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Nepali Army

(Redirected from Royal Nepalese Army)

The Nepali Army (NA),[a] formerly known as the Royal Nepali Army,[b] 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,[c] a term histrocally associated with the Gurkhas.

Nepali Army
नेपाली सेना
Emblem of the Nepali Army
Founded1560; 466 years ago (1560)
CountryNepal Nepal
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size95,000-105,000 (including reserve personnel)
Part ofNepali Armed Forces
HeadquartersJangi Adda, Bhadrakali, Kathmandu
NicknameGorkhali Army
Mottos
  • जय महाकाली। आयो गोर्खाली।
    ("Jaya Mahakali, Aayo Gorkhali!")
    lit. ("Victory to Mahakali, the Gorkhalis have arrived!")
  • कायर भएर बाँच्नु भन्दा मर्नु राम्रो।
    ("Better to die than live as a coward.")
AnniversariesMaha Shivaratri
Engagements
See list
Websitenepalarmy.mil.np
Commanders
Supreme Commander-in-chiefNepal President
Ram Chandra Paudel
Chief of the Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel
Vice Chief of the Army StaffLieutenant General Pradeep Jung K.C.
Assistant Chief of the Army StaffLieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha
Insignia
Flag
Nepalese troops (right) in 1816.
The Nepali Army’s Guruju Paltan, a ceremonial infantry company, in traditional uniform.

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.

History

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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 nominal autonomy had been achieved 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 (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.[1] 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

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Nepali Army soldiers on Army Day

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[2] while The Kathmandu Post estimated it to be 92,000.[3]

Supreme Command

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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.

National Defence Council

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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

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The Nepalese Army is divided into eight divisions, one each in the seven provinces 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

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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.[4] During the Rana regime, the Ranas made the position hereditary within their family.[4]

The first chief of the Gorkhali and later Nepali army was King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who organized and commanded the army.[5] The first non-royal army chief was Kalu Pande, a Mulkaji, who played a significant role in the Unification of Nepal campaigns.[5]

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.[6] King Rajendra Bikram Shah appointed him to the position in recognition of his long service to the nation.[7] However, on 14 June 1837, the King assumed direct command of the battalions previously under various courtiers, and became the Commander-in-Chief.[8][9]

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.[10] Rana Jang Pande was removed from the position three months later in October 1837.[11][12][13][14]

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.[15]

Operations

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Conflicts defending the Kingdom of Nepal

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Battles during the unification of Nepal

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International conflicts

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International operations

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

US-Nepal military relations

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Mahabir Ranger with a U.S. soldier

The US-Nepali military relationship focuses on support for democratic institutions, civilian control of the military, and the professional military ethic. 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.

Units

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The first four army units—Shreenath, Kali Buksh, Barda Bahadur, and Sabuj companies—were founded in August 1762 by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. These units were composed primarily of members from the dominant clans of the Gorkha Kingdom, such as Gurung, Magar, Chhetri, Bahun, and Thakuri, well before the Unification of Nepal. The Purano Gorakh Company, founded in February 1763, is the fifth-oldest unit of the Nepali Army.[19]

Flag of Purano Gorakh
  • 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 U.S. 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 Ramban Company – established 1862 (re-established 2003)
  • Shree No 1 Disaster Management Battalion – established 2012
  • Shree No 2 Disaster Management Battalion – established 2012

Schools

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  • 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

Female participation in Nepali Army

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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 firearms in hand, Nepalese women fought British troops with stones and wood.

According to the Nepal Army YouTube channel programme Nepali Senama Mahila Sahabhagita (documentary) - Episode 405, the official participation of women in the Nepal Army started in 1961 in the post of Nurse. Now the regular forces also include a significant number of female soldiers holding key appointments and commands.[20] The timeline of official women's participation in the 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 Nepali Army

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  • 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)
  • Brigadier General 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

Equipment

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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.[21] Germany, the United States, Belgium, Israel, and South Korea have also either supplied or offered arms to the Nepali Army.[22]

The army's first standard rifle was the Belgian FN FAL, which it adopted in 1960.[22] Nepali FALs were later complemented by unlicensed, Indian-manufactured variants of the same weapon, as well its British counterpart, the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle.[22] 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.[22] 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.[21]

Small arms

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Weapon Image Origin Type Calibre Notes
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power Belgium United States Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum FN P-35 variant.[23]
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5[21] West Germany Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum
Sten[23] United Kingdom
Sterling[23]
Uzi[24] Israel
Rifles and Carbines
INSAS[22] India Assault rifle 5.56×45mm The Nepali Army had about 25,000 INSAS rifles in 2006.[25]
Heckler & Koch G36 Germany
M16 United States Standard service rifle of the Nepali Army.[22]
CAR-15[21] Carbine
M4 carbine
Daewoo K2[21] South Korea Assault rifle
IWI Galil[21] Israel
IWI Tavor Used by Army Special Forces, Ranger Battalion.
IWI Tavor X95 Used by Army Special Forces, Ranger Battalion. Often seen with GL40 UBGL, shown to be OTB compatible.
Norinco CQ China closed quarter Assault Rifles
IWI Galil ACE 7.62×39mm Limited use by Military Police.[26]
AKM Soviet Union Confiscated from Maoist guerrillas during insurgency.[21]
Type 56 China 300 purchased from China in 2010.[21]
L1A1 SLR United Kingdom Battle rifle 7.62×51mm Unlicensed Indian variant designated 1A1.[22]
FN FAL[22] Belgium
Heckler & Koch PSG1[21] West Germany
/ 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.[21][failed verification]
Machine guns
FN Minimi Belgium Light machine gun 5.56×45mm 5,500 purchased from Belgium in 2002.[22] Principal LMG/SAW
M249 Belgium United States 300 supplied as military aid from the US.[21] Functionally identical to FN Minimi
Bren L4A4[23] First Czechoslovak Republic (design)
United Kingdom		 7.62×51mm Used in outposts and basic automatic fire training
FN MAG[23] Belgium General-purpose machine gun Principal GPMG, used on vehicle mounts.
W85 heavy machine gun China Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm fitted on several of the Army's armoured vehicles and armoured cars

Heavy weapons

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Vehicles

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Rank structure

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Commissioned officers

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Nepali Army[31]
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
COAS General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant

Other ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Nepali Army[31]
 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

Emblem and symbolism

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The emblem of the Nepali Army

The Shape of the Emblem

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The emblem of the Nepali Army is centered on a bold red Shatkona, formed by two interlocking triangles, one pointing upward and the other downward, representing the eternal union of Shiva and Shakti, indicating total awareness, protection, and presence in all dimensions. The upward triangle symbolizes Shiva: pure consciousness, discipline, transcendence, and the element of fire, while the downward triangle represents Shakti: creation, nature, manifestation, and the element of water. Together, they express the harmony and balance of opposing yet complementary forces.

Shatkona

The Red Color

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The Shatkona is rendered in vivid red color, symbolizing power (Shakti), sacrifice, and the blood shed in defense of the nation. In Hinduism, red also represents divine energy, reinforcing the presence of Shakti and the dynamic force that sustains and protects.

The Central Symbol

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At the center of the Shatkona is a golden depiction of Shiva's attributes: the Trishul (weapon) and the Damaru (musical instrument).

  • The Trishul stands vertically as the central axis, symbolizing willpower (iccha-shakti), action (kriyā), and knowledge (jñāna), as well as control over creation, preservation, and destruction. Its upright form conveys authority, discipline, and command.
Sculpture of Shiva with his Trishul
  • The Damaru is placed horizontally across the Trishul, representing the primordial sound, the very first cosmic vibration that existed at the beginning of the universe. It signifies rhythm, timing, and coordination, essential to both cosmic order and military structure.
A Damaru
  • The golden color of these elements contrasts with the red background, emphasizing divinity, purity, and supreme authority.

Overall Symbolism

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The emblem as a whole represents a disciplined force grounded in balance and higher principles. The Shatkona reflects order and completeness, while the central symbols of Shiva represent controlled power guided by wisdom and purpose.

Symbolically, the Nepali Army can be compared to Shiva in his cosmic form as Nataraja. Just as Shiva performs the Tandav, the dance that destroys ignorance and restores cosmic balance, the Nepali army represents disciplined and decisive force in action. The Trishul reflects precision and authority, while the Damaru symbolizes coordination and unity of action. Like Shiva's cosmic dance, which restores harmony rather than chaos, the Nepali army's role is ultimately protective: to maintain stability, defend the nation, and ensure continuity.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Nepali: नेपाली सेना
  2. ↑ Nepali: शाही नेपाली सेना
  3. ↑ Nepali: गोरखाली सेना

References

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  1. ↑ Haviland, Charles (19 May 2006). "Erasing the 'royal' in Nepal". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
  2. ↑ "Thapa to take charge of Nepali Army as acting CoAS". 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "New chief faces daunting task rebuilding Nepal Army's image". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 Adhikari 2015, p. 154.
  5. 1 2 Adhikari 2015, p. 153.
  6. ↑ Adhikari 2015, p. 155.
  7. ↑ Pradhan 2012, p. 149.
  8. ↑ Acharya 2012, p. 215.
  9. ↑ Nepal 2007, p. 105.
  10. ↑ Nepal 2007, p. 106.
  11. ↑ Acharya 2012, p. 160.
  12. ↑ Oldfield 1880, p. 311.
  13. ↑ Nepal 2007, p. 109.
  14. ↑ Pradhan 2012, p. 164.
  15. ↑ "President confers honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' on Nepal Army Chief". Printline Media. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  16. ↑ Birat Anupam (2 March 2023). "Nepalese Military History of Aid to British India and Independent India". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "In a first, NA peacekeepers to dispose explosives under UN mission". Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "NA to deploy 140 soldiers to Mali for peacekeeping – News – :: The Kathmandu Post ::". Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  19. ↑ Nepal Army Day The Kathmandu Post 9 March 2013 Archived 23 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ Nepali Senama Mahila Sahabhagita - Episode 405
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Legacies of War in the Company of Peace: Firearms in Nepal" (PDF). Geneva: Small Arms Survey. May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Graduate Institute of International Studies (2003). Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 97–113. ISBN 978-0199251759.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Hogg, Ian (1991). Jane's Infantry Weapons (17 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. p. 747. ISBN 978-0710609632.
  24. ↑ Sharma, Haridev (2012). Tripathi, Devi Prasad (ed.). Nepal in Transition: A Way Forward. New Delhi: Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. p. 57. ISBN 978-9381411070.
  25. ↑ "Wikileaks news: Why Nepal king Gyanendra shed power". The Economic Times. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Exercise Shanti Prayas III Closing Ceremony". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  27. 1 2 Pretty, Ronald (1983). Jane's Weapon Systems, 1983–84 (1983 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. p. 876. ISBN 978-0-7106-0776-8.
  28. ↑ Christopher F. Foss (2001). Jane's Armour and Artillery (2002 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. p. 740. ISBN 978-0710623096.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  30. ↑ Leon Engelbrecht (3 January 2011). "South African Arms Exports". Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  31. 1 2 Nepali Army. "Nepali Army Rank Structure". Nepalarmy.mil.np. Nepali Army. Retrieved 25 August 2018.

Further reading

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