Nepali Army | |
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नेपाली सेना | |
Founded | 1560 |
Country | Nepal |
Type | Army |
Role | Land warfare |
Size |
|
Part of | Nepalese Armed Forces |
Army Headquarters | Jangi Adda, Bhadrakali, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province |
Nickname(s) | The Gorkhalis |
Motto(s) | Better to die than to be a coward |
Anniversaries | Maha Shivratri[1][2] |
Engagements | See list:
|
Website | nepalarmy.mil.np |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief | President Ram Chandra Poudel |
Chief of the Army Staff | General Ashok Raj Sigdel |
Vice Chief of the Army Staff | Nirmal Kumar Thapa |
Notable commanders | |
Insignia | |
Flag |
The Nepali Army (Nepali: नेपाली सेना, romanized: Nēpālī Sēnā), also referred to as the Gorkhali Army (गोरखाली सेना, Gōrakhālī Sēnā; see Gorkhas), is the land service branch of the Nepali Armed Forces. After the Gorkha Kingdom was founded in 1559, its army was established in 1560, and initially became known as the Gorkhali Army. Later 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 Nepalese Civil War.
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.