Indian Army Chief to receive honorary Nepali Army General rank

Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday, August 16, 2026, for a four-day official visit, during which he is scheduled to receive the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army from President Ram Chandra Paudel on Monday. The visit, at the invitation of Nepali Army Chief General Ashok Sigdel, aims to strengthen the longstanding defense cooperation and military-to-military ties between the two nations.

General Seth was received at Tribhuvan International Airport by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Pradeep Jung K.C. The Ministry of Defence in New Delhi described the visit as an opportunity to explore new avenues of cooperation, noting the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and military ties between India and Nepal. The two countries share unique linkages often referred to as "Roti Beti Ka Rishta," with connections between Janakpur and Ayodhya, and Lumbini and Bodhgaya, making them natural partners.

The central event of the visit is the special investiture ceremony on Monday at Rashtrapati Bhawan, where President Paudel will confer the honorary generalship upon General Seth. This exchange of honorary titles is a unique tradition between the...