Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said the absence of new recruits from Nepal in the Gorkha battalions has not affected the operational preparedness or overall strength of the Indian Army. For more than four years, the prestigious Gorkha battalions of the Indian Army have been facing an unusual challenge of shortage of fresh recruits from Nepal. Historically an important aspect of India-Nepal relations, recruitment of Nepalese Gurkhas has stopped under the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between India, Nepal and the United Kingdom, leaving a void in this time-honored tradition. During the annual Army Commanders’ press conference, General Upendra Dwivedi addressed the issue, emphasizing that although the disruption in recruitment is notable, it has not affected the operational preparedness or overall strength of the Indian Army. General Dwivedi highlighted India’s desire to resume the recruitment process while respecting Nepal’s sovereign decisions. He said that we have presented our proposal to the Nepal government and are waiting for their response.
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The recruitment of Nepali Gorkhas into the Indian Army is based on an age-old relationship of bravery and trust. The Tripartite Agreement of 1947 formalized this arrangement, ensuring that thousands of Nepalese youth would join the ranks of the Indian Gurkha regiments, renowned for their discipline and fighting skills. Since then these battalions have played a vital role in defending India’s borders and participating in important military operations. However, the situation changed after 2020 when initially there was no recruitment for two years due to Covid-19 and later Nepal stopped allowing its citizens to join the Indian Army under the Agneepath scheme. This has led to a shortage of more than 14,000 Gurkha soldiers in the traditional Gorkha battalions.
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Despite the impasse in recruitment, military relations between India and Nepal remain strong. In 2024, General Upendra Dwivedi visited Nepal and was awarded the honorary rank of General of the Nepalese Army, symbolizing the unique camaraderie between the two armies. Nepalese Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel visited India and was honored with the rank of General of the Indian Army.
