Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi visited the Gyalsung Academy in Jamtsholing, a flagship national service training initiative launched by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The program, which began in 2019, aims to train over 13,000 Bhutanese youth annually by blending military training with practical skills such as coding, agriculture, and life management.
The academy began its first training cycle in September 2024 and has been supported with a $10 million aid package from India. During his tour, General Dwivedi received a comprehensive briefing on the program’s goals and infrastructure and commended its holistic approach to nation-building and youth empowerment. He called it a transformative model aligned with the Fifth King’s vision for a strong and self-reliant Bhutan.
The visit comes amid deepening India-Bhutan cooperation on security and training, particularly in light of growing regional challenges. China’s expanding presence along Bhutan’s borders since 2020 has driven greater military coordination between the two Himalayan neighbors. India continues to play a key role through its 2,000-strong Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), which supports training of the Royal Bhutan Army.
General Dwivedi’s remarks also emphasized the importance of collaborative regional development, echoing sentiments from the February 2025 bilateral talks held in Kolkata, where both countries discussed integrating advanced technologies into joint military training.
His ongoing four-day official visit began on July 1 and includes high-level engagements. On his arrival, General Dwivedi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Tashichhodzong and had an audience with the King and Queen of Bhutan, further reaffirming the historic and strategic ties between India and Bhutan.
