The Nepalese government has decided not to allow Gorkhas to join the Indian Army in 2023. This is due to the newly launched four-year-service Agnipath scheme of the Indian Army. The Indian Army has been a lucrative career for Nepalese youth since the payment is 2.5 times that of the Nepalese Army, and the pension provides economic and social security. Additionally, it provides the option for Nepalese nationals to settle down in India. However, this may lead to an anti-India sentiment in the Himalayan nation, which is something that Communist China may seek to exploit.
The Gorkhas have a longstanding connection with the Indian Army since the British raised Gorkha regiments in 1815, and they fought bravely in various military expeditions. After India gained independence in 1947, the Indian Army retained six regiments of Gorkha soldiers while four went to the British Army as part of a tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and the UK. There are currently seven Gorkha regiments in the Indian Army, with 40 battalions and a total of 40,000 soldiers, but only one-fourth of them are of Nepalese origin.
The new recruitment scheme of the Indian Army has resulted in a furor in both India and Nepal. The scheme entails catching the recruits young, conducting a part of their training on the job, and retiring three-fourths of the batch after four years without any pension but with a compensation package. The salaries and pensions of the Indian Army Gorkha soldiers form a significant part of income in rural Nepal. The Nepalese soldiers in the Indian Army bring US$620 million in remuneration, while Nepal’s defense budget is US$420 million.
The Nepalese government, led by the Communists who are historically against Nepalese Gorkhas serving in the Indian Army, has halted the recruitment process using the refusal by the Indian government to make an exception for the Gorkha soldiers under the Agnipath scheme. Lt Gen. DS Hooda (Retired) hopes that the recruitment process will commence once elections are over in Nepal, as it is mutually beneficial since it provides employment and the Gorkha veterans act as goodwill ambassadors between the two countries.
The Maoist chief and new Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will visit India this month. The presence of a Communist government in Nepal has bolstered China to make inroads into the country. Rumors are rife about China exploring options to recruit Gorkhas in its ranks. As the Gorkha soldiers have proved their mettle in various wars, including the one against China in 1962, this could be a significant loss for the Indian Army and a gain for China.
