Physical standards falling, Army introduces new fitness protocol

The recent change designates a Brigadier rank officer as the presiding officer, replacing the previous structure where a Commanding officer handled quarterly tests, and each personnel maintained an APAC card.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jan 30, 2024 09:08 PM IST

The event will be held at Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) from January 3 to 5 between 9 am to 5 am daily (Representatice image/Express)

To address the “declining physical standards among officers” in the Indian Army and the “rise of lifestyle diseases,” a new policy has been implemented. This policy not only imposes punitive action for overweight personnel with “no improvement within 30 days” but also introduces additional tests to the existing ones, requiring the maintenance of an Army Physical Fitness Assessment card (APAC) for each individual.

The recent change designates a Brigadier rank officer as the presiding officer, replacing the previous structure where a Commanding officer handled quarterly tests, and each personnel maintained an APAC card.

According to sources, a letter sent to all commands outlined that this new policy aims for uniformity in the testing process, addressing issues like officers being physically unfit or obese during courses, foreign postings, and the rise of lifestyle diseases.

Present norms involve quarterly BPET and PPT tests, covering various physical activities. In the Battle Physical Efficiency Test, individuals must complete a 5 km run, a 60-metre sprint, climbing using a horizontal rope, climbing using a vertical rope, and crossing over a 9 feet ditch within a specified time based on age. Meanwhile, the Physical Proficiency Test includes a set of exercises such as a 2.4 km run, 5 m shuttle, push-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups, and a 100-metre sprint. The swimming test is conducted only where facilities are available.

Physical standards falling, Army introduces new fitness protocol

The results are currently included in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) on an annual basis, maintained by the Commanding Officer (CO).

Under the new guidelines, officers up to the rank of Brigadier will preside over the Board of Officers, conducting quarterly assessments led by a minimum rank of a Brigadier, with two Colonels and a Medical Officer (MO).

In addition to the existing quarterly BPET and PPT, a 10 km speed march and 32 km route march every six months have been added, along with an annual 50-meter swimming proficiency test.

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All personnel will maintain an Army Physical Fitness Assessment Card, and test results must be submitted within 24 hours to track progress.

For those failing to meet physical standards and falling into the “overweight” category, a written counseling will be given, followed by a 30-day improvement period, including curtailment of leave and TD courses, as per the new guidelines.

The guidelines emphasize potential actions under Army Regulation (AR) 15 and Army Act (AA) 22 for those failing the assessments. Overweight officers will receive written directions to reduce weight within 30 days, and APACs will be linked to the officers’ ACR.

A senior officer in the Army affirmed the development, stating that the “new guidelines were required due to declining fitness standards and are an appreciable move.”

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Army PRO in Delhi, Col Sudhir Chamoli, when contacted, declined to comment or provide further details on the new fitness guidelines for the army.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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