Battle Physical Efficiency Test Policy Modified For Women In Army

The Indian Army has now made the Battle Physical Efficiency Test (BPET) applicable and mandatory for all the women in the army, including those commissioned before 2009 and above 35 years of age, who were earlier exempt from it. BPET, which is a series of physical tests is used to test the physical fitness of an officer or a jawan to perform military tasks. The Army recently changed its policy regarding BPET for women in the army,  The Indian Express reported.

For women officers, the BPET involves a 5-km run, a 60-meter sprint, climbing vertical rope up to a certain height, traversing horizontal rope up to a certain distance, and jumping 6-feet ditch. The directions were issued by the Directorate General Of Military Training of Army Headquarters, New Delhi on May 12, 2020.  The new notification modifies the one issued in March 2011, which exempted women officers commissioned before 2009 and above 35 years of age from mandatorily appearing for BPET. These women officers only had to appear for the Physical Proficiency test before.

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The Notification Letter

The letter states, “The standards will be applicable to all categories of women entries and trainees in all training academies and regimental centers of all arms and services with immediate effect irrespective of the date of joining training establishments/commission/enrollment”.

As per the new directions, for women in army, the time taken to run 5000 feet/1500 meters in the age category for women officers below 30 years should be 30 minutes or less for ‘Excellent’ grading, 31 minutes 30 seconds for ‘Good’ grading and 33 minutes for ‘Satisfactory’ grading.

The notification issued in March 2011 read, "Lady officers, who are commissioned before April 2009 and are above 35 years of age, will be excused BPET and only Physical Proficiency Test (PPT) will be applicable for them.”

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The Modified Time For Completing Tasks

In addition to the mandatory application of BPET, the department has also modified the time limit for completing the tasks within BPET. As per the new directions, the time taken to run 5000 feet/1500 meters in the age category for women officers below 30 years should be 30 minutes or less for ‘Excellent’ grading, 31 minutes 30 seconds for ‘Good’ grading and 33 minutes for ‘Satisfactory’ grading.

The 2011 notification, however, stipulated 32 minutes for ‘Excellent’, 33 minutes 30 seconds for ‘Good’, and 35 minutes for ‘Satisfactory’.

The directions introduced a similar decrease in the time frame of distance run from 5,000 feet to 9,000 feet.  In the category of the 60-meter sprint, the ‘Excellent’ grading time has been reduced from 16 seconds to 15 seconds, 19 seconds to 17 seconds for ‘good’ grading, and 20 seconds to 19 seconds for ‘Satisfactory’ grading.

Picture Credit- The Week

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