Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash near Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft was known to carry other Army officials as well.

CDS Bipin Rawat’s wife Madhulika Rawat died in the accident as well.

Death of 13 out of 14 passengers have been confirmed so far.

General Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat holds the status of a four star general of the Indian Army. He was appointed as the first tri-service chief with effect from December 31, 2019, a few days after the Centre announced induction of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post. Holding the prestigeous designation of being the first sitting Chief of Army Staff to be appointed to the top post is one amongst his many accolades.

Before becoming the fourth officer from the Gorkha Brigade to become the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), he was designated to the position of the Vice-Chief of Army Staff. General Bipin Rawat took over as the  27th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on December 17, 2016 succeeding General Dalbir Singh Suhag. After graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Rawat was recruited into the Indian Army in December 1978 and was enlisted in the same unit as his father, the fifth battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles.

Rawat is widely revered for his extensive expertise in the field of counterinsurgency warfare and has been known to have served in some of the most perilous terrains of India, including the northern and eastern commands.

In his four decades long service, Rawat has served as a Brigade Commander, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-C) Southern Command, General Staff Officer Grade 2 at the Military Operations Directorate, Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch and Senior Instructor in the Junior Command Wing.

He has also been an integral part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and has spearheaded a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Neutralising militancy in the Northeast is one of the most significant accomplishments of General Bipin Rawat’s decorated career in Indian Army and the 2015 cross-border operation into Myanmar in which the Indian Army successfully retaliated to an ambush by NSCN-K militants is the best embodiment of his excellence.

During his service, General Rawat has been adorned with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal.

INDIA’S FIRST CDS

General Bipin Rawat became the first officer of the Indian armed forces to hold the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2019. The post was newly created as part of the government’s efforts to restructure India’s armed forces to meet present-day challenges.

General Bipin Rawat was named CDS just a day before he was to retire as the Indian Army chief, a position that he held for a full three-year term.

General Bipin Rawat was an officer from the Gorkha Regiment. General Rawat was the fourth officer from the Gorkha Regiment to become the Chief of Army Staff.

As the CDS, General Rawat was the single-point advisor to the government on matters related to the military. In this role, General Rawat focused on better synergy among the three wings of the armed forces the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

JOURNEY FROM NDA TO IMA TO INDIA’S TOP ARMY OFFICER

General Bipin Rawat was an alumnus of Shimla’s St Edward School before joining the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla in Maharashtra. He trained at the Indian Military Academy in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun.

General Bipin Rawat commanded an infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates India’s position from the Chinese in the Eastern Sector. He also commanded an infantry division in the Kashmir Valley and a corps in the Northeast.

General Rawat was appointed the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016. A four-star military officer, General Rawat was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff on December 30, 2019.

As the CDS, General Rawat headed the Department of Military Affairs that was created along with the position of the CDS within the Ministry of Defence.

A DECORATED MILITARY CAREER

General Rawat spent four decades in service holding positions of a Brigade Commander, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-C) Southern Command, General Staff Officer Grade-2 at the Military Operations Directorate, Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch and Senior Instructor in the Junior Command Wing. He was also part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPF) and commanded a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Among his career highlights were playing an instrumental role in containing insurgency in the Northeast, supervising 2015 cross-border operation in Myanmar and monitoring the 2016 surgical strikes.

In 2015, the Indian Army successfully responded to an ambush by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) militants. General Rawat had supervised the mission that had been conducted III-Corps.

In 2016, General Rawat was part of the planning for the surgical strikes following terrorist attack on the Uri base camp of the Indian Army. In response, a team of the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. General Rawat monitored the developments from South Block in New Delhi.

Decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal and Sena Medal, General Bipin Rawat had a distinguished service in the Indian Army.