India's very first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat had given 43 years of his life to the service and was an essential key to accelerating the progress and betterment of the Indian Defence. The 63-year-old was tasked with the responsibility to make the Indian military modern and capable of dealing with any emerging security challenges on the Northern or Western borders.
India's first CDS and his wife, Madhulika Rawat, lost their lives to an ill-fated military chopper crash that took place in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday and killed 11 others including the first CDS and his wife. He had two lovely daughters, Kritika and Tarini with his wife who studied psychology from Delhi University and had been a constant support system for Gen Rawat throughout his term of service to the nation. The braveheart has selflessly contributed his service to the Indian military and was also awarded highly prestigious awards in his work tenure including Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal.
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General Bipin Rawat's career in Army | Key Points
1. Before General Rawat took up the role of CDS, he served as Indian Army chief for three years. He embarked on his journey of serving the Indian Military from the National Defence Academy (NDA). He is an NDA, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and National Defence College. In addition to this, he also attended the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth in the US.
2. While serving the Indian Army, General Rawat commanded an infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, a Rashtriya Rifles Sector, an infantry division in the Kashmir Valley and a Corps in the Northeast. He has also commanded a Multinational Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
3. The government appointed him the position of Chief of Army Staff on December 17, 2016, after his glorious tenure of serving the Indian Army at his best. However, he took charge after General Dalbir Singh Suhag retired on December 31, 2016.
4. On January 1, 2020, Gen Rawat was appointed as the very first Chief of Defence Staff of India. The role was created to provide synergy among the three services of the Indian Defence forces, Army, Navy and Air Force. As the CDS he played a vital role in ensuring the optimum utilisation of the allocated budget, ushering more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the services through joint planning and integration.
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5. Gen Rawat was also the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister for the tri-services and played a vital role in their unification. He was also appointed as the head of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs.
