Indian Army Introduces New Fitness Policy to Fight 'Declining Physical Standards'

The Indian army has brought in a new fitness policy in view of the “declining physical standards among officers”. The police adds news tests to the existing ones and also poses a requirement of an Army Physical Fitness Assessment card (APAC) for each person.

As per the new changes, a Brigadier rank officer will be the presiding officer in quarterly tests instead of a Commanding officer, an Indian Express report said.

The new policy is aimed at bringing consistency in the testing procedure and addressing issues of officers being physically unfit or obese amid the rising threat of lifestyle diseases.

REQUIREMENTS AS PER NEW POLICY

Age Group: 28 to 32 years

Age Group: 33 to 77 years

Age Group: 38 to 42 years

Age Group: 43 to 47 years

Age Group: 48 and above

OLD VS NEW POLICY

The rules at present require quarterly conducting of Battle Physical Efficiency Test (BPET) and Physical Proficiency Test (PPT).

Elements in BPET:

• Each personnel must complete a five kilometre run.
• A 60-metre sprint
• Horizontal rope climb
• Vertical rope climb
• Crossing over a 9 feet deep channel within a specific time limit as per age of the personnel.

Elements in PPT:

• Must complete a 2.4 kilometre run
• A five metre shuttle
• Push-ups
• Chin-ups
• Sit-ups
• A 100-metre sprint
• Swimming test only if facility available.

The results of these two tests are included in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR), which is maintained by the Commanding Officer (CO).

However, under the newly introduced guidelines, the Board of Officers will be presided over by a Brigadier rank officer. The quarterly tests will then be led by a Brigadier of a minimum rank, along with two Colonels and a Medical Officer (MO).

Adding to the BPET and PPT, a 10 km speech march and a 32 km route march are required to be conducted on a half yearly basis with an annual 50-metre swimming test.

Each Army personnel must maintain an APAC and the results of their tests must be submitted under 24 hours to track their progress.

Now those who fail to meet the physical fitness standards and fall into the “overweight” category, will be given a written counselling and a 30-day period to show improvement. This period will cut their leaves and TD courses, the new rules state.

If the tests are failed after the improvement period, then punitive actions under Army Regulation (AR) 15 and Army Act 22 will be taken against the personnel.

Confirming the introduction of the new policy, Indian Express quoted a senior Army officer as saying that “the new guidelines were required due to declining fitness standards and are an appreciable move.”