New Delhi: The Indian and Nepalese armies will start the new year by jointly conducting Exercise Surya Kiran in the first two weeks of January.
Surya Kiran is a battalion-level exercise. Sources in the defence and security establishment revealed that one battalion of the Gorkha Rifles will represent the Indian contingent in this iteration, which will take place in Nepal.
The primary aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two armies under the mandate of the United Nations. This exercise is conducted alternately in each country, with the upcoming edition focusing on counter-terrorism operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief within the framework of the UN Charter on peacekeeping operations.
As in previous editions, this year’s exercise will include the utilisation of drones and counter-drone measures, medical training, aviation operations and environmental conservation initiatives. The last edition was held in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, during November and December of the previous year.
Sources indicated that these activities are designed to improve the troops’ operational capabilities, refine their combat skills and enhance coordination during challenging scenarios. The exercise will also facilitate the exchange of best practices and operational procedures between the Indian and Nepalese armies.
A notable aspect of the India-Nepal military relationship is the longstanding tradition of Gorkhas from Nepal serving in the Indian Army’s Gorkha Rifles regiments. However, the introduction of the Agnipath Scheme in 2022 by the Government of India has raised concerns about the continuation of this practice. The scheme permits recruits, known as Agniveers, to serve for a period of only four years, after which only 25 percent are retained for long-term service. In response, the Nepalese government expressed strong objections and declined to allow its citizens to participate in recruitment rallies for the Indian Army under this scheme.
In November, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi visited Nepal, where he was conferred the honorary rank of general of the Nepalese Army by the President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel, in Kathmandu. Similarly, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, COAS of the Nepalese Army, visited India and was conferred the rank of honorary general of the Indian Army by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)