No disrespect to the individuals in the Nepal army but I have few friends who are in Nepal army and every few days I see their facebook updates with pictures of parties and inaugurations and I ask myself this question.

What is the job of the Nepal Army? Are their only job shining the boots of their superiors? Cooking cleaning for their bosses and their bosses' bosses? The job of army is to fight to protect national sovereignty but they haven't had to fight a war since Nepal was united. India is taking away our land, but the job of Nepal army seems to be only build superior's houses, cater in superiors parties, inaugurations.

I am sorry to say but Nepal Army is a joke. The only positive thing is that they do exercise regularly.

Some people claim that during natural disaster the army helps out, but if their only contribution to the country is during natural disaster then why not create a national disaster relief group instead of Army whose job should be to be prepared for war.

I've heard Nepal Army is one of the most corrupted institution. They involve in embezzling money from relief funds too.

So who was the one that fought the Maoists war while you were warm and cozy in your bed?

Nepal army has earned high respect to maintain peace in foreign civil wars countries (Lebanon) and volunteered in aftermath of natural disasters (Haiti). But this department is not like what it seems to outside world. This is one of the corrupted organisation (as you know most are). High position army take bribe to recruit candidates, build their house using army resources (both manpower and construction materials) and use their power to demonize innocent public. 

Well I kind of agree with dindukhi. I heard they are corrupted. Well talking about the corruption, the whole country is corrupted. The people who run our country- the politicians tops the chart in corruption. I know army is corrupted but when the goverment itself is so corrupted i think it is very easy for any sector of the country to be corrupted as well. Talking about the role of the army, well just like Mancini said, they are not into any war but they deserve some high respect from the people of Nepal for keeping the country in control in the Maoist insurgency. I don't think if you have army it means you have to go to war . It has some good reasons behind its institution. There are plenty of country where they don't really move army until its really needed. Army is the last resort, so lets not go there until we really needed. 

Nepal police, politician, private and government organization all are a joke coz they all are corrupted. Nepal people themselves are corrupted. What we do now???

Nepal is the biggest joke ever.PERIOD.

कैलेकाहिँ यी साझाका गूल्लेहरूका कूरो सूनेर नि म तिनछक पर्छु क्या ! को सँँग वारमा जाने भनावो न मलाई नि ए भुजी, भोली नै नेपाल आर्मी म डीप्लोई गर्दिन्छू, रिमोटली ! तीन तिरबाट धोती उचालेर मीत्रराष्ट्रले मूत्यो भने बग्छ कि बग्दैन ए भूजी नेपाल?? अझै माथीका भोटेहरूले त पादेमात्र पूग्छ ! अनी लड्ने चै केले, त्यै धोतीले कारगील लडेर दूई राउण्ड हानेपछी नली बाङ्गीने दानमा पाको एस. एल.आर ले ? गेडाजस्तो कूरा गरेर टाईमपास हान्डै छन् झ्याक्नेहरू !

what if the chinese descend to rape our women and take over our country? Do you not want to give your life defending our women, children and property? Thats what a standing army does for us. 

the nepalese govt should send all the armies to fight with Indians and get our darjeeling, sikkim etc back what u say?

Nepal army can't defend us neither from Chinese nor from Indians . They were not able to control Maoist insurgency when needed. Technically they are of no use other then waste of taxpayer money.

They guard our national reserve and you will see animal skin and heads as decorative piece in every army general house. What a same.

All Nepal need is may be 10000 highly trained tactical multipurpose force with better equipment and technology. And very good intelegence agency.

Nepal army in current form is complete waste.

When the whole of Nepal is struck with poverty and destitution, high ranking army officers enjoy lifelong benefits such as a driver and household help cook. Isn't that a bit of excessive to give someone lifelong slaves for working in the army.

The lifelong benefits are too much. I think that is a kickback from the Royal regime and it should be stopped.

Having some history with the institution (then Royal Nepal Army), let me share my view on this.

Every now and then this question has always sprung, why do we need Nepal Army? The question is not without any merit; an army's job is first and foremost to defend its country. We very well know that super powers like India and China, whose one air craft carrier can destroy the entire Nepali troop, are not a defendable threats. So why then do we need the army?

Before answering this question, let's look at what the army provides?

1. Employment to 145,000 Nepali. Nepal Army is one of the largest employment provider in Nepal (Nepal police is half the size) and employs roughly about a percent of the working age population of Nepal. Dismantling the army could mean a significant blow to the National employment which is already in a red zone.

2. Sure, Nepal army is a budget drain; but it also brings in revenue from international deployments. A small proportion compared to the budget, but still. Nepal army also has several revenue generating operations, they are just mismanaged.


These are the tangibles; on a non-tangible side, Nepal Army is considered a powerful force domestically. If Police deployment is not enough then our last resort is Army deployment; this is a huge factor for national stability. Also, having an army provides some sense of national security and implied sovereignty (this is arguable of course) to its citizen.

Having said that, the Royal Nepal army was largely mis-managed and corrupt institution. Funds totaling millions and millions were mismanaged and promotion was not by merit but by connection. I cannot say anything about the current regime as I am not there, but I still see some (not all) Army families (specially the wives) abusing their power over the lower ranked soldiers. I don't know the state of corruption right now.

I think a major reform is necessary. First of all, some trimming needs to be done so that the operating cost reflects the current state of our economy. Armed soldiers should be deployed in Nation building projects. We can increase our share of international deployment further and make Nepal army self sustained (or partially sustained) entity. The Army court should have more power (there have been some good hearing in recent years) and a significant bureaucratic change needs to happen to create a healthy environment within the institution. Finally a check within the institution might be necessary eventually to deter any coups from within.