UTTARAKHAND
Soon, non-Gorkhas from Uttarakhand in Gorkha Rifles
In a significant move for the youth of Uttarakhand aspiring to join the armed forces, the Indian Army is “in final stages of approval” of a proposal for the recruitment of non-Gorkha personnel from Uttarakhand into select Gorkha Rifles (GR) regiments. The proposal, expected to come into effect from the next recruitment cycle, will enable local Garhwali and Kumaoni youngsters to join the Gorkha Rifles.
Till now, only Indian-domiciled or Nepal-domiciled Gorkhas were inducted into the 40 battalions that make up the seven Gorkha Rifles regiments of the Indian Army. Currently, the ratio of Nepalese and Indian troops in a GR battalion is 60:40.