KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 9

President Ramchandra Paudel conferred the rank insignia on newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel during a special ceremony at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, today. Sigdel was appointed as per Article 1 of the Army Act, 2063.

The new CoAS took the oath of office and secrecy before President Paudel, who is the Supreme Commander of the Nepali Army, as per Article 9 of the Army Act, 2063. Sigdel officially became the 45th CoAS of the Nepali Army and is set to take command from today.

The ceremony was attended by Vice-President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal among others.

Sigdel had previously been serving as Acting CoAS since August 9, following a provision in which the outgoing CoAS takes one-month home leave prior to retirement.