fitness required

* Always verify from official exam notifications. Standards may vary by category and year.

BMI for Indian Competitive Exams — What You Need to Know

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. For most Indian competitive exams, the physical fitness check is based on height-weight proportionality rather than a strict BMI number. The Indian Army, CRPF, BSF, and state police use standard height-weight charts derived from the Indian population.

For NDA aspirants: The medical board at SSB checks height, weight, chest measurement, and overall fitness. A candidate who is either too underweight (BMI < 16) or obese (BMI > 30) is typically found unfit. The ideal range for defence aspirants is BMI 17–25.

WHO vs Indian BMI norms: WHO classifies BMI 25–30 as overweight and 30+ as obese. But the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends lower cutoffs: overweight starts at 23, and obese at 27.5 for Indians — because South Asians have higher body fat percentage at the same BMI compared to Caucasians.

For UPSC/SSC/Banking: There are no BMI or physical standards for the written exams. However, if you are allocated to a service that requires physical fitness (IPS, IFS forest service), you will undergo a detailed medical examination.

Related tools: NDA Age Calculator · NDA Photo Size Guide · Percentage Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BMI requirement for NDA? +
NDA doesn't specify a strict BMI cutoff but checks height-weight proportionality. Minimum height is 157.5 cm (Army) and 162.5 cm (Air Force/Navy). A BMI of 17–25 is generally considered acceptable for defence aspirants.
What is the formula for BMI? +
BMI = Weight (kg) ÷ Height² (m²). Example: 70 kg, 175 cm → BMI = 70 ÷ (1.75)² = 70 ÷ 3.0625 = 22.86.
What is a healthy BMI for Indians? +
For Indian adults, BMI 18.5–22.9 is normal. ICMR recommends overweight starts at 23 and obese at 27.5 for Indians — lower than the global WHO standard of 25/30.
What is the minimum height for NDA? +
Army Wing: 157.5 cm. Air Force and Naval Wing: 162.5 cm. Gorkha and candidates from hilly regions get a 5 cm relaxation.
Is BMI important for UPSC? +
Not for the written exam. If you are allocated to a service with physical standards (IPS, IFS), the medical exam checks general health. Extreme obesity or underweight may be flagged but there is no published BMI cutoff for UPSC.
What BMI is required for police recruitment? +
Most state police forces don't have a BMI cutoff but require candidates to clear a physical fitness test (running, long jump, high jump). A BMI of 18–27 is typically acceptable. Check your state's specific police recruitment notification.
Is this BMI calculator free? +
Yes, completely free. No login or app needed. Works on mobile and desktop browsers.

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