As part of a modernization process to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Nepalese

Army has transformed into an equal opportunities employer and has actively started enrolling
women soldiers for different tasks and appointments. Even though the concept of women
soldiers is not new in the Nepalese Army, it has never before reached the proportions of today.
The Nepalese Army has been recruiting women soldiers for the last forty years. Today women
soldiers are viewed as equals to their male counterparts. The total number of women in the
Army at present is 1073. The Army aims to maintain a 5 per cent female work force. Listed
below are some of the fields in which women soldiers are on active duty.
 Nursing Service: The Nepalese Army started recruiting women nurses since 1961 AD.
Today women constitute about 22 per cent of the total staff at Birendra Military Hospital.
 Medical Doctor: The first lady doctor was enrolled in 1969 AD. Today, the Nepalese Army
has more than 54 lady doctors in active
service.
 Engineers:The Nepalese Army started recruiting women engineers since 2004 AD. Women
engineers currently work as Civil and Computer Engineers.
 Legal Service: The legal service opened up for women in 1998 AD. Since then, there has
been a steady influx of lady officers in the Nepalese Army Legal Department.
 Parachute Folders in the Parachute Regiment:Women were enrolled as parachute folders
since 1965 AD Parajumping for women para folders commenced in 1969 AD and the
practice has been continuing to date.
Since 2060 BS, a number of other services have opened up for women soldiers. They are as
follows:

 Military Police: : Women soldiers have been active in the military police, a service which
enforces discipline in the Army.
 Signalers: Today more and more women are working as signalers.
 Office staffs:: No office is complete without the support of the office staffs that play a vital
role in dispatching important documents and daily maintenance of the office premises.
Today women soldiers are largely responsible for such jobs in the Army.
 Army Band: Women soldiers have shouldered their fair share of ceremonial duties through
the Army Band.
 Military Drivers: Today women soldiers are slowly taking over the job of driving light
vehicles.
 Military Clerks: Women have been involved in important clerical jobs in the Army since
1969.
 Aircraft Technicians: Women soldiers have found employment in the Air Serviceas well.
 Combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support Arms: women of various ranks
are currently employed in various Combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support
Arms.
WOMEN IN NEPALESE ARMY

As part of a modernization process to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Nepalese
Army has transformed into an equal opportunities employer and has actively started enrolling
women soldiers for different tasks and appointments. Even though the concept of women
soldiers is not new in the Nepalese Army, it has never before reached the proportions of today.
The Nepalese Army has been recruiting women soldiers for the last forty years. Today women
soldiers are viewed as equals to their male counterparts. The total number of women in the
 Army at present is 1073. The Army aims to maintain a 5 per cent female work force. Listed
below are some of the fields in which women soldiers are on active duty.

 Nursing Service: The Nepalese Army started recruiting women nurses since 1961 AD.
Today women constitute about 22 per cent of the total staff at Birendra Military Hospital.
 Medical Doctor: The first lady doctor was enrolled in 1969 AD. Today, the Nepalese Army
has more than 54 lady doctors in active
service.
 Engineers:The Nepalese Army started recruiting women engineers since 2004 AD. Women
engineers currently work as Civil and Computer Engineers.
 Legal Service: The legal service opened up for women in 1998 AD. Since then, there has
been a steady influx of lady officers in the Nepalese Army Legal Department.
 Parachute Folders in the Parachute Regiment:Women were enrolled as parachute folders
since 1965 AD Parajumping for women para folders commenced in 1969 AD and the
practice has been continuing to date.
Since 2060 BS, a number of other services have opened up for women soldiers. They are as
follows:

 Military Police: : Women soldiers have been active in the military police, a service which
enforces discipline in the Army.
 Signalers: Today more and more women are working as signalers.
 Office staffs:: No office is complete without the support of the office staffs that play a vital
role in dispatching important documents and daily maintenance of the office premises.
Today women soldiers are largely responsible for such jobs in the Army.
 Army Band: Women soldiers have shouldered their fair share of ceremonial duties through
the Army Band.
 Military Drivers: Today women soldiers are slowly taking over the job of driving light
vehicles.
 Military Clerks: Women have been involved in important clerical jobs in the Army since
1969.
 Aircraft Technicians: Women soldiers have found employment in the Air Serviceas well.
 Combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support Arms: women of various ranks
are currently employed in various Combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support
Arms.
 In the Nepalese Army there are a total of 1073 female personnel in all ranks, which makes
1.2% of the total army strength. The Nepalese Army aims to maintain a 5% female work force of
the total strength, which is not very different from most foreign militaries. Among the officers of
the Nepalese Army, female officers make up 7.49 %. Junior Commission and Non- Commission
Female Officers constitute 8.01% and 64.77% respectively of the total female strength.

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