Nepali Army

The Nepal unification campaign was a turning point in the history of the Nepali army. Since unification was not possible without a strong army, the management of the armed forces had to be exceptional. Apart from the standard Malla-era temples in Kathmandu, the army organized itself in Gorkha. After the Gorkhali troops captured Nuwakot, the hilly northern part of Kathmandu (Kantipur) in 1744, the Gorkhali armed forces came to be known as the Royal Nepali Army.

Their performance impressed their enemies so much that the British East-India Company started recruiting Nepali troops into their forces. The native British soldiers called the new soldiers "Gurkhas". The Gurkha-Sikh War began shortly after, in 1809. In 1946, the Royal Nepali Army troops were led by Commanding General Baber Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana at the Victory Parade in London.

Former Indian Army Chief and Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw, once stated that: "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gorkhali."

Prior to 2006, the Royal Nepali Army was under the control of the King of Nepal. Following the 2006 Democracy Movement (Nepali: लोकतन्त्र आन्दोलन, romanized: Loktantra Āndolan) on 18 May, a bill was passed by the Nepali parliament curtailing royal power, which included renaming the army to simply the Nepali Army.^[3]

In 2004, Nepal spent $99.2 million on its military (1.5% of its GDP). Between 2002 and 2006, the RNA was involved in the Nepali Civil War. They were also used to quell pro-democracy protesters during the 2006 democracy movement.

The Nepali Army has about 95,000 infantry army and air service members protecting the sovereignty of Nepal. In August 2018, The Himalayan Times estimated total army forces to be around 96,000^[4] while The Kathmandu Post estimated it to be 92,000.^[5]

Supreme Command

The position of the Supreme Commander of the Nepalese Army is the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Until 2006, the King of Nepal (monarchy abolished) was in control of all military forces in the country. The National Army was renamed from Royal Nepalese Army to Nepalese Army after the recent national conversion from a monarchy to a republic on 4th Jestha 2063 B.S.

The National Defence Council

This Council has seven members, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, the Chief of the Army Staff, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Home Minister and the Chief Secretary.

The President of Nepal is the Supreme Commander-In-Chief.

Divisions

The Nepalese Army is divided into eight divisions, one each in the seven states and one in the Kathmandu Valley.

In addition there are at least 7 independent units:

• Army Aviation Directorate
• Special Forces Brigade
• VVIP Security
• Artillery Brigade
• Signals Brigade
• Engineers Brigade
• Air Defense Brigade

Chiefs of the Nepali Army

The Chiefs of the Nepali Army have mostly been drawn from noble Chhetri families from the Gorkha Kingdom such as the Pande dynasty, Kunwar family, Basnyat dynasty, and Thapa dynasty before the rule of the Rana dynasty.^[6] During the Shah monarchy, the officers were drawn from these aristocratic families.^[6] During the Rana dynasty, Ranas claimed the position as their birthright.^[6] The first army chief of was King Prithvi Narayan Shah who drafted and commanded the army.^[7] The first civilian army chief was Kalu Pande, a Kaji who had a significant role in the unification campaign.^[7] He was considered head of the army due to his undertaking of army duties and responsibilities, not by a formal title.^[7]

Bhimsen Thapa, Mukhtiyar from 1806 to 1837, was the first person to be given the title Commander-in-Chief as head of the army.^[8] King Rajendra Bikram Shah appointed Bhimsen to the post and praised him for his long service to the nation.^[9] However, on 14 June 1837, the King took over command of all battalions put in charge of various courtiers, and became the commander-in-chief.^[10][11] Immediately after the incarceration of the Thapas in 1837, Dalbhanjan Pande and Rana Jang Pande were the joint heads of the military administration.^[12] Rana Jang was removed after three months in October 1837.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Since the command of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen, only seven army chiefs were non-Rana Chhetris, including Shahs, until 1951.^[8] The commander-in-chief title was replaced by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) from the reign of General Pratap Singh Shah.

Conflicts defending the Kingdom of Nepal

• Battle against Mir Qasim (1763)
• Battle of Pauwa Gadhi against Captain Kinloch (1767)
• Anglo-Nepali War (1814–1816)
• First Nepal-Tibet War
• Nepal-China War (1788–1792)
• Nepal-Tibet War (1855–1856)
• Nepali Civil War (1996–2006)

Battles during the unification of Nepal

• Battle of Kirtipur
• Battle of Kathmandu
• Battle of Bhaktapur
• Limbuwan–Gorkha War
• Invasion of Doti Kingdom

International conflicts

• Indian Sepoy Mutiny
• World War I (Casualties)
• Waziristan War^[which?]
• Afghan War (1919)
• World War II
• Hyderabad Action (1948)

International operations

The Nepali Army has contributed more than 100,000 peacekeepers to a variety of United Nations-sponsored peacekeeping missions such as:

• United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),
• UNOSOMII the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), UN Operational Mission Somalia II,
• MINUSTAH the United Nations Mission in Haiti,
• UNAMSIL – an 800-man battalion was sent to serve in the peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone,
• UNMIS – The Nepali Army sent a protection company of 200 personnel for the United Nations Mission In Sudan. The Redeployment Coordination Headquarters (RCHQ) at Kassala was also manned by the Nepali contingent. The RCHQ was intended to monitor withdrawals from the eastern sectors of the UNMIS area under the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Accord.
• UNDOF,
• MINUSMA – For the first time,^[17][18] the Nepali Army sent an EOD company of 140 personnel specially dedicated to the improvised explosive device (IED) and ordnance disposal mission in Mali.

US-Nepal military relations

The US-Nepali military relationship focuses on support for democratic institutions, civilian control of the military, and the professional military ethic to include respect for human rights. The US would support Nepal with arms, ammunition and additional commandos and soldiers if war began with neighboring China, but resisted giving any support if war broke out with India as it is an essential US ally in the Asia-Pacific region against China. Nepal also signed the COMCASA agreement with the US in the 2+2 meeting in September 2018. Both countries have had extensive contact over the years. Nepali Army units have served with distinction alongside American forces in places such as Haiti, Iraq, and Somalia.

US-Nepali military engagement continues today through the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities (EIPC) program, Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), and various conferences and seminars. The US military sends many Nepali Army officers to America to attend military schools, such as the Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College. The IMET budget for FY2001 was $220,000.

The EIPC program is an inter-agency program between the US Department of Defense and US Department of State to increase the pool of international peacekeepers and to promote interoperability. Nepal received about $1.9 million in EIPC funding.^[when?]

The US Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC) coordinates military engagement with Nepal through the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC). The ODC Nepal is located in the American Embassy in Kathmandu.

The first four army units are the Shreenath, Kali Baksh (Kalibox), Barda Bahadur, and Sabuj companies, founded in August 1762 by King Prithvi Narayan Shah with the Chhetri and Thakuri clans, well before the unification of Nepal. The Purano Gorakh Company was founded in February 1763 and is the army's fifth oldest unit.^[19]

• Shree Nath Battalion – established 1762
• Shree Kali Buksh Battalion – established 1762
• Shree Barda Bahadur Battalion – established 1762
• Shree Sabuj Battalion – established 1762
• Shree Purano Gorakh Battalion – established 1763
• Shree Devi Datta Battalion – established 1783
• Shree Naya Gorakh Battalion – established 1783
• Shree Bhairavi Dal Battalion – established 1785
• Shree Singhanath Battalion – established 1786 (commando)
• Shree Shreejung Battalion – established 1783
• Shree Ranabhim Battalion – established 1783
• Shree Naya Shree Nath Battalion – established 1783
• Shree Vajradal Company – established 1806
• Shree Shree Mehar Battalion – established 1779
• Shree "The Famous" Mahindra Dal Battalion – established 1844
• Shree Rajdal Regiment (Artillery) (currently expanded to three additional independent Artillery regiments)
• Shree Ganeshdal Battalion – established 1846 (signals and communications)
• Shree Ranabam Battalion  – established 1847
• Shree Nepal Cavalry – established 1849, Household Cavalry ceremonial unit since 1952
• Shree Durga Bhanjan Campany – established 1862
• Shree Kali Prasad Battalion (Engineers) – established 1863
• Shree Bhairavnath Battalion – established 1910 (parachute battalion)
• Shree Bhagvati Prasad Company – established 1927
• Shree Khadga Dal Battalion – established 1937
• Shree Parshwavarti Company – established 1936 (served as PM's bodyguard unit and disbanded in 1952)
• Shree Gorkah Bahadur Battalion – established 1952 (infantry unit, then developed for royal guard duty)
• Shree Jagadal Battalion (air defence)
• Shree Yuddha Kawaj Battalion (mechanized infantry)
• Shree Mahabir Battalion (Rangers Battalion, equivalent to the US Army Rangers (part of the Nepali Army Special Operation Force))
• Shree Chandan Nath Battalion – established 2004 (infantry unit)
• Shree Tara Dal Battalion – established 2002 (infantry unit)
• Shree No 1 Disaster Management Battalion – established 2012
• Shree No 2 Disaster Management Battalion – established 2012

• Nepalese Army Command and Staff College, Shivapuri
• Nepalese Army War College, Nagarkot
• Nepalese Military Academy, Kharipati
• Nepalese Army Recruit Training Center, Trishuli
• Nepalese Army Jungle Warfare School, Amlekhgunj
• Nepalese Army High Altitude and Mountain Warfare School, Mustang
• Nepalese Army Intelligence School, Kharipati
• Nepalese Army Logistics School, Chhauni
• Birendra Peace Keeping Operation Training Center, Panchkhal
• Nepalese Army Para Training School, Maharajgunj
• Nepalese Army EME school, Kharipati

The unofficial participation of women in Nepal Army was first during the Anglo-Nepalese War on Battle of Nalapani. Battle of Nalapani was the first battle of the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–1816, fought between the forces of the British East India Company and Nepal, then ruled by the Gorkha Kingdom. Nepalese women were heavily involved in this battle supporting the male Gurkha warriors. With no automatic weapons in hands Nepalese women fought with British troops with stones and woods.According to Nepal Army YouTube channel "Nepali Army" programme Nepali Senama Mahila Sahabhagita (documentary) - Episode 405, the official participation of women in Nepal Army started in 1961 in the post of Nurse.The timeline of official women's participation in Nepal Army is as follow:

• 1961 - Nurses
• 1965 - Parachute folding women team
• 1969 - Medical doctors
• 1998 - Lawyers
• 2004 - Engineering
• 2011 - Aviation

Notable Female Officers of Nepal Army

• Brigadier General Dr. Radha Shah - First woman to become Brigadier General of Nepal Army
• Brigadier General Dr. Narvada Thapa - First female staff of Nepal Army to get doctorate degree (P.Hd)
• Colonel Dr. Sarita K.C - First Nepalese army female personnel to join UN Peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL)
• Major Kriti Rajbhandari - First woman observer military liaison officer from Nepal Army
• Colonel Yvetta Rana - First woman officer of Judge Advocate General Department of Nepal Army
• Colonel Sovana Rayamajhi - First woman officer (Computer Engineer) to join the Information Technology Department of Nepal Army
• Major Niru Dhungana - One of the first female military pilots
• Major Anita Ale Magar - One of the first female military pilots
• Major Shristhi Khadka - First woman company commander of Nepal Army

The majority of equipment used by the army is imported from other countries. India is the army's largest supplier of arms and ammunition as well as other logistical equipment, which are often furnished under generous military grants.^[20] Germany, the United States, Belgium, Israel, and South Korea have also either supplied or offered arms to the Nepali Army.^[21]

The army's first standard rifle was the Belgian FN FAL, which it adopted in 1960.^[21] Nepali FALs were later complemented by unlicensed, Indian-manufactured variants of the same weapon, as well its British counterpart, the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle.^[21] Beginning in 2002 these were officially supplemented in army service by the American M-16 rifle, which took the FAL's place as the army's standard service rifle.^[21] Nevertheless, the FAL and its respective variants remain the single most prolific weapon in Nepali army service, with thousands of second-hand examples being supplied by India as late as 2005.^[20]

Small arms

Weapon	Origin	Type	Calibre	Notes
Pistols
Hi-Power	Belgium	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm	FN P-35 variant.[22]
Submachine guns
MP5[20]	West Germany	Submachine Gun	9×19mm
Sten[22]	United Kingdom	Submachine Gun
Sterling[22]
Uzi[23]	Israel
Rifle and Carbines
INSAS rifle[21]	India	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm	The Nepali Army had about 25,000 INSAS rifles in 2006.[24]
G36	Germany
M-16	United States			Standard service rifle of the Nepali Army.[21]
CAR-15[20]		Carbine
M4 carbine		Carbine
IMI Galil[20]	Israel	Assault rifle
IWI Tavor		Assault rifle		Used by Army Special Forces, Ranger Battalion.
Tavor X95		Assault rifle		Used by Army Special Forces, Ranger Battalion. Often seen with GL40 UBGL, shown to be OTB compatible.
IWI ACE		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	Limited use by Military Police.[25]
AKM	Soviet Union	Assault rifle		Confiscated from Maoist guerrillas during insurgency.[20]
Type 56	China	Assault rifle		300 purchased from China in 2010.[20]
L1A2 SLR	United Kingdom	Battle rifle	7.62×51mm	Unlicensed Indian variant designated 1A1.[21]
FN FAL[21]	Belgium
PSG1[20]	Germany	Sniper rifle
Ishapore 2A1	India	Bolt-action rifle		Indian licensed copy of the No. III Enfield, modified for use with 7.62 NATO. New production action and barrel, recycled buttstock from No. III Enfields.[20]
Machine guns
FN Minimi	Belgium	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm	5,500 purchased from Belgium in 2002.[21] Principal LMG/SAW
M249	United States			300 supplied as military aid from the US.[20] Functionally identical to FN Minimi
Bren L4A4[22]	United Kingdom		7.62×51mm	Used in outposts and basic automatic fire training
FN MAG[22]	Belgium	General Purpose Machine Gun		Principal GPMG, used on vehicle mounts.

Heavy weapons

Weapon	Origin	Type	Calibre	Notes
Air defence
Bofors L/70[26]	Sweden	Anti-aircraft gun	40mm
QF 3.7-inch AA gun[26]	United Kingdom		94mm	45 in service.
Artillery
OTO Melara Mod 56	Italy	Pack howitzer	105mm	14 in service.[27]
Mortar
120-PM-43	Soviet Union	Mortar	120mm	70 in service[28]
M 29	United States	Mortar	81mm	[28]

Vehicles

Vehicle	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Armoured cars
Daimler Ferret	United Kingdom	Scout car	40[28]	Ferret Mk4 variant.[28]
Armoured personnel carriers
Casspir	South Africa	MRAP	37[29]
Aditya	India		~124[28]
VN-4	China		63
OT-64	Czechoslovakia	Armoured personnel carrier	8
WZ551	China	Infantry fighting vehicle	5	Acquired from China in 2005.

Commissioned officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Nepali Army[30] v t e																									No insignia
			महारथी (प्रधानसेनापती) Mahārathī (pradhānasēnāpatī)		रथी Rathī		उपरथी Uparathī		सहायक रथी Sahaayak rathee		महासेनानी Mahāsēnānī		प्रमुख सेनानी Pramukh senaanee		सेनानी Senaanee		सहसेनानी Sahasēnānī		उपसेनानी Upasēnānī			सहायक सेनानी Sahaayak senaanee			अधिकृत क्याडेट Adhikr̥ta kyāḍēṭa
			COAS General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Nepali Army[30] v t e																													No insignia						No insignia
	प्रमुख सुवेदार Pramukh Suvēdār						सुवेदार Suvēdār		जमदार Jamadār		हुद्दा Huddā												अमल्दार Amaldār				प्यूठ Piyuth		सिपाही Sipahi						फलोअर्स Phaloars
	Chief warrant officer						Warrant officer first class		Warrant officer second class		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private						Followers

Other rank insignia
Sergeant Major	Master Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Staff Sergeant

• Armed Police Force Nepal
• Nepal Police
• List of military operations involving Gurkhas
• Nepal Army Club
• Biraj Thapa Magar

• Acharya, Baburam (2012), Acharya, Shri Krishna (ed.), Janaral Bhimsen Thapa : Yinko Utthan Tatha Pattan (in Nepali), Kathmandu: Education Book House, p. 228, ISBN 9789937241748
• Adhikari, Indra (2015), Military and Democracy in Nepal, Routledge, ISBN 9781317589068
• Nepal, Gyanmani (2007), Nepal ko Mahabharat (in Nepali) (3rd ed.), Kathmandu: Sajha, p. 314, ISBN 9789993325857
• Oldfield, Henry Ambrose (1880), Sketches from Nipal, Vol 1, vol. 1, London: W.H. Allan & Co.
• Pradhan, Kumar L. (2012), Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, p. 278, ISBN 9788180698132

• Official website of the Nepali Army
• Official website of the Nepali Army Command and Staff College
• Nepal
• Background Note: Nepal
• Nepal
• List of photographs of 49 Nepali army generals
• Prem Singh Basnyat | Nepalese Army In The History Of Nepal
• The Deft Politicking of Nepal’s Army, 2013
• Ghimire, S. (2016). Security Sector Reform Organic: Infrastructure for Peace as an Entry Point? Peacebuilding.