Why Nepal has put on hold Gorkha recruitment under India’s Agnipath scheme

Source: The post is based on an article “Why Nepal has put on hold Gorkha recruitment under India’s Agnipath scheme” published in The Indian Express on 27^th August 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral relations of India

Relevance: India and Nepal military relations

News: This article discusses the recruitment of Nepalese Gorkha soldiers and recent changes made by the Indian army in the recruitment of these soldiers.

Nepal has postponed scheduled rallies to recruit Gorkha soldiers for the Indian Army under the Agnipath scheme.

The Nepalese government is of the opinion that this new way to enter the Indian military is not covered under the Tripartite Agreement.

What is the Tripartite Agreement?

This agreement was signed between the government of India, Nepal and UK in 1947 regarding the future of Gorkha soldiers who were serving in the Indian army.

As per this agreement, four regiments of Gorkha soldiers — 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 10th were transferred to the British Army. Whereas the remaining — 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 9^th regiments remained with the Indian Army.

The agreement also provides for the terms and conditions, post-retirement benefits, and pensions of Nepal domiciled Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army.

How is the relationship between India and Nepalese Gorkhas?

The Gorkha soldiers from Nepal serve side by side with Gorkha soldiers who are born and brought up in India and are not considered mercenaries.

The Geneva Convention of 1949 defines mercenary. It says that soldiers serving in sovereign armies are not considered mercenaries.

There have been attempts to reduce the dependence on Nepal for Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army in order to strike a balance between India and Nepal domiciled troops.

A pure Indian Gorkha battalion was raised in 2016 in Subathu, Himachal Pradesh.

The ratio of Nepalese domiciled soldiers and Indian domiciled soldiers in a Gorkha battalion ranges from 60:40 to 70:30, and it is expected to change in the future.

There was a change made in the recruitment rules of the Gorkha rifles after the Army decided that soldiers hailing from Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand will also be eligible to serve in Gorkha Rifles.

How important is it for Nepal that Gorkhas serve in the Indian Army?

A research paper from 2020 titled ’The Gurkha Recruitment, Remittances and Development’ by Ratna Mani Nepal states that:

• The remittances from Gorkhas serving in foreign armies have significantly contributed to social modernization in the isolated villages.
• The financial remittances have also encouraged entrepreneurship development which helps in regional development.