NEW DELHI, Oct 8 — The Indian Army has introduced a new fitness framework that makes physical tests mandatory for all ranks — from Agniveers to Generals — bringing the entire 13-lakh-strong force under a unified standard of assessment. The new regime, called the Combined Physical Test (CPT), will come into effect on April 1, 2026, Army sources said.
The CPT merges two existing evaluations — the Battle Physical Efficiency Test (BPET) and the Physical Proficiency Test (PPT) — into a single, comprehensive system designed to reflect the demands of modern warfare. “The CPT is a realistic, inclusive, and standardised fitness test that recognises the Army’s diverse operational environments and demographics,” a senior official noted.
Under the new system, every soldier and officer up to the age of 60 will be required to take the test twice a year. Currently, the BPET is held only for those up to 45 years of age and the PPT till 50. The Army Chief, who retires at 62, remains exempt beyond that age.
Preparatory activities for the new framework will begin across all Army units on October 15, officials confirmed. The tests will vary by age group but remain both rank-neutral and gender-neutral, ensuring uniform standards across the hierarchy. “The parameters have been adjusted for terrain and climate,” said an officer familiar with the rollout. “Units operating above 9,000 feet will have certain relaxations.”
Among the test components are a 3.2 km run, push-ups, sit-ups, and for younger personnel, vertical rope climbing. Performance will be graded across four categories — super excellent, excellent, good, and satisfactory — with individual scores influencing Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), thus impacting promotions and career evaluations.
For the first time, a Unit Operational Efficiency Test will also be introduced, requiring entire units to undertake collective endurance exercises such as route marches. Officials said this aims to build teamwork, coordination, and combat-level stamina across formations.
“The CPT acknowledges that while technology has changed warfare, physical endurance, agility, and mental resilience remain the core of combat readiness,” a senior officer from the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) said.
The CPT’s design was developed after extensive analysis of data from previous assessments and benchmarking against Khelo India standards and those followed by several foreign armies. Inputs from the Army Training Command and the Adjutant General’s Branch were central to finalising the framework.
Officials said the initiative represents a major shift toward a more adaptive and inclusive evaluation system, aimed at strengthening both individual fitness and collective operational effectiveness across the world’s second-largest standing army.
