Kathmandu, August 17: Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army by Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel at an investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Kathmandu on Monday.

The honour was bestowed upon General Seth in keeping with the unique and longstanding tradition of mutual military respect and friendship shared between the Indian and Nepali armies.

Earlier in the day, General Seth, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), received and inspected a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters in Kathmandu. His three-day official visit to Nepal, from August 17 to 19, is aimed at further strengthening bilateral military cooperation and the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries.

As part of his itinerary, General Seth also laid a wreath at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, paying tribute to the sacrifices and service of the Nepali armed forces.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Army Chief is scheduled to hold discussions with his Nepali counterpart and receive a detailed briefing from the Director General of Military Operations of the Nepali Army on matters of mutual strategic interest.

On August 18, General Seth will address student officers attending the Army Command and Staff Course at Shivapuri. He is also expected to interact with instructors and foreign student officers and hold discussions with senior Nepali dignitaries on issues of bilateral importance.

On the final day of his visit, August 19, General Seth will travel to Pokhara to attend an Ex-Servicemen Rally. During the event, he will felicitate Veer Naris and gallantry awardees and interact with Indian Army veterans before departing for India.

Highlighting the significance of the visit, the Ministry of Defence noted that India and Nepal share deep historical, social and cultural ties, often described as the“Roti-Beti Ka Rishta.”Civilisational linkages such as Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodhgaya further underline the close relationship between the two nations, which are bound by democratic values and a shared commitment to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

General Dhiraj Seth, a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), joined the prestigious National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla and was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. His career has been marked by selfless service, integrity, diligence and professional excellence, culminating in his appointment as Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army on June 30, 2026.

Over nearly four decades of military service, General Seth has held several গুরুত্বপূর্ণ command and staff appointments, contributing significantly to the Indian Army's operational effectiveness, modernisation and long-term transformation.

He has commanded an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also served as General Officer Commanding of the Delhi Area, commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps—one of the Indian Army's premier strike formations—and led both the South Western Command and Southern Command.

A graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, General Seth has also completed the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, France. Throughout his career, he has played an important role in shaping the Indian Army's modernisation efforts, capability development and long-term force structuring initiatives.

The conferral of the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army reflects the exceptional and enduring relationship between the armed forces of India and Nepal. The tradition not only strengthens military-to-military cooperation but also reinforces the historic bonds of friendship, trust and partnership between the two neighbouring nations.

General Seth's visit is expected to further deepen these longstanding ties and open new avenues for cooperation between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army.