Kathmandu, : President Ramchandra Paudel has conferred the rank insignia on newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), Ashok Raj Sigdel.

At a special programme organized at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas today, newly appointed CoAS took oath of office and secrecy before the President who is the Supreme Commander of the Nepali Army.

As the 45th CoAS of the Nepali Army, Sigdel would officially take command of the NA from today itself.

Vice-President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the government had given responsibility of Acting CoAS to Sigdel and he had been taking this responsibility since August 9.

Sigdel had been assuming the responsibility of Acting CoAS as there is a provision that sitting CoAS stays on one-month home leave before retirement.

The CoAS Prabhu Ram Sharma got mandatory retirement from today itself as his three-year term has terminated today.