President Bidya Devi Bhandari conferred the rank of honorary General of the Nepal Army (NA) on visiting Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat amidst a special ceremony at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday.

President Bhandari handed over a sword, an insignia and a certificate with regard to the honorary rank to General Rawat. 

This practice follows the six-decade-old tradition of decorating army chiefs of each other country with the honorary general rank.

Commander-in-Chief General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was the first Indian Army chief to be decorated with the title in 1950.

During his stay in Kathmandu, General Rawat paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand and his Nepali counterpart Rajendr Chhetri separately.

Earlier on Wednesday, Indian Army Chief Rawat handed over seven horses to his Nepali counterpart Chhetri.

The Indian Army Chief handed over a stallion light breed, two brood mares, two gelds and two donkey stallions.

Rawat, who was appointed to the top post of Indian Army on December 31, was invited by his Nepali counterpart Chhetri.