The Indian Army has introduced a new policy to deal with the deteriorating physical fitness of soldiers, expressing concern over the ‘decreasing physical quality of officers’ and ‘increasing lifestyle-related diseases’.
According to The Indian Express, the new policy introduces stricter measures and additional tests to the existing physical fitness assessment system.
An important aspect of the new physical fitness policy for the Indian Army is that it introduces new challenges in addition to the regular quarterly tests – the Battle Physical Fitness Test and the Physical Proficiency Test.
Officers are now ordered to undertake a speed march of 10 km and an extremely difficult route march of 32 km annually.
Apart from this, an annual 50m swimming skill test is also included to further assess their physical abilities.
In the current Battle Physical Efficiency Test, participants must successfully complete a five-kilometer run, a 60-meter sprint, both horizontal and vertical rope climbing skills, and a nine-foot chasm.
All this has to be done within a certain time frame which varies depending on their age.
The Physical Proficiency Test includes a variety of exercises, including a 2.4km run, a five-metre shuttle run, push-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups and a 100m sprint.
A swimming test is also included, but is only taken at locations where the necessary facilities are available.
According to the report, there is a penalty for not meeting the fitness standards.
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Officers not meeting the physical standards, especially those classified as overweight, will be given 30 days for written counseling and improvement during which they will have to lose excess weight.
No leave application will be entertained during this period.
Those who do not show any improvement in fitness may face action under Indian military rules namely Army Regulation 15 and Army Act 22.
According to the new policy, an officer of the rank of brigadier will supervise the quarterly test, which was earlier handled by the commanding officer and involves every officer in APAC. [آرمی فزیکل فٹنس اسسمنٹ] The card has to be kept.
The Indian Army is one of the largest armies in the world and the armed forces are among the largest employers in the country.
However, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern that large numbers of soldiers are serving long careers – leading to an increase in the average age within the armed forces and resulting in an overall Combat readiness and effectiveness have been reduced.
In 2022, India introduced a new Indian Army recruitment scheme based on the Western ‘Tour of Duty’ system, which sparked protests across the country.
Under the new ‘Agnipath’ scheme released by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on 14 June 2022, applicants aged 17.5 to 21 years will be recruited into the three armed forces, Navy, Air Force and Army, and their Employment will be for four years, similar to the US and UK systems.
Only 25 percent of all recruits will be retained at the end of these contracts, with the rest having to quit – one of the most controversial features of the scheme.
In the next four years, about 50,000 to 60,000 recruitments will be made annually and it is expected that the number will reach 90,000 to 120,000 thereafter.
According to Rajnath Singh, these changes will make the army ‘younger and younger’ [زیادہ] Will be ready for war.’
The Independent has contacted the Indian Army for comment.
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2024-08-19 12:05:36