Gorkha regiments ( India ) Since the independence of India in 1947 , as per the terms of the Britain – India – Nepal Tripartite Agreement , six Gorkha regiments , formerly part of the British Indian Army , became part of the Indian Army and have served ever since . The troops are Indians ( majority of them being Indian Gorkha s ) and Gorkha s , residents of Nepal . They have a history of courage in battle , evident from the gallantry award s won by Gorkha soldiers and battle honour s awarded to Gorkha battalions , both before and after joining the Indian Army . A seventh Gorkha Rifles regiment was re - raised in the Indian Army after Independence to accommodate Gorkha soldiers of 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles who refused to transfer to the British Army . Origins . Impressed by the fighting qualities displayed by the Gorkhas during the Gurkha War , Sir David Ochterlony was quick to realise Gorkha Regiment , was raised as the Nasiri regiment . This regiment later became the 1st King George ’ s Own Gurkha Rifles , and saw action at the Malaun fort under Lieutenant Lawtie . They were instrumental in the expansion of the British East India Company throughout the subcontinent . The Gorkhas took part in the Anglo - Sikh wars , Afghan wars , and in suppressing the Indian Rebellion of 1857 . Throughout these years , the British continued to recruit the Gorkhas and kept increasing the number of Gorkha regiments . By the time First World War started , there were 11 Gorkha regiments under the British Indian Army . The Gorkha regiments played a vital role in the Commonwealth armies during both the World Wars seeing action everywhere from Monte Cassino in the west to Rangoon in the east , earning battle honour s everywhere . As a testament to the psychological factors of the Gorkha Regiments on its enemies , during the North African campaign , the German Afrikakorps accorded great respect to the brave khukri - wielding Gorkhas . Post Independence . Following India ' s independence , India , Nepal and Great Britain signed a Tripartite Agreement , and of the total of 10 regiments , six ( 1 GR , 3 GR , 4 GR , 5 GR , 8 GR and 9 GR ) regiments of the Gurkha Rifles joined the Indian Army . In 1950 , when India became a republic , the Royal titles were dropped from the regiments that joined the Indian Army . Following the divisions of the Gorkha regiments , the British Army decided that joining of the British Army would be entirely voluntary for the Gorkha soldiers and decided to hold a referendum . As a result , large numbers of men from the 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles , which recruited predominantly from Eastern Nepal , decided not to join their regiments as part of the British Army . In order to retain a contingent from this area of Nepal , the Indian Army made the decision to raise the 11 Gorkha Rifles . Although there was an ad hoc regiment raised during World War 1 with troops drawn from the various Gurkha units , the troops mostly retained the uniform and insignias of their respective regiments ( with a few exceptions who wore 11 GR badges which was unofficial as no sanction was given for such ) . This regiment was disbanded in 1922 and has no relation to the present - day 11 Gurkha Rifles , though some do claim so . Since independence , the Gorkhas have fought in every major campaign involving the Indian Army being awarded numerous battle and theatre honours . The regiments have won many gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra . The 8 Gorkha Rifles , has the unique distinction of producing one of the two Field Marshals of the Indian Army , Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and is still revered as one of its finest officers . 5 / 5 Gorkha Rifles ( Frontier Force ) fought gallantly in Hyderabad police action in 1948 . Naik Nar Bahadur Thapa of 5 / 5 Gorkha Rifles ( Frontier Force ) earned the first Ashok Chakra Class I of independent India , in Hyderabad Police Action on 15 September 1948 . The 4 / 5 Gorkha Rifles ( Frontier Force ) fought in the Battle of Sylhet , earning the distinction of being the first regiment of the Indian Army to be involved in a heliborne attack . Under the Indian Army , Gorkhas have served in Bangladesh , Sri Lanka , Siachen , and in the UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Sierra Leone . Major Dhan Singh Thapa of the 1 / 8 Gorkha Rifles won the Param Vir Chakra for his heroic actions during the 1962 Sino - Indian conflict . The 1st battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles was involved in Operation Vijay where Lt . ( acting Captain ) Manoj Kumar Pandey won the Param Vir Chakra for his gallant actions . Current Strength . Currently there are 39 battalions serving in 7 Gorkha regiments in the Indian Army . Six regiments were transferred from the British Indian Army , while one was formed after independence ; The individual Gorkha rifle regiments of India are collectively known for regimental purposes as the ' Gorkha Brigade ' between themselves and are not to be confused with the Brigade of Gurkhas of the British Army . In popular culture . A platoon of the 1 / 11 Gorkha Rifles , led by Lt . Manoj Kumar Pandey , has been depicted in the Bollywood movie LOC Kargil . Rais and Limbus who are collectively called as Kirnatis are also associated with the Mythological warrior Arjuna . Arjuna fought a duel with a Kiranti warrior who defeated him in the duel . The Kirantis in turn associate themselves with lord Shiva .