Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Chief of Army Staff Adhok Raj Sigdel formally assumed office as the 45th chief of the Nepal Army.
President Ram Chandra Paudel, the Supreme Commander of Nepal Army, conferred the insignia of Chief of Army Staff on Sigdel, amid a ceremony on Monday. Paudel also administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new army chief.
The constitution has assigned the Nepal Army the critical responsibility of safeguarding the country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom and national unity. In addition, 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.
Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire and Chairperson of the National Assembly Narayan Prasad Dahal, among others, were present on the occasion.
As the senior-most general, General Sigdel had been serving as the Acting Chief of Army Staff since August 9 when outgoing Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma began his customary one-month home leave ahead of his retirement. Sharma completed his three-year term as the chief of the Nepal Army on September 9.
