Nepalese Army

Nepalese Army
Name	Nepalese Army
Native name	नेपाली सेना
Founded	1767
Allegiance	Monarchy of Nepal (historical), Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (current)
Branch	Armed forces
Type	Land force
Size	~95,000 active
Garrison	Kathmandu
March	"Rastriya Samar Prati"
Anniversaries	Republic Day (Nepal), Army Day (Nepal)
Commander in chief	President of Nepal
Chief of army staff	General Prabhu Ram Sharma

Nepalese Army The Nepalese Army is the principal land force of Nepal, tracing origins to the unification campaigns of Prithvi Narayan Shah and the Gorkha Kingdom. It has served under the House of Shah monarchs, during the Rana dynasty period, and through the transition to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal after the Nepalese Civil War. The force participates in national defense, internal security, and international peacekeeping under United Nations mandates.

History

The institution began during the Unification of Nepal led by Prithvi Narayan Shah and saw major engagements such as the Sugauli Treaty aftermath following the Anglo-Nepalese War with the British East India Company. Throughout the 19th century the force developed ties with the British Indian Army and later the Indian Army via the Gorkha regiments tradition exemplified by recruitment into the Gurkha Rifles. In the 20th century the army operated during the Rana dynasty consolidation and later under the Shah dynasty through events like the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the 1950s modernization drives influenced by Indian Armed Forces advisors. During the early 21st century the institution confronted the Nepalese Civil War involving the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) insurgency, culminating in the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord and reforms under the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007. Post-conflict roles shifted toward professionalization, United Nations peacekeeping deployments such as UNMIS and UNIFIL, and adaptation to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal constitutional framework.

Organization and Command Structure

Command authority rests constitutionally with the President of Nepal as Commander-in-Chief, with day-to-day leadership by the Chief of Army Staff (Nepal) and associated general staff directorates patterned after Western military staff systems and influenced by bilateral cooperation with the Indian Army, People's Liberation Army (China), and other partner forces. The force is organized into regional commands, infantry divisions, specialized regiments including Armoured Corps (Nepal), Artillery Regiment (Nepal), and Engineer Regiment (Nepal), plus logistics and medical corps. Support institutions include the NCO Academy (Nepal), the Nepal Army Academy, and the Directorate of Military Intelligence (Nepal). Administrative control intersects with civilian ministries such as the Ministry of Defence (Nepal) and legislative oversight by the Federal Parliament of Nepal.

Roles and Operations

Primary responsibilities include territorial defense, assistance in internal security under the Armed Police Force (Nepal) coordination during crises, disaster relief during events like the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and infrastructure support in remote districts such as Dolpa District and Humla District. The force has a notable international footprint through contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations in theaters including Haiti, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone. Historically it engaged in frontier conflicts like the Anglo-Nepalese War and counterinsurgency during the Nepalese Civil War. It also participates in joint exercises with the Indian Army, Chinese PLA, United States Army, and multilateral forums such as MILAN (Indian Navy exercise) and regional defense dialogues.

Personnel and Recruitment

Recruitment draws from diverse communities across Kathmandu Valley, Gorkha District, Rukum District, Kaski District, and the terai regions, with officers produced at the Nepal Army Academy and enlisted ranks trained at regional training centers. The traditional Gurkha heritage continues to influence identity and recruitment norms alongside modern merit-based evaluation systems instituted after the Comprehensive Peace Accord. Personnel policies are governed by statutes like the Nepal Army Act and oversight via the National Human Rights Commission (Nepal) following post-conflict accountability reforms. The force includes regulars, reserve elements, and cadre for United Nations deployments, with rank structures similar to Commonwealth models and professional development tied to international courses at institutions such as the National Defence College (India) and the PLA National Defence University.

Equipment and Modernization

Equipment inventories historically featured small arms and artillery procured from suppliers including India, China, and Western vendors, with platforms such as light armored vehicles, mortars, and transport helicopters. Modernization efforts have emphasized communications, counterinsurgency capabilities, engineering equipment for disaster response, and force protection systems acquired through bilateral agreements with India and military aid from countries like the United States. Procurement reviews and capability planning align with commitments to UN peacekeeping standards and interoperability with partner forces including the Indian Army and Chinese PLA.

Training and Doctrine

Doctrine integrates lessons from the Anglo-Nepalese War, the Nepalese Civil War, and international peacekeeping experience, balancing mountain warfare proficiencies with urban and counterinsurgency tactics. Training programs at the Nepal Army Academy, specialized schools for artillery, engineers, and signals, and foreign exchange at institutions like the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and United States Army War College support professionalization. Emphasis is placed on humanitarian assistance, civil-military cooperation, and adherence to International humanitarian law norms during United Nations deployments.

Category:Military of Nepal Category:Government of Nepal