Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has requested his Nepali counterpart to resume the recruitment for Gorkha troops, which came to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic. Later, Nepal refused the joining of its ethnic community to the Indian armed forces after the introudction of the Agnipath scheme.
"I have personally requested the Nepal Army chief to revive the recruitment of the ethnic Gorkha community in the Indian Army. I am very hopeful that it will resume sooner than later,” Upendra Dwivedi said, according to a report by The Telegraph.
For over four years, the Indian Army's prestigious Gorkha battalions have been facing an unusual challenge — the lack of fresh recruits from Nepal.
Historically an important aspect of India-Nepal ties, the recruitment of Nepali Gorkhas under the 1947 tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and the United Kingdom has come to a standstill, leaving a vacuum in this time-honoured tradition.
The recruitment of soldiers from Nepal was suspended since 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic and then after introduction of the Agnipath scheme in 2022, under which soldiers, called Agniveers, are recruited for four years and have no retirement benefits. They are not entitled to gratuity or pension and 75 per cent of them will be demobilised after the completion of four years while the rest retained as regular cadre based on merit and organisational requirements.
Nepal did not agree to the terms of the Agniveer scheme for its citizens, saying that it violated the provisions of the tripartite India-Nepal-Britain Agreement of 1947. The Himalayan nation had also voiced concern over the re-employability of Gorkha soldiers after the expiry of their four-year term.
Nepali Gorkhas, known for their grit and bravery, have fought in India’s wars with China and Pakistan and have strong ties with the Indian military. The 1947 tripartite pact allowed Indian and British armies to continue the recruitment of Gorkhas. Under the pact, six Gorkha regiments went to independent India while four remained with the British Army.
During the annual Army Commanders’ Press Conference, General Upendra Dwivedi, addressed the issue, emphasising that while the recruitment hiatus is notable, it has not affected the operational preparedness or overall strength of the Indian Army, India Today reported.
“We have placed our proposal before the Government of Nepal and are awaiting their response,” General Dwivedi said, highlighting India’s willingness to resume the recruitment process in a manner respectful of Nepal’s sovereign decisions.
Currently, the Indian Army has seven Gorkha regiments, with about 34,000 Nepali citizens serving in these units. Before 2020, the army annually hired 1,200-1,500 Gorkhas from Nepal until the freeze.
Nearly 14,000 Gorkha troops had retired since 2020 and these vacancies had not been filled up from Nepal, leaving gaps in the posted strength of operational battalions, sources in the Indian Army said, as reported by The Telegraph.
The resumption of Nepali Gorkha recruitment is not only a matter of military importance but also a key to preserving the cultural and historical bond between the two nations.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
