The Indian Army’s 200-year-old Gurkha Regiment faces a critical lack of Nepalese Gurkhas. In the last three years, there has been a shortfall of 10,000 to 12,000 Gurkha soldiers in the Indian Army’s Gurkha Regiments. Following Covid-19, army recruitment rallies were halted in 2020, resulting in no new recruitments and an increase in the shortage.
Since 2020, no Nepalese Gurkhas have been recruited into the Army, and this has resulted in a reduction in the number of Gurkha soldiers in the Indian Army during the last three years. In 7 Gorkha Regiments, the numbers have fallen short by 10,000 to 12,000 troops. The Indian government has repeatedly attempted to hold negotiations with Nepal on this topic, but no solution has been reached thus far.
Gurkhas in the Indian Army
The Indian Army has forty-three units of seven Gurkha regiments, with between 40 and 45 thousand Gurkha soldiers. Every year, Gurkha troops retire or leave the army voluntarily. In such a situation, Gurkha Regiments, recognised for their bravery and valour, are suffering from a lack of Nepalese Gurkhas. Each battalion has a deficit of approximately 250 Gurkha men. In India, the Gurkha Regiment has a 200-year history. Gurkha platoons have played a significant role in all of India’s battles since independence. The Gurkhas of Nepal are regarded as the most courageous and fearless, which is why they have always held a special place in the Indian Army.
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Gurkha is the only regiment in the world that is a part of three different armies. Despite the scarcity, the Indian Army still has the most Gurkha personnel, followed by the British Army and the Nepalese Army. This Indian Army unit consists of both Nepalese and Indian Gurkhas. According to Indian Army sources, before independence, around 90% of Gurkha soldiers in the Gurkha Regiment were from Nepal, with the remaining 10% from India. This percentage was adjusted to 80:20 and then to 60:40. Gorkha of Nepali origin and Gorkha of Indian origin.
In recent years, the Indian Army has had difficulty obtaining Gurkhas not only from Nepal but also from Indian Domicile. To address this issue, the Indian Army has recently begun recruiting youth from Garhwal and Kumaon for this regiment. For the first time, youth from regions other than Gurkha were drafted into the Gurkha Regiment.
The total number of Gurkha regiments established by the British at the time of independence was 10, but after independence, when the army was divided, the British kept 4 regiments 2,6,7, and 10, then 6 regiments 1,3,4,5,8, and 9 came to India, and after independence, the Indian Army raised another regiment of Gurkhas known as the 11 Gorkha Regiment. One of the four regiments surrendered to the British and was disbanded.
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Imperative that Nepalese Gurkhas recruitment be started asap. Great soldiers and restarting enrolment will makeup the severe shortages in the Gurkha units. It would also be a booster in Indo-Nepal ties.