Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth is scheduled to undertake a five-day official visit to Nepal beginning on 16 August 2026, marking his first visit to the neighbouring country since assuming office as the 31st Chief of the Indian Army on 30 June 2026. The visit comes at the invitation of Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Sigdel and is aimed at further strengthening the longstanding military relationship between the two countries.
During the visit, General Dhiraj Seth will be conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel. The honour is part of a unique military tradition that has existed for over seven decades, under which the Army Chiefs of India and Nepal confer honorary general ranks upon each other as a symbol of the close defence partnership between the two nations.
The reciprocal tradition reflects the deep historical, cultural and military ties shared by the Indian Army and the Nepal Army. It serves as a significant gesture of mutual trust and respect while reinforcing the enduring friendship between the armed forces of both countries.
General Seth is also expected to hold high-level engagements during his stay in Kathmandu. According to reports, a request has been submitted for a courtesy meeting with Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah. While the meeting has not yet been officially confirmed, it is expected to form part of the Army Chief’s official engagements if approved.
Confirming the planned visit, Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet stated that the exchange of honorary general ranks is an established tradition whenever a new Army Chief assumes office in either country. He added that the detailed itinerary would be made public once the visit is formally confirmed.
The visit is expected to include interactions with senior military leadership and discussions on bilateral defence cooperation, military exchanges, training collaboration and regional security issues. India and Nepal maintain close military ties through regular high-level visits, joint training, disaster response cooperation and the recruitment of Gorkha soldiers into the Indian Army.
General Dhiraj Seth’s visit also carries diplomatic significance, as he will become the first senior Indian official to visit Nepal since the formation of Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government in March 2026. The visit is expected to provide further momentum to defence engagement and reinforce the strategic partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
The reciprocal nature of the honour was most recently demonstrated in December 2024, when Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Sigdel was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by President Droupadi Murmu during his official visit to India.
General Seth’s upcoming visit is expected to reaffirm the special military relationship between India and Nepal, highlighting the shared commitment of both armies to regional stability, professional cooperation and the preservation of one of South Asia’s oldest defence traditions.
