In a significant gesture of friendship and cooperation, Indian President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army on Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff, General Ashok Raj Sigdel. This tradition of conferring honorary ranks on each other’s army chiefs dates back to 1950 and symbolizes the close ties between the two nations.¹

General Sigdel is currently on a four-day visit to India, where he will engage in discussions with senior Indian officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and explore new opportunities for collaboration.²

The honorary rank conferred on General Sigdel is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between India and Nepal. The two nations have a long history of cooperation in defence and security matters, and this gesture is expected to further strengthen their ties.

As part of his visit, General Sigdel also paid tribute at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and received a formal Guard of Honour. He also commended India’s progress under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative during interactions with representatives of India’s defence industry.

The conferment of the honorary rank on General Sigdel is a significant step in strengthening India-Nepal relations and promoting bilateral defence cooperation.