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The relationship between the Indian Army and the brave Gorkha soldiers of Nepal is not limited to bilateral relations between the two countries, but is a historical example of unbreakable trust, indomitable bravery and deep military brotherhood spanning over two centuries. The Gorkha warriors who polished their swords in the battlefield with the immortal slogan of ‘Kayer Hunu Dahna Marnu Tarmo’ (It is better to die than to be a coward) have made the supreme sacrifice in every war and border security of India since 1947. But since the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ launched by the Government of India in the year 2022, the veto imposed by the Nepal Government on Gorkha recruitment and political indecision has put a deep end to this glorious tradition. Today, when the policy makers of Nepal are assessing the pros and cons of this decision, the ground reality is telling that after losing the opportunity of becoming ‘Agniveer’ for 4 years in India, Nepali youth are being forced to do bonded labor in the deadly conditions of Gulf countries or get trapped in the trap of foreign mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war. By creating hurdles in Gorkha recruitment, Kathmandu is not only locking the respectable future of its youth, but is also causing irreparable loss of billions of rupees to the economy considered to be the backbone of Nepal.
Agneepath Yojana and Nepal’s tough stance: Why was there a break on 200 year old recruitment?
In 2022, when the Indian Army implemented the 4-year ‘Agneepath Model’ for recruitment of soldiers in the three services, the Nepal government temporarily stopped Gorkha recruitment rallies in Nepal citing the India-Nepal-Britain Tripartite Agreement of 1947.
The main objections of Nepal’s political parties, especially the leftist factions, centered on the following points:
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Limited tenure of 4 years: Nepal’s argument was that after 4 years, 75% of Nepalese youth will have to return without pension, which will increase unemployment in the country and the number of ex-servicemen capable of wielding weapons.
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Lack of pension and permanent service: Agniveers will not get the same benefits of lifetime pension and Ex-Servicemen Health Scheme (ECHS) that traditional Gorkha soldiers get after 15 to 17 years of service.
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Demand for bilateral consultation: Nepal claimed that before making such a major change in defense policy, India should have held formal bilateral talks with Kathmandu under the 1947 agreement.
Due to this political hesitation of Nepal, not a single Nepali citizen has been recruited in the Gorkha Brigade for the last three years, the consequences of which are now being directly borne by the youth of the rural hilly areas of Nepal.
Wages of Gulf countries vs Agniveer of Indian Army: What is the ground reality for the youth?
The hilly areas of Nepal—Pokhara, Dharan, Butwal, Lamjung and Gorkha districts—where thousands of youth used to dream of joining the Indian Army every year, are today silent. Due to severe lack of jobs at the local level, these youth have no other option but to leave the country and go to Gulf countries (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait) and Malaysia.
When we compare the wages in Gulf countries and the opportunities to become an Agniveer in the Indian Army, the difference is stark:
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Salary and Lump Sum Service Fund Package: An Agniveer’s salary starts from ₹30,000 per month in the first year and goes up to ₹40,000 per month in the fourth year. On completion of 4 years of service, each Agniveer gets approximately Tax-free ‘Seva Nidhi’ of ₹11.71 lakh to ₹12 lakh Amount is received. In contrast, Nepali youth, known as unskilled labor in the Gulf countries, earn barely ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 a month, a major part of which is spent on loans to visa agents and accommodation there.
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Honor and Social Prestige: The uniform of the Indian Army, the stars on the shoulders and the prestige of the Gorkha Regiment are considered supreme in Nepali society. In comparison, working as a laborer at construction sites or working as a guard in the scorching heat of 50 degrees in Gulf countries is not a life full of self-respect in any respect.
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25% chance of becoming permanent: Under the Agneepath scheme, 25% of the best Agniveers are inducted into the Indian Army as permanent cadre for 15 years, who get full pension, allowances and all benefits of promotion. In Gulf countries, there is no provision for foreign citizenship or pension even after working for 10 years.
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Skill Development and Priority in Corporate: 4 years of disciplined military training, handling of modern weapons and technical equipment makes Nepali youth a skilled professional at global level. Multinational security and logistics companies in India and abroad are giving preference to ex-fire veterans at higher packages.
All-round hit to Nepal’s economy: loss of billions of pensions and remittances
Nepal’s economy mainly depends on remittances coming from abroad. Remittances contribute about 25 to 28 percent of Nepal’s total gross domestic product (GDP). The service of Gorkhas in the Indian Army has been the biggest economic oxygen cylinder of Nepal’s rural economy:
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Military pension worth thousands of crores: At present, there are more than 1.25 lakh ex-servicemen and brave women of the Indian Army in Nepal. Government of India every year in the form of pension in Nepal. Huge amount of more than ₹4,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore Transfers directly to their bank accounts.
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Cash-flow crisis in rural areas: Due to stoppage of recruitment of new soldiers, the new cash flow of crores of rupees coming into Nepal’s economy every year is being stopped. As the number of old pensioners decreases in the coming 10 to 15 years, the purchasing power and local business of Nepal’s hill districts will completely collapse.
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Free ECHS and Welfare Facilities: The Indian Army operates a state-of-the-art Polyclinic, Hospital and Ambulance Network (ECHS) for ex-servicemen and their families in over 25 districts of Nepal. Due to closure of recruitment, the coming generations will also be deprived of these world class medical and welfare facilities.
Russia-Ukraine war and the deadly trap of foreign mercenaries
The most painful and horrifying aspect of the halt in Gorkha recruitment came to light when hundreds of Nepalese youth turned to Russia and Ukraine in frustration due to not getting opportunities in India.
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Mercenaries in the Russian Army: Trapped in the web of false promises of employment and Russian citizenship, about 800 to 1,000 Nepali youth reached Russia by paying lakhs of rupees to agents and got recruited in the army and private military groups like Wagner.
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Death and hostage taking: So far, more than 30 Nepalese Gurkhas have died tragically on the battlefields of Ukraine, while dozens are injured and many remain in jails as prisoners of war (POWs) of the Ukrainian army. Despite all the diplomatic pleas of the Nepal government, Russia is neither sending these soldiers back nor handing over the bodies of the dead easily.
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Victims of global traffickers: While the safety, honor and legal rights of the soldiers are completely protected in the Indian Army, these youth are being used like cannon fodder in international war zones.
Strategic and diplomatic losses: Impact on historical ‘Roti-Beti’ and military relations
India and Nepal enjoy open borders and visa-free travel under the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. There is a unique tradition of giving the honorary title of ‘Honorary General’ to the army chiefs of both the countries in each other’s army.
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Focus on Indian Gorkhas instead of Nepali domicile: Following Nepal’s obstruction, the Indian Army has expanded the scope of recruitment of Indian Gorkha youth from Uttarakhand (Garhwal/Kumaon), Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North-Eastern states of India to maintain the balance of its 7 Gorkha Rifles Regiments (about 40 battalions). If Nepal continues the prolonged standoff, the Indian Army will draw its requirements entirely from domestic Gorkhas and other mountain youth, thereby depleting Nepal’s traditional quota forever.
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China’s growing influence and strategic confusion: Some political parties of Nepal are trying to weaken India-Nepal military relations at the behest of China. But the reality is that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) can never give Nepali citizens the same status and confidence in its army that India has given in the last two hundred years.
Kathmandu will have to understand the ground reality: It is necessary to leave dogmatism and take decisions in the interest of youth.
Nepal’s defense experts, retired army officers and the general public are now openly demanding that the Nepal government should leave aside its political dogmatism and imaginary apprehensions and immediately allow Gorkha recruitment under the Agneepath scheme.
Having 25% of the youth permanent even after a tenure of 4 years and the remaining 75% getting capital of ₹ 12 lakh, disciplined military life and global opportunities is a thousand times better and safer option than the labor of getting passports confiscated in 50 degree temperature of Gulf countries or losing one’s life in the icy trenches of Russia. Kathmandu has to understand that army recruitment is not just a matter of politics, but an essential need for the livelihood of millions of youth of Nepal, national honor and keeping alive the age-old strategic bridge between the two countries.