India’s Military Ties With Nepal – Burning Issues

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DEEP MILITARY TIES

British India raised the first battalion of the Gurkha Regiment as the Nasiri regimenton April 24, 1815.
By the time the First World War started, there were 10 Gurkha regiments in the British Indian Army.

During the Second World War (1939-45) over 110,000 men served in 40 Gurkha battalions in battles in the Western Desert, Italy, Greece, Malaya, Singapore and Burma. Nearly 30,000 Gurkhas were killed or wounded.

When India got freedom, these regiments were divided between the British and Indian armies as per the Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite Agreement signed in November 1947.
Six Gurkha regiments with a lakh-odd soldier came to India, which went on to raise another regiment called 11 Gurkha Rifles to accommodate soldiers of 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles, who chose not to transfer to the British Army.

Can Nepali citizens join the Indian Army?
Yes, any Nepali can join the Indian Army, both as a jawanand as an officer. A citizen of Nepal can take the National Defence Academy or Combined Defence Services exams and join the Indian Army as an officer.

The Nepalese army also sends its officers for training to India’s military academies and combat colleges.
The Gurkha regiments, which have 35 battalions, recruit a large number of troops from Nepal.

They enjoy the same benefits as the India troops both during service and after retirement. They get the same medical facilities as the Indian soldiers, and often medical teams from the Indian Army tour Nepal.
Unlike the British, who started giving the Nepalese soldiers pension only a few years ago, the Indian Army has never discriminated against the Nepalese soldiers, who can avail of healthcare facilities in India as well. The Indian Army also runs welfare projects in Nepal villages, including small water and power projects.

40,000 Nepalese nationals serve in the seven Gorkha regiments of the Indian army. They enjoy the same retirement benefits as their Indian counterparts. At least 80,000 Nepalese are currently on India’s pension books. The Indian army also supports 11,000 widows of Nepalese soldiers and 17,000 retired soldiers from Assam Rifles.
India spends $12 billion in pension on Nepalese nationals every year.