Editing Nepal (section)

===Military and intelligence===
{{main|Nepali Army}}
[[File:Kukri,_karda_&_chakmak.jpg|thumb|right|The multipurpose [[Kukri]] knife (top) is the signature weapon of the Nepali armed forces, and is used by the Gurkhas, Nepal Army, Police and even security guards.]]
The President is the supreme commander of the [[Nepali Army]]; its routine management is handled by the [[Ministry of Defence (Nepal)|Ministry of Defence]]. The military expenditure for 2018 was $398.5&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.CD?locations=NP |title=Military expenditure (current USD) {{!}} Data |publisher=[[World Bank]] |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813193309/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.CD?locations=NP |url-status=live }}</ref> around 1.4% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?locations=NP |title=Military expenditure (% of GDP) {{!}} Data |publisher=[[World Bank]] |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813191908/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?locations=NP |url-status=live }}</ref> An almost exclusively ground infantry force, Nepal Army numbers at less than one hundred thousand;<ref name=rag/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2018/08/10/new-chief-faces-daunting-task-rebuilding-nepal-armys-image |title=New chief faces daunting task rebuilding Nepal Army's image |newspaper=[[The Kathmandu Post]] |language=en |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813190352/https://kathmandupost.com/national/2018/08/10/new-chief-faces-daunting-task-rebuilding-nepal-armys-image |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/lieutenant-general-purna-chandra-thapa-to-take-charge-of-nepali-army-as-acting-chief-of-army-staff/ |title=Thapa to take charge of Nepali Army as acting CoAS |date=9 August 2018 |newspaper=[[The Himalayan Times]] |language=en-US |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917071448/https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/lieutenant-general-purna-chandra-thapa-to-take-charge-of-nepali-army-as-acting-chief-of-army-staff/ |archive-date=17 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> recruitment is voluntary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ |title=South Asia :: Nepal – The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075733/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It has few aircraft, mainly helicopters, primarily used for transport, patrol, and search and rescue.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/nepali-army-launches-new-helicopters/ |title=Nepali Army launches new helicopters |date=23 June 2015 |newspaper=[[The Himalayan Times]] |language=en-US |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723110205/https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/nepali-army-launches-new-helicopters/ |archive-date=23 July 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (Nepal)|Directorate of Military Intelligence]] under Nepal Army serves as the military intelligence agency;<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CVLeCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA199 |title=Military and Democracy in Nepal |last=Adhikari |first=Indra |date=2015 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=9781317589068 |language=en}}</ref> [[National Investigation Department of Nepal|National Investigation Department]] tasked with national and international intelligence gathering, is independent.<ref name=rag>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8dHXRR3z-_EC&pg=PA130|title=Nepal as a Federal State: Lessons from Indian Experience |last=Raghavan |first=V. R. |date=2013 |publisher=[[Vij Books India]] |isbn=9789382652014 |language=en}}</ref> Nepal Army is primarily used for routine security of critical assets, an anti-poaching patrol of national parks, counterinsurgency, and search and rescue during natural disasters;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/19522/ |title=Army to rescue |newspaper=[[Republica (newspaper)|Republica]] |language=en |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224014046/http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/19522/ |url-status=live }}</ref> it also undertakes major construction projects.<ref name=milroad>{{cite news |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/dolpa-hq-connected-to-national-road-network/ |title=Dolpa HQ connected to national road network |date=18 November 2018 |newspaper=[[The Himalayan Times]] |language=en-US |access-date=4 December 2019 |archive-date=14 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814190232/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/dolpa-hq-connected-to-national-road-network |url-status=live }}</ref> There are no discriminatory policies on recruitment into the army, but it is dominated by men from elite Pahari warrior castes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/4357/ |title=Women promoted to major for first time in NA infantry |last=Pariyar |first=Kamal |newspaper=[[Republica (newspaper)|Republica]] |language=en |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601000757/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/4357/ |archive-date=1 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/news-and-analysis/post/751-bhakti-shah-the-fight-for-gay-and-transgender-rights-in-nepal |title=Bhakti Shah – the fight for gay and transgender rights in Nepal |publisher=[[Saferworld]] |language=en |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813190247/https://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/news-and-analysis/post/751-bhakti-shah-the-fight-for-gay-and-transgender-rights-in-nepal |url-status=live }}</ref>