- President Ram Chandra Paudel conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on Indian Army Chief Dhiraj Seth in Kathmandu.
- This reciprocal ceremony continues a tradition since 1950, symbolizing the longstanding military friendship and mutual trust between India and Nepal.
- General Seth’s visit includes high-level meetings and the handover of essential military and medical equipment to the Nepali Army.
- The engagement reinforces the defense partnership and institutional links between the two nations through continued professional cooperation.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel on Monday conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, renewing a decades-old military tradition that reflects the close and longstanding relationship between the armed forces of Nepal and India.
The honorary rank was conferred on Gen. Seth during a special investiture ceremony at Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the President of Nepal, in Kathmandu. The ceremony was attended by senior Nepalese government and military officials, including Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav and Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, as well as Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava.
The honour is part of a unique tradition between Nepal and India that dates back to 1950. Under the arrangement, the two countries reciprocally confer the honorary rank of General on the chiefs of each other's armies. Over the decades, the practice has become one of the most visible symbols of the close military relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
While the conferment is ceremonial, its significance extends beyond the presentation of an honorary military title. The Indian Army has described the tradition as an institutional expression of mutual trust, professional respect and military camaraderie between the two armies.
The continued practice also reflects the depth and continuity of military-to-military relations between Nepal and India. Despite changes in leadership over the years, the two armies have maintained longstanding cooperation in areas including professional exchanges, training and defence engagement.
Gen. Seth arrived in Nepal on Sunday for a three-day official visit from August 17 to 19 at the invitation of Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel. The visit is aimed at further strengthening military ties and bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.
Earlier on Monday, Gen. Seth visited the Nepali Army Headquarters, where he handed over military and medical equipment to the Nepali Army. He also planted a sapling on the premises of the Army Headquarters, marking one of the engagements during his official visit.
Gen. Seth also held a meeting with Gen. Sigdel at the Nepali Army Headquarters. The two army chiefs discussed matters of mutual interest and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen military relations between Nepal and India.
The visit and the honorary conferment come against the backdrop of a military relationship that has been sustained through successive generations of army leadership. Nepal's Army Chief Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel, like his predecessors, has also received the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army, underscoring the reciprocal nature of the tradition.
For Nepal and India, the exchange of honorary ranks has come to represent more than military protocol. It provides an annual reminder of the institutional links and personal relationships that have developed between the two armies over many decades.
The latest ceremony, therefore, carries both traditional and contemporary significance. It honours the longstanding friendship between the two military institutions while providing an opportunity for their current leadership to discuss practical areas of cooperation.
Gen. Seth's visit is expected to further reinforce the existing defence partnership and provide momentum to continued military cooperation between Nepal and India. The two countries share a long history of defence and security cooperation, with their armies maintaining regular contacts at various levels.
The conferment of the honorary General rank on Gen. Seth thus serves as both a continuation of a historic tradition and a reaffirmation of the enduring professional relationship between the Nepali Army and the Indian Army.
