18th India -Nepal Military exercise Surya Kiran to commence in Nepal

The 334-strong Indian Army contingent has departed to Nepal to participate in the 18th edition of the bilateral military exercise Surya Kiran.  The exercise will be hosted by the Nepali Army in Saljhandi, Nepal from 31st December 2024 to 13th January 2025. 

The annual bilateral military exercise Surya Kiran is alternatively hosted by the Indian Army and the Nepali Army. The 17th edition of the Surya Kiran was held in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from 24th November to 07th December 2023.

Participants of the 18th Surya Kiran Exercise

The Surya Kiran military exercise is a battalion-level exercise. In the 18th edition of the military exercise, a 334-member contingent from the 11th Gorkha Rifles Regiment is participating.

The 11th Gorkha Rifles was the first regiment of the Indian Army to be raised after Independence. 

The Srijung Battalion of the Nepali Army will participate in the military exercise.

Aim and Feature of the Surya Kiran 

Like all bilateral military exercises, the aim of the Surya Kiran is two-fold- establishing a strong bond between the army personnel of both countries and sharpening their professional skills.

To enhance their professional skills the Surya Kiran exercise will focus on conducting joint operations in jungle warfare, and counter-terrorism operations.

They will also conduct joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief  (HADR) as per the mandate of the United Nations Charter.

The exercise is expected to enhance the operational capabilities, and combat skills, and work together with other foreign forces in a tough and challenging military environment.

India Nepal Defence Relations 

India and Nepal have close defence ties where the Gorkhas of Nepal are recruited into the Indian Army. 

Both countries follow a tradition where the newly appointed Army chief is honoured with the Honorary Rank of General by the other country’s President.

Recently the Indian Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, was conferred with the honourary rank of the General of the Nepali Army by the Nepali President Ramchandra Paudel, at a special ceremony in Kathmandu.

Similarly, the Indian President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honourary rank of General of the Indian Army on General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Army Staff, Nepali Army, at a special Ceremony in New Delhi in December 2024.

Also Read: Gen.Upendra Dwivedi Conferred with the Nepali Army’s General Rank