Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Nepali Army, Ashok Raj Sigdel, has been conferred the Honorary Rank of General of the Indian Army by Indian President Droupadi Murmu.

The investiture ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday, where General Sigdel was presented with a sword, insignia, and a certificate of conferment.

This gesture continues the seven-decade-long tradition between Nepal and India of honouring each other's army chiefs with honorary ranks, reflecting the deep-rooted and strategic ties between the two nations’ armed forces.

During his official visit to India, General Sigdel engaged in high-level discussions with his Indian counterpart, General Upendra Dwivedi, and other top Indian officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. He also held a courtesy meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and planted a sapling on the Thalsena Bhawan premises, symbolising a commitment to lasting relations.

Earlier, General Sigdel paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial and was honoured with a Guard of Honour by the Indian Army.

His visit follows Indian Army Chief General Dwivedi’s visit to Nepal in the third week of November. During the visit he was similarly conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by President Ramchandra Paudel.

These mutual honours highlight the enduring military cooperation and trust between the two neighbouring countries, with both sides engaging in discussions on strategic interests and regional security.