Indian Army Chief to Receive Honorary General Rank in Nepal

Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth will be honored with the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army during a special ceremony at Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu on Monday. Nepal's President Ram Chandra Paudel will present the insignia to General Seth.

General Seth arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday for a three-day official visit, extending an invitation from Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel. This visit is viewed as a continuation of the long-standing military relationship and an effort to further bolster defense cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that the visit's primary objectives are to strengthen defense cooperation and enhance military-to-military relations. General Seth's visit is significant as he is the highest-ranking Indian official to visit Nepal since Prime Minister Balen Shah assumed office. Furthermore, it marks Nepal as the location for Seth's first foreign visit since taking charge as the Indian Army chief, underscoring its diplomatic and strategic importance.

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continuation of the traditional military ties between Nepal and India and an effort to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation

During his stay, General Seth is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balen Shah and hold bilateral talks with General Sigdel at the Nepal Army headquarters. Discussions are expected to cover Nepal-India military relations, mutual assistance, and ongoing cooperation between their armies. General Seth will also pay tribute to fallen soldiers at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel.

The tradition of conferring honorary General ranks began in 1950, symbolizing the friendly relations, mutual respect, and military cooperation between India and Nepal. Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel previously received the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army in December 2024.

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strengthening defence cooperation and military-to-military relations between the two countries