Nepali youths and former Gorkha soldiers have stepped up demands for the resumption of recruitment into the Indian Army, with protesters in Pokhara arguing that serving as an Agniveer offers a more desirable career path than seeking employment in Gulf countries.
The demonstration was organised in Pokhara by the Indian Ex-Servicemen Gorkha Brigade Nepal and brought together former Indian Army personnel, their family members and young people who had been preparing for military recruitment. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the local administration seeking the immediate reopening of recruitment for Nepali youths under the Agnipath scheme.
The issue has gained renewed attention because recruitment of Nepali citizens into the Indian Army has been disrupted for several years. The traditional recruitment of Gorkha soldiers has historically been an important part of India-Nepal ties, but the introduction of the Agnipath scheme in 2022 created a new obstacle.
Under Agnipath, recruits join the armed forces for a four-year period, after which up to 25 per cent of a batch can be retained for longer service. The remaining personnel leave the forces with a lump-sum financial package and without the pension and long-term service benefits associated with traditional military careers. Nepal has previously raised concerns that this arrangement does not align with the framework of the 1947 India-Nepal-Britain Tripartite Agreement governing Gorkha recruitment.
For many young people in Nepal, however, the prospect of joining the Indian Army remains highly attractive. Protesters in Pokhara specifically called for Nepali youths to be given the opportunity to serve as Agniveers instead of having to look for employment in Gulf countries. They also stressed the importance of maintaining the longstanding Gorkha military tradition and protecting employment opportunities for young people.
The demonstration comes shortly before Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth’s scheduled visit to Nepal. The timing has brought additional focus to the recruitment issue, although any decision on restarting the enlistment of Nepali youths under the Agnipath system remains a matter requiring consideration by the Nepalese government.
The protesters also called for the continued recognition and registration of organisations representing former Indian Army personnel in Nepal. They argued that such organisations play an important role in representing the interests and dignity of former Gorkha soldiers and their families.
The renewed demand highlights the continuing importance of Gorkha recruitment to the relationship between India and Nepal. While the Agnipath system has changed the structure of military recruitment in India, the latest protests indicate that a section of Nepali youth and former soldiers remains keen to preserve access to military service in the Indian Army.
For now, the future of recruitment from Nepal under the Agnipath framework remains uncertain. The Pokhara demonstration, however, has placed the issue back in the spotlight as both countries continue to navigate the long-standing Gorkha recruitment relationship and the changes introduced by India’s current military manpower policy.