First Chief of Defence Staff of India General Bipin Rawat

First Chief of Defence Staff of India General Bipin Rawat and his wife along with 11 others died in a Mi-17V5 crash. The helicopter crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The news of the crash came as a shock on the afternoon of 8th December 2021. Immediately an enquiry has been set to find the reason for the crash.

India Défense Minister Ranjith Singh said “With profound grief and heavy heart, I stand to convey the unfortunate news of the crash of the military helicopter in the noon of 8 December 2021, with India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat on board,” while paying tribute to the victims.

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General Bipin Rawat served as an Indian military Officer. He was a four-star general of the Indian Army. He served as the first Chief of defense staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces.

He served from January 2020 until he died in a helicopter crash on 8th December 2021/ Before taking up the position of CDS, Mr Bipin Rawat was the 57th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. He was also the 26th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.

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Birth, Family, And Kids of CDS General Bipin Rawat

Mr Bipin Rawat was born in Pauri town of Pauri Garhwal district which is part of modern-day Uttarakhand. He was born on 16^th March 1958. Multiple generations of his family had been serving in the Indian Army. His father Lakshman Singh Rawat was part of 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1951.

He retired as Deputy Chief of Army Staff in 1988 as lieutenant – general. On the maternal side, his grandfather was ex-a member of the Parliament of Uttarkashi.

Mr Rawat married Madhulika Raje Singh in 1985. Madhulika Raje Singh was the daughter of Kunwar Mrigendra Singh. He was Riyasat Dar.

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Education Qualification of CDS General Bipin Rawat

Mr. Bipin Rawat completed his school at Cambrian Hall School in Dehradun and then at St Edward’s School in Shimla. After his schooling, he joined the National Défense Academy in Khadakwasla and then the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.

He completed his graduation in order of merit. He was awarded the “Sword of Honour.”

He also completed graduation in Défense Services Staff College, Wellington. In 1997, he also completed a Higher Command Course from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

He earned an MPhil in Defence Studies and a Diploma in Management and Computer Studies from the University of Madras during his tenure at DSSC.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by CCS University, Meerut for his research on military–media strategic studies.

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Military Career of CDS General Bipin Rawat

On 16^th December 1978, Mr Rawat was commissioned into the 5th Battalion, the 11 Gorkha Rifles. It was the same battalion as that of his father.

Mr. Rawat was deployed against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the 1987 Sino – Indian skirmish in the Sumdorong Chu valley. After the 1962 war, McMahon Line was his first military confrontation standoff.

In his career, he experienced high-altitude warfare. He had spent almost ten years in counter-insurgency operations. He commanded company for Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.

He guided his battalion as colonel of the 5^th Battalion, the 11 Gorkha Rifles in the eastern sector along the Line of Actual Control at Kibithu. As a brigadier, he commanded the 5 Sector of Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore.

Under the leadership of Rawat, the Indian Army has taken some of the most stringent steps against Pakistan. Under his tenure, the army provided stronger defenses along the border with Pakistan.

Rawat has played a key role in shaping the army. He was fundamental in restructuring the army to cut administrative flab, reduce duplicity, and increase combat potential.

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Ranks & Appointment of CDS General Bipin Rawat

CDS General Bipin Rawat’s ranks and date of appointment are as follows

RANK	COMPONENT	DATE OF RANK
Second Lieutenant	Indian Army	16 December 1978
Lieutenant	Indian Army	16 December 1980
Captain	Indian Army	31 July 1984
Major	Indian Army	16 December 1989
Lieutenant Colonel	Indian Army	1 June 1998
Colonel	Indian Army	1 August 2003
Brigadier	Indian Army	1 October 2007 (seniority from 17 May 2007)
Major General	Indian Army	20 October 2011 (substantive, seniority from 11 May 2010)
Lieutenant General	Indian Army	1 June 2014 (substantive)
General (COAS)	Indian Army	1 January 2017
General (CDS)	Indian Armed Forces (tri-service)	31 December 2019

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Reducing Militancy in The Northeast of CDS General Bipin Rawat

Mr Rawat had varied experience in operation across a vast spectrum of conflict and terrain profiles. He guided the Infantry battalion along the Line of Action Control in the Eastern sector. He also commanded the Infantry Division in Kashmir Valley and the Corps in the East.

Apart from these, he commanded a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was instrumental in reducing the militancy in the Northeast. One of the highlights of his career was the 2015 cross-border operation.

The operation was carried out in Myanmar. In this operation, the Indian Army successfully responded to an ambush by NSCN-K militants.

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CDS General Bipin Rawat’s Role in Surgical Attacks

He guided Uri’s surgical strike. Post Uri, he commanded the Balakot airstrike. Both these strikes have given Pakistan a strong message. It indicated that India no longer enjoys impunity for pushing terrorists across the line of control under nuclear bogey.

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CDS General Bipin Rawat’s Role in the Galwan Valley Dispute

Disengagement of closely deployed troops at friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is taking place but a larger de-escalation of border tensions with China is still farfetched, as thousands of PLA troops have been placed at forward positions, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat has said.

As an Army Chief, General Rawat stood up to the Chinese PLA at the Doklam plateau on the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction for 73 days in 2017.

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CDS General Bipin Rawat on UN Mission

When Bipin Rawat took charge of the United Nations’ North Kivu Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008, things weren’t going too well for the world’s costliest peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym MONUC.

The general is credited with providing dynamic leadership under the UN banner. The Indian peacekeepers switched their approach from a velvet glove to an iron fist under his leadership.

As the Congo’s internal conflict raged, he ordered the deployment of infantry combat vehicles rigged with machine guns and cannons to crush rebels and enforce peace in flashpoints such as Tonga, Kanyabayonga, Rutshuru, and Bunagana.

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CDS General Bipin Rawat Awards and Honours

In his career span of 43 years, he has been bestowed with gallantry and distinguished service awards. He was honored with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, the COAS Commendation on two occasions and Army Commander’s Commendation.

His other list of awards includes the Wound Medal, Samnva Seva Medal, Special Service Emdal, Operation Parakram Medal, Sainya Seva Medal, High Altitude Service Medal, Videsh Seva Medal, 50^th Anniversary of Independence Medal, 30 Years Long Service Medal, 20 Years Long Service Medal, 9 Years Long Service Medal and MONUSCO.

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Sudden Death of CDS General Bipin Rawat

Mr Rawat and his wife along with other members of his staff were travelling on board in Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 on 8^th December 2021. The helicopter was en route from Sulur Airforce Base to Defense Service Staff College, Wellington.

Around 12:10 pm, the helicopter crashed on the outskirts of the hamlet of Nanjappachatiram, Bandishola panchayat, in the Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area of Coonoor taluk, Nilgiris district.

The crash site was almost 10 km away from the flight’s intended destination. Mr Rawat and his wife were cremated as per Hindu ritual with a 17-gun salute at Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.

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