SSC GD Physical Standards 2026: Height, Chest, PET and Medical Requirements
SSC GD Constable 2026 physical standards guide covering category-wise height and chest requirements, Physical Efficiency Test (PET) standards, medical examination criteria, and a physical preparation plan. Official SSC and CAPF portals named as the binding sources for all live standards.
What changed in 2026 drives
Mass-recruiter offer letters are flatter for 2026 batch - the 4-5 LPA ASE band has barely budged in three years while inflation eats real wages. Premium tracks (Digital, Pro, Elite, Specialist) are still where the differential lives, and they are entirely test-driven. If you are aiming higher than the default offer, the coding round is not optional pageantry - it is the entire interview.
What I'd actually study for this
- 01Two solid coding-round answers (1 medium-hard DSA each, with edge-case discussion) > five half-baked ones
- 02One real project you can defend end-to-end - file paths, design decisions, and what you would change
- 03One DBMS schema you actually built (not a textbook ER diagram), with at least 3 join-heavy queries written from memory
- 04Three behavioural STAR stories: failure recovered, conflict handled, ownership taken
Where most candidates trip up
The single biggest mistake is treating company-specific guides as primary prep and DSA as secondary. It is the opposite. Mass recruiters use the test as a filter, but premium tracks at every IT services company use coding to allocate offer band. Spend 70% of prep time on DSA + system fundamentals, 20% on company-specific patterns, 10% on HR rehearsal. Reverse that ratio and you collect the default offer.
Editorial commentary by Aditya Sharma · written for PapersAdda · not generated, not aggregated.
As of 8 June 2026, the SSC GD Constable 2026 recruitment cycle status has not been confirmed here. Every number on this page is last-cycle-based or candidate-reported; verify on the official SSC portal at ssc.nic.in, which is the binding source. This guide is a dedicated reference for SSC GD physical standards because it is the stage where the largest number of written-test-qualified candidates are eliminated.
This guide covers category-wise height and chest standards, PET requirements, medical criteria, and a structured physical preparation plan.
SSC GD Physical Standards 2026 Source Discipline
Physical standards for SSC GD Constable are published in the official SSC GD notification on ssc.nic.in. The standards below are last-cycle-basis and may be revised in the current notification. Do not rely on any third-party website, coaching institute, or previous-year guide as the definitive source; verify on ssc.nic.in.
| Item | What to verify on ssc.nic.in |
|---|---|
| Height standards by category | All male and female category-wise minimum heights |
| Chest standards by category | Male minimum unexpanded and expanded chest |
| PET race distance and time | Male and female separately |
| Long jump and high jump standards | If applicable in the current cycle |
| Medical examination criteria | Vision, hearing, dental, colour vision, flat feet |
| Category certificates required | Which certificates needed for category-based relaxation |
Physical Measurement Test (PMT) Standards (Last-Cycle Basis)
Height (Male Candidates)
| Category | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| General (UR), OBC, EWS | 170 cm |
| SC | 170 cm (same as General in most cycles; confirm) |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 162.5 cm |
| Candidates from specified hill regions (Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal, Uttarakhand, J&K hill districts, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Tripura, and Darjeeling sub-division of West Bengal) | 165 cm (confirm for current cycle) |
All heights are last-cycle-basis. Confirm the current category-wise height table in the official SSC GD notification.
Height (Female Candidates)
| Category | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| General (UR), OBC, EWS | 157 cm |
| SC | 157 cm (confirm) |
| ST | 150 cm |
| Hill region candidates | 155 cm (confirm) |
Chest Measurements (Male Only)
| Category | Unexpanded | Expanded | Expansion |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR), OBC, EWS, SC | 80 cm | 85 cm | Minimum 5 cm |
| ST | 76 cm | 81 cm | Minimum 5 cm |
| Hill region candidates | 78 cm | 83 cm | Minimum 5 cm (confirm) |
Female candidates do not have a chest measurement requirement.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards (Last-Cycle Basis)
Male PET
| Test | Standard |
|---|---|
| Race | 5 km run within 24 minutes |
Female PET
| Test | Standard |
|---|---|
| Race | 1.6 km run within 8 minutes 30 seconds |
Important notes:
- The PET is a qualifying test only; no marks are awarded. Pass/fail outcome only.
- Candidates who fail the PET are eliminated from that cycle.
- Previous cycles of SSC GD have not included long jump or high jump in the PET; the race has been the sole PET component. Confirm whether the current cycle adds any additional PET events in the official notification.
Medical Examination Standards (Last-Cycle Basis)
Vision Standards
| Condition | Standard (last-cycle basis, confirm in notice) |
|---|---|
| Distant vision (corrected) | 6/6 in better eye, 6/9 in worse eye (confirm) |
| Near vision (corrected) | N6 in better eye, N9 in worse eye (confirm) |
| Colour vision | Colour blindness disqualifies for certain units; confirm per force |
| Spectacles | Candidates requiring spectacles must meet the corrected vision standard; confirm if spectacles are accepted for all forces |
Other Medical Criteria
| Area | Standard |
|---|---|
| Hearing | Normal hearing in both ears; no significant hearing loss |
| Dental | Must have sufficient natural or maintained teeth for adequate chewing; no disqualifying dental disease |
| Flat feet | Flat feet (pes planus) may disqualify if severe; confirm current standard |
| Knock knees or bow legs | Significant degree may disqualify; confirm current standard |
| Skin diseases | No active disqualifying skin condition |
| Varicose veins | May disqualify if significant; confirm current standard |
| Haemorrhoids | Active/significant haemorrhoids may disqualify; confirm current standard |
| Blood pressure | Within normal range; hypertension may disqualify |
| Height-weight proportion | Proportional to height per the official BMI or weight chart |
| Gynecomastia | Significant gynecomastia may disqualify male candidates; confirm current standard |
The medical examination for SSC GD is comprehensive. Candidates with known health conditions (vision issues, flat feet, skin conditions) should carefully review the medical standards before applying to avoid investing in preparation and then being disqualified at the medical stage.
Forces Recruited Under SSC GD Constable
| Force | Full Name | Mandate |
|---|---|---|
| BSF | Border Security Force | India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh border security |
| CRPF | Central Reserve Police Force | Internal security; anti-Naxal; anti-terror; Jammu and Kashmir |
| CISF | Central Industrial Security Force | Security of airports, nuclear installations, public sector units |
| ITBP | Indo-Tibetan Border Police | India-China border (LAC) security in high-altitude terrain |
| SSB | Sashastra Seema Bal | India-Nepal and India-Bhutan border security |
| NIA | National Investigation Agency | Anti-terrorism investigation (constable support staff) |
| SSF | Special Security Force | Parliament and Supreme Court security |
The force allotment is based on merit and candidate preference (where applicable). Confirm the current force list and vacancy distribution in the official SSC GD notification.
Understanding Why Candidates Fail the Physical Round
The physical round is the stage where the highest attrition occurs in SSC GD recruitment. Based on candidate-reported experiences (not official data):
- The 5 km run in 24 minutes eliminates candidates who have not trained specifically for this event. Walking any part of the 5 km is a red flag; the run must be completed without stopping.
- Height disqualification happens when candidates have not checked their own height accurately before applying. Measure your height barefoot early morning (height is slightly less later in the day); this is when PMT measurement is done.
- Chest expansion failures are common among candidates who have focused only on running and neglected upper body training.
- Medical rejections frequently occur for: poor uncorrected vision (spectacle-dependent candidates must verify the corrected vision standard applies to their force), flat feet, and colour blindness.
Physical Preparation Plan: 12-Week Schedule
Weeks 1 and 2: Running Base Building
Objective: Run 3 km continuously without stopping.
- Day 1, 3, 5: Run 2 km at comfortable pace + 10 minutes walking
- Day 2, 4, 6: Bodyweight exercises (20 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 20 squats; 3 sets)
- Day 7: Rest
Weeks 3 and 4: Extending the Run
Objective: Run 4 km without stopping.
- Day 1, 3, 5: Run 3 to 4 km; increase by 500 metres every two sessions
- Day 2, 4: Interval training (400m sprint, 400m jog, repeat 4 times)
- Day 6: Long slow run (3 km at recovery pace)
Weeks 5 and 6: 5 km Capacity
Objective: Complete 5 km; not yet at 24 minutes.
- Day 1, 3, 5: Full 5 km run; time yourself
- Day 2, 4: Interval training (800m at race pace, 400m recovery jog, repeat 3 times)
- Day 6: 3 km easy run + stretching
Weeks 7 and 8: Speed Building
Objective: 5 km within 26 to 27 minutes.
- Fartlek runs (mixed speed within a continuous run)
- Continue bodyweight exercises: increase push-ups to 30 per set
- Begin chest expansion exercises: chest flyes, breathing exercises, dumbbell pullovers (if equipment available)
Weeks 9 and 10: Race-Pace Training
Objective: 5 km within 25 minutes.
- 2 race-pace 5 km runs per week (timed)
- 1 longer slower run per week (6 to 7 km)
- Chest measurement check: measure your chest before and after breathing; if expansion is below 5 cm, intensify chest exercise
Weeks 11 and 12: Peak and Taper
Objective: 5 km within 23.5 minutes; 2 dry runs.
- Taper training volume by 20 percent; maintain intensity
- Full 5 km race-pace runs twice this week
- Ensure equipment (proper running shoes, comfortable clothes) is ready
- Rest 2 days before actual PET
Sample Questions / Common Candidate Queries
Q. I wear spectacles; am I eligible for SSC GD? You may be eligible if your corrected vision meets the stated standard. Vision requirements for SSC GD specify both uncorrected and corrected thresholds. Check the official SSC GD notification for the exact vision standard and whether spectacle correction is accepted. Some forces (e.g., CISF for certain roles) may have different standards from others.
Q. I am an ST candidate from a hill region; which height applies to me? The two relaxations (ST category and hill region) do not stack in most cycles; you qualify for the lower of the two applicable standards. For example, if ST minimum is 162.5 cm and hill region minimum is 165 cm, you qualify under the ST standard (162.5 cm). Confirm the current stacking or non-stacking rule in the official notification.
Q. What if I have a mild case of flat feet? Flat feet (pes planus) at a clinical level may disqualify. The degree is assessed by the medical officer. Mild flat feet (Grade 1) may or may not disqualify depending on the medical officer's assessment. Candidates with known flat feet should consult an orthopaedic specialist before applying to understand the severity and explore whether it is likely to disqualify them.
Internal Links
For the SSC GD preparation guide covering the written exam, see the broader SSC preparation guides on PapersAdda. For state police SI physical standards comparison, see the State Police SI 2026 guide. For Agniveer physical standards comparison, see the Agniveer Navy 2026 guide and Agniveer Air Force 2026 guide. For the 2026 government exams calendar, see PapersAdda.
Methodology applied to this articlelast verified 8 Jun 2026
- No fabricated salary numbers or success rates. If we quote a range, it's sourced.
- No noun-substituted templates. This article was not generated by swapping company names in a stock prompt.
- No paid placements, sponsored coaching links, or affiliate-shilled course pushes.
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