Kathmandu:

Showcasing the strong ties between the two countries, Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi was on Thursday conferred with the prestigious rank of Honourary General of the Nepali Army.

This exchange of honourary generalship, a unique and cherished tradition between the Indian and Nepali Armies, highlights the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and military ties between the two nations.

General Dwivedi reached Kathmandu on Wednesday on a five-day official visit upon the invitation of General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Army Staff, Nepali Army.

The tradition of conferring honourary generalships between the Indian and Nepali Armies dates back to the 1950s. Every three years, the Chief of the Indian Army is made an Honourary General of the Nepali Army, and vice versa.

This practice reflects the mutual respect and enduring friendship between the two countries, particularly in the realms of military cooperation, defence collaboration, and shared strategic interests, a release said.

This symbolic exchange of titles goes beyond mere ceremony–it is a powerful testament to the longstanding solidarity, trust, and commitment to peace and stability in the region.

The tradition underscores the strong strategic partnership between the two forces, who work closely on a variety of fronts, including joint training, military exercises, and disaster response.

Both armies share similar values and a commitment to regional security, making this gesture of honour a reflection of their unity and shared purpose.

The Honourary Generalship is particularly meaningful given the unique socio-cultural bonds and open borders between India and Nepal. With shared security interests and a deep sense of camaraderie, the exchange of titles serves as a reminder of the close ties that transcend formal diplomatic relations.

It reinforces the enduring friendship and cooperation that have defined the relationship between the two nations for decades.

General Dwivedi’s visit and the conferral of this honour will not only strengthen military ties but also serve as a reflection of the deep respect between the two countries’ armed forces, further advancing the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jammu:

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday chaired a high-level security review meeting which was attended by Army chief, Gen Upendra Dwivedi.

Various heads of security and law enforcement agencies also attended the meeting, which focused especially on the security situation in Jammu division.

Gen Upendra Dwivedi, DG-BSF, DG-CRPF, DGP-J&K, heads of intelligence agencies and other senior officials of the Army, CAPFs and J&K Police attended the meeting.

#GeneralUpendraDwivedi#COAS met Shri Manoj Sinha Hon’ble LG J&K today and deliberated on the prevailing #Security dynamics in the region. #COAS assured the Hon’ble LG J&K on a #Synergetic approach by Armed Forces and Security Agencies to tackle the present situation and maintain… pic.twitter.com/3REz5HvP6a

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 20, 2024

The Lt Governor asked the Army, CAPFs and the Jammu Kashmir Police to pro-actively conduct coordinated counter-terrorism operations in Jammu Division.

“We must launch meticulous and well-planned counter-terrorist operations with greater synergy between all the agencies to wipe out terrorists and those aiding and abetting them,” Sinha told the meeting.

He also directed that the security grid should be further strengthened to ensure zero cross-border infiltration.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Dimapur:

In his maiden visit to the Northeast after taking over as Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the security situation along the China border in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

In his two-day visit to all Corps formations under the Eastern Army Command, including the Dimapur headquartered 3 Corps, Gen Dwivedi was briefed about the present situation in Manipur, which has seen large-scale ethnic violence in the last one year, Army officials told ANI.

The Chief, who started his tour on Thursday, also visited the Tezpur based Gajraj 4 Corps, where he was briefed on the present situation on the Line of Actual Control with China and the operational preparedness there.

He also reviewed the ongoing infrastructure development projects in Sikkim during visit to the Sukna-based 33 Corps headquarters.

The 3 Corps looks after the Rest of Arunachal Pradesh area while the 4 Corps is the formation in charge of looking after the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.

The 33 Corps with its fighting formations in Sikkim and West Bengal looks after the LAC in Sikkim along with other responsibilities.

The Army Chief was accompanied by the Eastern Army Commander, Lt Gen. RC Tewari, during the visit. This was Gen Dwivedi’s first visit to northeast after taking over as the Chief of Army Staff in June 30.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

For the first time in Indian military history, two classmates, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi and Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, will be service chiefs of Indian Army and Navy.

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and Army Chief Designate Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi studied at the Sainik School, Rewa, in Madhya Pradesh. They were together in the school from class 5th-A in the early 1970s.

The roll numbers of the two officers were also around each other, as Lt Gen Dwivedi’s roll number was 931 and Admiral Tripathi’s was 938.

Their bonding was strong from the initial days in the school and they remained in touch all along, even though they were in different forces.

A defence official who knows both the officers said strong friendships among the senior leadership in the military matter a lot in strengthening the working relationship between the forces.

“This rare honour of nurturing two prodigious students, who would go on to lead their respective Services 50 years later, goes to Sainik School, Rewa, in Madhya Pradesh,” Defence Ministry Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu said in a tweet.

For the first time in Indian Military history, Chiefs of Navy and Army hail from the same school. This rare honour of nurturing two prodigious students, who would go on to lead their respective Services 50 years later, goes to Sainik School, Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/52FMCO01qM

— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) June 29, 2024

The appointments of the two classmates have also come around the same time, in a gap of around two months.

Admiral Tripathi took over the command of the Indian Navy on May 1, while Lt Gen Dwivedi will be taking over his new appointment tomorrow.

Lt Gen Dwivedi has had a long tenure as the Northern Army Commander where he’s had exposure to the ongoing operations in the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

Born on July 1, 1964, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi was commissioned into the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles of the Indian Army on December 15, 1984.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)