Sedentary male (n = 94) and female (n = 111) university students were randomly sampled to enumerate the prediction methods for estimating maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) by the heart rate ratio method (HR(peak) x HR(rest)(-1) or HR(max) x HR(rest)(-1)). VO(2max) was directly measured by incremental bicycle exercise whereas equations of Uth et al. (2004) were used for indirect prediction of VO(2max). The difference between directly measured VO(2max) (males: 38.95 ± 3.81 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1); females: 35.90 ± 3.46 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and predicted VO(2max) or P VO(2max) (males: 38.87 ± 1.15 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1); females: 36.24 ± 1.94 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) from HR(peak) x HR(rest)(-1) or estimated VO(2max) or E VO(2max) (males: 37.72 ± 2.55 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1); females: 37.20 ± 1.50 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) from HR(max)x HR(rest)(-1) was statistically insignificant. Correlation between VO(2max) with P VO(2max) (r = 0.87 in males and r = 0.58 in females) and E VO(2max) (r = 0.83 in males and r = 0.79 in females) was significant (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed standard errors of estimate of VO(2max) when predicted from HR(peak) x HR(rest)(-1) and HR(max) x HR(rest)(-1) were 1.87 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) and 2.14 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), respectively, in males and 2.09 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) and 2.83 ml x kg(-1) xmin(-1), respectively, in females. The results by applying these norms in the confirmatory group were in good agreement with insignificant difference of VO(2max) (males: 38.84 ± 3.83 ml x kg(-1)x min(-1); females: 34.23 ± 3.70 ml x kg(-l) x min(-1)) from P VO(2max (males: 38.99 ± 3.68 ml x kg(-l) x min(-1); females: 34.47 ± 3.55 ml x kg(-1)x min(-1)) or from EVO(2max), (males: 38.39 ± 3.66 ml x kg(-l) x min(-); females: 33.87 ± 3.52 ml x kg(-l) x min(-l)). Based on the present observation, the heart rate ratio method is recommended for predicting VO(2max) in Indian university students.