RANCHI: Following the death of 12 candidates during excise constable recruitment drive, Jharkhand govt is all set to relax the parameters for the physical ability test, reports Sanjay Sahay. As against the current qualifying benchmark of 10km run in 60 minutes, the police department is going to introduce a system of completing 1.6km run in 5-6 minutes, or reducing the distance to 5km, to be covered in 25 minutes.A DIG rank officer of Jharkhand Police said they are proposing both options for govt to consider and approve a logical benchmark.
These changes will be applicable for future examinations/recruitment drives. Since 80% of the tests for ongoing excise constables recruitment is already over, the remaining 20% would continue to be conducted as per the current standards.
Indian Army mandates 1.6km run in 5.45 minutes for men, while the same distance has to be completed in 7.30 minutes by women. Central paramilitary forces have a benchmark of completing a 5km run in 24 minutes for men, while women candidates have to cover 1.6km in 8.30 minutes.
Realising this was more stringent than other police forces and even armed forces, CM Hemant Soren ordered a panel of medical experts to be formed to determine if the parameters were dangerous.