Editing Gurkha (section)

== Post-independence (1947–present) ==
[[File:Gurkha inscription.JPG|thumb|
<div class="center">
THE GURKHA SOLDIER
{{Poem quote|1=
''Bravest of the brave,''
''most generous of the generous,''
''never had country''
''more faithful friends''
''than you.''}}
<small>Professor Sir [[Ralph Lilley Turner]] MC: Inscription on a monument to Gurkha soldiers (unveiled 1997, [[Whitehall]], London)<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=The Gurkhas - Britain's oldest allies |work=BBC News |date=4 December 1997 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1997/gurkhas/36397.stm |access-date=30 December 2006 |archive-date=19 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219004652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1997/gurkhas/36397.stm |url-status=live }}</ref></small></div>]]

Under the [[Britain-India-Nepal Tripartite Agreement|Tripartite Agreement]] signed between the governments of the United Kingdom, India and Nepal after [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] and the [[partition of India]], the original ten Gurkha regiments consisting of the 20 pre-war battalions were split between the British Army and the newly independent [[Indian Army]].<ref name="Cross32" /> Six Gurkha regiments (12 battalions) were transferred to the post-independence Indian Army, while four regiments (eight battalions) were transferred to the British Army.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=224}}

To the disappointment of many of their British officers, the majority of Gurkhas given a choice between British or Indian Army service opted for the latter. The reason appears to have been the pragmatic one that the Gurkha regiments of the Indian Army would continue to serve in their existing roles in familiar territory and under terms and conditions that were well established.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=226}} The only substantial change was the substitution of Indian officers for British. By contrast, the four regiments selected for British service faced an uncertain future, initially in [[Malayan Union|Malaya]] - a region where relatively few Gurkhas had previously served. The four regiments (or eight battalions) in British service were subsequently reduced to a single regiment of two battalions. The Indian units have been expanded beyond their pre-Independence establishment of 12 battalions.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=229}}

The principal aim of the Tripartite Agreement was to ensure that Gurkhas serving under the Crown would be paid on the same scale as those serving in the new Indian Army.{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=322–323}} This was significantly lower than the standard British rates of pay. While the difference is made up through cost of living and location allowances during a Gurkha's actual period of service, the pension payable on his return to Nepal is much lower than would be the case for his British counterparts.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=323}}

With the abolition of the Nepalese monarchy in 2008, the future recruitment of Gurkhas for British and Indian service was initially put into doubt. A spokesperson for the [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)|Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)]] (later the "Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)"), which was expected to play a major role in the new secular republic, stated that recruitment as mercenaries was degrading to the [[Demographics of Nepal|Nepalese people]] and would be banned.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=344}} However, as of 2023, Gurkha recruitment for foreign service continues.

===British Army Gurkhas===
{{Main|Brigade of Gurkhas}}
[[File:Gurkhas on Patrol in Helmand MOD 45151723.jpg|thumb|Soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles on patrol in [[Helmand Province]] in [[Afghanistan]] in 2010.]]
Four Gurkha regiments were transferred to the British Army on 1 January 1948:
* [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]
* [[6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]]

They formed the '''Brigade of Gurkhas''' and were initially stationed in [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]]. There were also a number of additional Gurkha units including the 69th and 70th Gurkha Field Squadrons, both included in the 36th Engineer Regiment. Since then, British Gurkhas have served in [[Borneo]] during the [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation|confrontation]] with Indonesia, in the [[Falklands War]] and on various peacekeeping missions in [[Sierra Leone]], [[East Timor]], [[Bosnia]] and [[Kosovo]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=360}}

Major Gurkha Formations:
* [[43rd Independent Gurkha Infantry Brigade]] (Italy, circa 1943)
* 26th Gurkha Brigade (Hong Kong, 1948–1950)
* [[17th Gurkha Division]] (Malaya, 1952–1970)
* 51st Infantry Brigade (Hong Kong disbanded 1976)
* 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (Hong Kong, 1957–1976; renamed Gurkha Field Force 1976–1997; returned to old title {{nowrap|1987 – c. 1992)}}

As of August 2021, the ''Brigade of Gurkhas'' in the British Army has the following units:
* 1st Battalion, [[The Royal Gurkha Rifles]] (1RGR)
* 2nd Battalion, [[The Royal Gurkha Rifles]] (2RGR)
* 3rd Battalion, [[The Royal Gurkha Rifles]] (3RGR)
*[[Gurkha Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion]]{{efn|In August 2021, the battalion added the subtitle 'Gurkha'. Though the battalion has had Gurkhas for many years, it is now officially been subsumed into the Brigade of Gurkhas.}}<ref>British Army, ''[https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0377652b-c123-4bff-8806-61b9af842025 August 2021 Soldier Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802104915/https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0377652b-c123-4bff-8806-61b9af842025 |date=2 August 2021 }}''. Retrieved 13 August 2021.</ref>
* [[Queen's Gurkha Signals]] which includes:
** 250 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 30 Signal Regiment
** 246 Gurkha Signal Squadron, [[2 Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)|2 Signal Regiment]]
** 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 16 Signal Regiment
** 248 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 22 Signal Regiment
** 249 Gurkha Signal Squadron, [[3rd (UK) Division Signal Regiment]]
* [[10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment RLC]]
* Queen's Gurkha Engineers, which includes:
** 69th Gurkha Field Squadron, [[36 Engineer Regiment (United Kingdom)|36 Engineer Regiment]]
** 70th Gurkha Field Squadron, [[36 Engineer Regiment (United Kingdom)|36 Engineer Regiment]]
*[[Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support Company]]
*[[Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas]]
*Gurkha Company (Sittang), [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
*Gurkha Wing (Mandalay), [[Infantry Battle School]]
*Gurkha Company (Tavoleto), [[Waterloo Lines|Land Warfare Centre]]

The Brigade of Gurkhas also has its own chefs posted among the above-mentioned units. Gurkhas were among the troops who retook the [[Falklands]] in 1982 and have served a number of tours of duty in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite news|date=1 June 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13619825|title=Bravery medal for Gurkha who fought Taliban|newspaper=BBC|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905193408/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13619825|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Anup |last1=Kaphle |first2=Graeme |last2=Wood |date=10 May 2010 |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/keyword/Gurkhas |title=Back to the Afghan Future: The return of the Gurkhas |volume=15 |number=32 |journal=The Weekly Standard |access-date=1 November 2012 |archive-date=3 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603083305/http://www.weeklystandard.com/keyword/Gurkhas |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Farmer |date=31 October 2012 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9646824/British-Gurkhas-shot-dead-in-Afghanistan-attack-named.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9646824/British-Gurkhas-shot-dead-in-Afghanistan-attack-named.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=British Gurkhas shot dead in Afghanistan attack named |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Indian Army Gurkhas ===
[[File:Indian Army soldiers move into position while demonstrating a platoon-level ambush to U.S. Army paratroopers during Yudh Abhyas 2013.jpg|thumb|The soldiers of 5th Gurkha Rifles of the [[Indian Army]] take position during a training exercise.]]
{{Main|Gorkha regiments (India)}}

Upon independence in 1947, six of the original ten Gurkha regiments remained with the [[Indian Army]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=224}} These regiments were:
* [[1 Gorkha Rifles|1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)]]
* [[3 Gorkha Rifles|3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[4 Gorkha Rifles|4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[5 Gorkha Rifles|5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)]]
* [[8 Gorkha Rifles|8th Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[9 Gorkha Rifles|9th Gurkha Rifles]]

Additionally, a further regiment, [[11 Gorkha Rifles]], was raised. In 1949 the spelling was changed from "Gurkha" to the original "Gorkha".{{sfn|Chappell|1993|p=12}} All royal titles were dropped when India became a republic in 1950.{{sfn|Chappell|1993|p=12}}

Since partition, the Gurkha regiments that were transferred to the Indian Army have established themselves as a permanent and vital part of the newly independent Indian Army. Indeed, while Britain has reduced its Gurkha contingent, India has continued to recruit Gorkhas of Nepal into Gorkha regiments in large numbers, as well as Indian Gorkhas.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=229}} In 2009 the Indian Army had a Gorkha contingent that numbered around 42,000 men in 46 battalions, spread across seven regiments.

Although their deployment is still governed by the 1947 Tripartite Agreement, in the post-1947 conflicts India has fought in, Gorkhas have served in almost all of them, including the wars with Pakistan in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and also against China in 1962.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=230}} They have also been used in peacekeeping operations around the world.{{sfn|Chappell|1993|p=12}} They have also served in Sri Lanka conducting operations against the [[Tamil Tigers]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=203}}

=== Singapore Gurkha Contingent ===
[[File:Gurkha IOC 4.jpg|thumb|A trooper of the Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force gives directions to a civilian.]]
The [[Gurkha Contingent]] (GC) of the [[Singapore Police Force]] was formed on 9 April 1949 from selected ex-British Army Gurkhas. It is an integral part of the police force and was raised to replace a [[Sikh]] unit that had existed prior to the Japanese occupation during the [[Second World War]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=390}}

The GC is a well trained, dedicated and disciplined body whose principal role is as [[riot police]] and counter-terrorism force. In times of crisis it can be deployed as a reaction force. During the turbulent years before and after independence, the GC acquitted itself well on several occasions during outbreaks of civil disorder. The Gurkhas displayed the courage, self-restraint and professionalism for which they are famous and earned the respect of the society at large.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=390}}

=== Brunei Gurkha Reserve Unit ===
The [[Gurkha Reserve Unit]] (GRU) is a special guard and elite shock-troop force in the [[Sultanate of Brunei]]. The Brunei Reserve Unit employs about 500 Gurkhas. The majority are veterans of the British Army and the [[Singapore Police Force|Singaporean Police]], who have joined the GRU as a second career.

=== Indian Special Frontier Force ===
The [[Special Frontier Force]] (SFF) is an Indian paramilitary organization consisting of Tibetan refugees, Nepali Gurkhas, and other ethnic groups from mountainous areas. The SFF is tasked with conducting covert actions against China in the event of another Sino-Indian war. The SFF was originally intended to exclusively consist of Tibetan refugees living in India, however, the SFF began recruiting Nepali Gurkhas and hill tribesmen in 1965 to make up for a declining recruitment rate among Tibetans. It is believed there are around 700 Gurkhas serving in the SFF.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.thedefencearchive.com/post/special-frontier-force|title = Special Frontier Force: Invaluable yet Inconspicuous|date = 17 November 2020|access-date = 24 September 2021|archive-date = 24 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210924004349/https://www.thedefencearchive.com/post/special-frontier-force|url-status = usurped}}</ref>