President awards rank insignia to new CoAS Sigdel
During the ceremony, Sigdel took an oath of office and secrecy in the presence of the President, marking the formal commencement of his role.
KATHMANDU: In a special ceremony held today at the Sheetal Niwas, President Ram Chandra Paudel awarded the insignia of the Grand Master of the Nepalese Army to the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Ashok Raj Sigdel.
During the ceremony, Sigdel took an oath of office and secrecy in the presence of the President, marking the formal commencement of his role.
Ashok Raj Sigdel officially assumed command as the 45th Chief of Army Staff of the Nepalese Army from today.
According to the Constitution of Nepal, the Army is entrusted with crucial responsibilities including safeguarding the country’s freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and national unity.
In addition to these core duties, the Army is also responsible for disaster management, national development, peacekeeping, internal security, forest and environmental protection, preservation of historical heritage, promotion of national unity, and emergency search and rescue operations.
The ceremony was attended by Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker of the House Devaraj Ghimire, and Chairperson of the National Assembly Narayan Prasad Dahal.
As the most senior officer, Lieutenant General Sigdel had been performing the duties of Acting Chief of Army Staff since Aug 9, following the earlier appointment by the government.
His predecessor, General Prabhuram Sharma, has completed his three-year term and officially retired today.
Brief bio of new CoAS Sigdel
CoAS Sigdel has completed a range of professional military courses both domestically and internationally. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Army Command and Staff College in Shivapuri and from China’s National Defense University.
Additionally, he has completed the Higher and Management Course at the Army War College and the Defense Management Course in India. He also holds a Master’s degree in strategic studies from China’s National Defense University and an MA from Tribhuvan University.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CoAS Sigdel served as the Secretary of the Covid Crisis Management Centre (CCMC). He is recognized within his professional circle as a studious and responsive leader with keen insights into national and international strategic matters.
His career includes significant roles in military operations and organizational structures, including the logistics department, as the Policy Director General, and in the Kathmandu Valley Command. He has also served in challenging zones such as Eastern Yugoslavia, Tajikistan, and Liberia under United Nations peacekeeping operations.
CoAS Sigdel has been honored with several prestigious awards both domestically and internationally, including the Suprabal Janasewa Shree III. He has received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal twice within the Nepali Army in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the organization.
The Nepali Army has made a significant contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. It is among the leading contributors in terms of sending personnel to UN missions, with a total of 152,823 peacekeepers from Nepal having served in these missions.
Currently, 5,946 Nepali Army personnel, including 657 women, are deployed across 11 peacekeeping missions in various conflict zones.
