KATHMANDU, JUL 12 - President Ram Baran Yadav conferred the title of honourary general of the Nepal Army on visiting Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh on Wednesday.
At a special investiture ceremony held at his Sheetal Niwas residence, President Yadav handed over a sword, an insignia and a certificate with regard to the honourary rank to General Singh.
Vice-president Parmananda Jha, senior bureaucrats and NA officials attended the function. This practice upholds the six-decade-old tradition of decorating army chiefs of each other country with the honourary general rank.
Commander-in-Chief General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was the first Indian Army chief to be decorated with the title in 1950. Indian President Prathiba Devi Patil had conferred the title on Chief of Army Staff General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung during the latter's visit to India in December 2009.
Ahead of the investiture ceremony, General Singh paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Defence Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar on Wednesday morning. Strengthening of the defence cooperation between the armies of the two countries was the key agenda of the discussion. Talking to reporters after the meeting with Bhattarai, General Singh said that the Indian government and its army attach special importance to relationship with the Nepal Army.
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/12/top-story/indian-army-chief-conferred-honourary-title/356966/
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