NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel of Nepal was conferred the insignia of Honorary General of the Indian Army during his visit to India. The ceremony took place at Rastrapati Bhavan in Delhi, officiated by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, highlighting the enduring military ties between the two nations.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the conferral ceremony was part of a time-honored tradition between Nepal and India, where the Chief of Army Staff from each country is bestowed the honorary rank by the other. This practice, rooted in the cultural, religious, and historic relationship between the two countries, has been ongoing since 1950, reflecting the deep and cordial military relations shared by the neighboring nations.
In a reciprocal gesture, the Nepalese President, Ramchandra Paudel, had previously awarded the insignia of Honorary General of the Nepali Army to Indian Chief of Army General Upendra Dwivedi during a ceremony in Kathmandu on November 21.
During his visit, CoAS
Sigdel also paid a courtesy call to India’s Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, demonstrating the cooperative defense ties between the two nations. Additionally, Sigdel participated in a tree-planting ceremony at the premises of the Indian Army Building, further symbolizing the growth and strengthening of bilateral ties.