On Thursday, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army on General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of India. The ceremony, held at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas, saw General Dwivedi receive a sword and a scroll, symbolizing the honor.
Distinguished Attendees at the Ceremony
The special ceremony was attended by key leaders, including Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and Defence Minister Manbir Rai, underscoring the importance of this event in strengthening bilateral relations.
Military Honors and Symbolic Gesture
After the ceremony, General Dwivedi paid tribute to martyrs at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel and received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Nepal Army Headquarters. In a gesture of enduring friendship, he gifted military horses and dogs to Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, further solidifying military ties between the two nations.
General Dwivedi’s Official Visit to Nepal
General Dwivedi’s visit to Kathmandu, part of a five-day official trip, also includes meetings with Nepali military officials and engagements with local military personnel. He is scheduled to address student officers at the Nepali Army Command and Staff Course in Shivapuri and attend an Ex-Servicemen Rally in Pokhara.
Strengthening India-Nepal Relations
This honorary rank is part of a long-standing tradition between India and Nepal, where the Army Chiefs of both nations are conferred honorary titles. General Dwivedi’s visit highlights the continued strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries.