The Nepali Army (NA), formerly known as the Royal Nepali Army, is the land warfare branch of the Nepali Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1559 with the establishment of the Gorkha Kingdom, where it was initially formed as the Gorkhali Army, a term historically associated with the Gurkhas.
It was known as the Royal Nepali Army (RNA) following the Unification of Nepal, when the Gorkha Kingdom expanded its territory to include the whole country, by conquering and annexing the other states in the region, resulting in the establishment of a single united Hindu monarchy over all of Nepal. It was officially renamed simply to the Nepali Army on 28 May 2008, upon the abolition of the 240-year-old Nepalese monarchy, and of the 449-year-old rule of the Shah dynasty, shortly after the end of the Maoist insurgency.
The Nepali Army has participated in various conflicts throughout its history, going as far back as the Nepali unification campaign launched by Prithvi Narayan Shah of the Gorkha Kingdom. It has engaged in an extensive number of battles within South Asia, and continues to take part in global conflicts as part of United Nations peacekeeping coalitions. The Nepali Army is headquartered in Kathmandu and the incumbent Chief of Army Staff is General Ashok Raj Sigdel.
Nepalese Armed Forces
The Nepali Armed Forces, also known as Nepalese Armed Forces, are the military forces of Nepal. Composed primarily of the ground-based Nepali Army, the Nepalese Armed Forces also operates the smaller Nepalese Army Air Service designed to support army operations and provide close light combat support.
Army pilot training school The Nepal Army Air Service has operated a flying and helicopter pilot training school since 2004 within the 11 Brigade. It is the only helicopter pilot training school in Nepal (there is a fixed-wing pilot training school in Bharatpur by a private pilot training school). This school produces both army air service and civilian pilots. The school provides the Mil Mi-17, and Eurocopter Ecureuil helicopter flight training.
History 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. British troops called the new soldiers "Gurkhas". The Nepal–Sikh war began shortly after, in 1809 and the Anglo-Nepalese War in 1814. It became even more involved in the British Indian Army until independence, remaining an independent entity (since it was a protected state of the British Raj until 1947, though The Crown had officially recognized its independence in 1923). In 1946, the Royal Nepali Army troops were led by Commanding General Baber Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana at the Victory Parade in London.
Prior to 2006, the Royal Nepali Army was under the control of the King of Nepal. Following the 2006 Democracy Movement () on 18 May, a bill was passed by the Nepali parliament curtailing royal power, which included renaming the army to simply the Nepali Army. 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.
Organization
The Nepali Army has 96,500 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 while The Kathmandu Post estimated it to be 92,000.
Supreme Command
Article 144 of Interim Constitution of Nepal states that the President of Nepal is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Nepal Army. Currently as the President of Nepal Ram Chandra Poudel who assumed office on 13 March 2023, is the current supreme commander of Nepal Army.
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 change from a monarchy to its suspension, following 9 point proclamationon 4th Jestha 2063 B.S., following 2nd People movement(also known as Jana Andolan II, in Local terminology, in Nepal)
National Defence Council Nepal's Interim Constitution's Article 145 has envisioned National Defence Council which includes Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister and other three minister appointed by Prime Minister which recommends to the Council of Ministers on mobilization, operation and use of the Nepal Army. Upon Council of Ministers recommendation, President authorizes mobilization, operation and use of Nepal Army.
Before the Interim Constitution replaced Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal in 1990, the 1990 constitution had a provision for the defense council. This Council used to have three members: the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Chief of the Army Staff. In accordance with the Constitution, the King (as Supreme Commander) used to "operate and use" the "Royal Nepal Army on the recommendation" of this council.
Divisions The Nepalese Army is divided into eight divisions, one each in the seven provinces and one in the Kathmandu Valley. Far western division Northwestern division Midwestern division Western division Mid-division Valley division Mideastern division Eastern division
Names Description FAR WESTERN DIVISION The Far Western Division Headquarters, with the motto, "Bhakti Nai Sakti Ho” was established on July 5, 2004 (Ashad 21, 2061) in scenic and beautiful land of Dipayal. The flag of this division was raised on May 1, 2005 (Baisakh 18, 2062). NORTH WESTERN DIVISION The North Western Division Headquarters, with the motto, "Sadaiba Samarpit Desh Prati” was established on 29th November 2001 (14th Mangsir, 2058) with the name of Western Division at Nepalgunj, Banke. The Western Division was renamed as Mid Western Division and was shifted to Tribhuvan Sainik Shivir, Surkhet on 23rd October 2005 (6th Kartik, 2062). The Mid Western Division has been once again re-organized and renamed as the North Western Division in Nimare Barrack, Surkhet on 16 July 2017(1st Shrawan, 2074).MID-WESTERN DIVISION with the motto, "AAGHI BADAU KARMA PATHMA” was established on 2017 (2074 BS) with the name of Mid-Western Division. WESTERN DIVISION The Western Division Headquarters, with the motto, "Rakshya Nai Dharma Ho” was established on February 13, 2003 (Falgun 1, 2059) as Central Division at Pokhara, Kaski. The Central Division was renamed to its present name as the Western Division on September 17, 2004.MID-EASTERN DIVISION with the motto, "PARAKRAM NAI SHAKTI” was established on May 12, 2017 (Baisakh 29, 2074) with the name of Mid-Western Division at Dharapani, Dhanusha. MID DIVISION The Mid Divisional Headquarters, with the motto, "Atal Bhakti Desh Prati” was established on November 16, 2004 (Marga 01, 2061) at Hetauda. VALLEY DIVISION The ‘Valley Command Office’, with the motto “Shanti Surakshya Sarbada”, was established on May 19, 2003 (2060 Jestha 5). Later it was renamed as “Valley Division HQ” on December 13, 2003 (2060 Poush 15). At the beginning, the division HQ was based at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu and later it was relocated to the Narayanhiti Palace. EASTERN DIVISION The Eastern Divisional Headquarters, with the motto "Rastra Rakshya Param Kartabya", was raised on January 29, 2003 (2059 Magh 15 B.S) at Itahari.
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
During the Shah monarchy, leadership of the Nepali Army was mainly concentrated among a small number of aristocratic families within the broader Chhetri community of the late Gorkha Kingdom and early Kingdom of Nepal, such as the Pande, Kunwar, Basnyat, and Thapa clans, before the rise of the Rana regime. During the Rana regime, the Ranas made the position hereditary within their family.
The first chief of the Gorkhali and later Nepali army was King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who organized and commanded the army. The first non-royal army chief was Kalu Pande, a Mulkaji, who played a significant role in the Unification of Nepal campaigns.
Bhimsen Thapa, who served as the second Mukhtiyar of Nepal from 1806 to 1837, became the first person to formally hold the title of Commander-in-Chief as head of the Nepali army. King Rajendra Bikram Shah appointed him to the position in recognition of his long service to the nation. However, on 14 June 1837, the King assumed direct command of the battalions previously under various courtiers, and became the Commander-in-Chief.
Following the incarceration of the Thapa family in 1837, a new government was formed with Ranga Nath Poudyal as the Mukhtiyar, and Dalbhanjan Pande and Rana Jang Pande as joint heads of military administrations. Rana Jang Pande was removed from the position three months later in October 1837.
During Bhimsen Thapa’s tenure as Mukhtiyar, the title of Commander-in-Chief was introduced for the first time to formally designate the head of the army. In 1979, Singha Bahadur Basnyat changed the title to Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS). Since 1950, it has been a tradition for the President of India to confer the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army upon the chief of the Nepali Army.
Operations
Conflicts defending the Kingdom of Nepal Battle against Mir Qasim (1763) Battle of Pauwa Gadhi against Captain Kinloch (1767) Anglo-Nepali War (1814–1816) Nepal-China War (1788–1792) Nepal-Tibet War (1855–1856) Nepali-Tibetan War Nepali Civil War (1996–2006)
Battle against Mir Qasim The fortress of Makawanpur has a historical and military significance for the Nepali. It was here that the Nepali defeated superior forces of Mir Qasim in 1763 and seized 500 guns and two cannons. Later on, these weapons were used by Nepali troops and four companies were established regular, namely, Srinath, Kalibox, Barda Bahadur (Bardabahini) and Sabuj. (Purano) Gorakh Company was established a few months later. It was the first rank and file system beginning a proper organizational history for the Royal Nepali Army. The battle against Mir Qasim troops was the first battle of the Royal Nepali Army against a foreign power.
Sardar Nandu Shah was the fortress Commander of Makawanpur with 400 troops, some guns and home-made traditional weapons like Dhanu, Khukuri, Talwar, Ghuyatro etc. They devised different hit-and-run strategies to surprise the enemy. A spoiling attack base was set up on the Taplakhar mountain ridge for night operations.
Mir Qasim's renowned warrior, Gurgin Khan was the commander on the other side with approximately 2,500 troops with cannons, guns, ammunition and a very good logistics back up. Their attack base was at the bottom of the Makawanpur Gadhi hill. They had planned a night attack. When the enemy's heavy forces marched in December 1762 and arrived at Harnamadi in January 1763, they found all the local houses already evacuated and the area short of food provisions. Makawanpur Gadhi was on top of a mountain, about nine kilometers uphill from the Harnamadi area. Although the Nepali had physically occupied all the fortresses en route, the enemy was able to initially push them back to the Makawanpur Gadhi area.