President Ram Baran Yadav conferred insignia to newly appointed Chief of Army Staffs Rajendra Chhetri amid a function at President Residence at Sheetal Niwas.

On the occasion, President Yadav, also the supreme commander of the Nepal Army, also administered Chhetri the oath of office.  Later, in the army headquarters, Chhetri also took charge as 42th chief of the army.

Earlier on August 13, the cabinet meeting had decided to promote Chhetri to the army chief.

Present in the program were Vice President Paramananda Jha, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sushil Koirala, Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey and chiefs of constitutional bodies and security sectors among others.  Meanwhile, the Nepal Army has will organize a welcome program to honor Chhetri this evening today.

Born at Dhudhekuna of Chisapani VDC in Tanahun district and served 36 years of service in the army, Chhetri joined the Nepal Army in 2035 BS.

He has acquired Masters' degree on history from the Tribhuvan University and on strategic studies from the Army War College in the United States.

He has also undergone courses on Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery from India, Pakistan and China and unite commander course from the School of Army Air Defence in Pakistan RSS reports.

Likewise, he has gone through trainings on psychology from the Defense Institute of Psychological Research in India. Also, he successfully has completed his tenure as an analyst in the Security Council.