Is 170 cm short in India

170 cm (approximately 5'7") is not short in India—it's actually slightly above average for Indian men, placing you in a favorable middle-to-upper height range. With the average Indian male height around 165-167 cm (roughly 5'5" to 5'6"), standing at 170 cm means you're approximately 3-5 centimeters taller than the typical man you'll encounter, offering a noticeable but not dramatic height advantage. Regional context within India affects this assessment. In northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan where populations tend to be taller on average, 170 cm might feel closer to average, while in eastern and some southern regions, it could place you more comfortably in the "tall" range. Urban environments, particularly among younger generations born after the 1990s when nutrition improved significantly, may have slightly higher average heights than rural areas or older generations. In practical Indian contexts, at 170 cm you'll regularly encounter people both shorter and taller, making it an unremarkable, comfortable height rather than one that draws attention. The height offers practical advantages—you fit well in Indian public transportation, standard doorways, and locally manufactured furniture, while the modest height advantage helps in crowded spaces and meets requirements for most professions including defense and police services. Rather than being "short," 170 cm in India is best characterized as advantageously average—common enough not to stand out dramatically, yet tall enough to gain the modest benefits height provides without any of the disadvantages very tall individuals face.