General Bipin Rawat
- General Bipin Rawat 27th Former Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces. He was an Indian military officer who was a four-star general of the Indian Army. Days after the government announced the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post, retiring Army chief, General Bipin Rawat, was appointed the first tri-service chief with effect from December 31, 2019. General Rawat was the first sitting Chief of Army Staff to be appointed to the top post. The government had initially amended the Army rules to extend the age of superannuation from 62 years to 65 years, paving the way for the appointment. The CDS is a one-point advisor to the government on matters related to the military and will function with the main aim of integrating the three services — Army, Navy, and the Air Force. CDS would also be the permanent Chief of Staff Committee (COSC). He served as the 57th and last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Early Life And Education
Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat was born on 16 March 1958 in Pauri town of Pauri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand. His family had been serving in the Indian Army for multiple generations his father, Laxman Singh Rawat, served the Indian Army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General, Commissioned into 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1951, he retired as Deputy Chief of the Army Staff in 1988 as a lieutenant-general.
His mother was the daughter of an ex-MLA from Uttrakhand’s Uttarkashi. He was born into a Rajput family of Uttarakhand. Bipin Rawat belonged to the third generation of his family that served the Indian Army. He received his formal education at Cambrian Hall School in Dehradun and the St. Edward’s School, Shimla and went on to join the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he was honoured with the ‘Sword of Honour‘.
He was also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and the Higher Command Course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also held an M.Phil. Degree in Defence Studies as well as a diploma in Management and Computer Studies from the University of Madras. For his research on military media strategic studies, he was honoured with a Doctorate of Philosophy by Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.
General Bipin Rawat is an alumnus of St Edward’s School, Shimla and the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned on 16 Dec 1978 into the Fifth Battalion of the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles of the Infantry, the Battalion which was commanded by his father. While graduating from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he was awarded the coveted ‘Sword of Honour.
COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY |
· National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. · Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. · Defence Services Staff College, (DSSC), Wellington. · United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. · Madras University. · Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. |
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS |
· MPhil Degree from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. · Diplomas in Management and Computer Studies from Madras University. ·Doctorate of Philosophy from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, in 2011. |
Personal Life
- Bipin Rawat spouse name is Mrs. Madhulika Rawat. She is the President of the Army Women Welfare Association (AWWA). She became the president of the Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA). She worked to make the wives of defense personnel financially independent. She has also been involved with NGOs and welfare associations such as Veer Naris that assists widows of military personnel, differently-abled children, and cancer patients. They have two daughters named kritika Rawat and Tarini Rawat. They don’t have another identity both are well known for being the daughter of Bipin Rawat who has a proud job in the Indian Army. Kritika is the eldest daughter who is married and has a son. The grandkid was also snapped at their house paying last respect to his grandparents. Younger daughter is an advocate and used to stay with the parents in Delhi.
Military Career
He has spent 10 years in counterinsurgency operations and has served in various majors to current CDSs. While in the post of major, CDS Bipin Rawat commanded a company in Uri, Jammu, and Kashmir. He commanded his battalion along the LAC at Kibithu as a colonel.
After being promoted to the rank of brigadier, he commanded Sector 5 of the Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore and the multinational brigade during a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).Where he was twice awarded the mention commendation of the force commander. Bipin Rawat assumed the role of commanding general of the 19th Infantry Division in (Uri) when he was promoted to the rank of major general. As a lieutenant general, he commands the III corps, based in Dimapur before taking command of the southern army in Pune.
He also held staff assignments which included an instructional tenure at the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), General Staff Officer Grade 2 at the Military Operations Directorate, logistics staff officer of a Re-organised Army Plains Infantry Division (RAPID) in central India, Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch and Senior Instructor in the Junior Command Wing. He also served as the Major General General Staff (MGGS) of the Eastern Command.
After being promoted to the rank of Army Commander, he assumed the post of Commander General (GOC-in-C) of Southern Command on 1st January 2016. Soon after, he was promoted to the post of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. Was appointed 27th Chief of Staff of the Army by the Government of India on December 17, 2016, and took office on December 31, 2016. He was also the 57th and final Chairman of the Heads of State Committee -Major of the Indian Army.
Role In Surgical Strikes
General Rawat was instrumental in reducing the militancy in the Northeast, with one of the highlights of his career being the 2015 cross-border operation into Myanmar in which the Indian Army successfully responded to an ambush by NSCN-K militants. General Rawat was also part of the planning for the 2016 surgical strikes, in which the Indian Army went across the Line of Control into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Rawat, it was reported, was monitoring the developments from South Block in New Delhi. During his service, General Rawat has been 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, 63, was part of the planning and execution of major operations over the past few years. He was Army chief when India carried out airstrikes targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror training center in Pakistan’s Balakot in February 2019, days after over 40 soldiers were killed in a terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. General Rawat also supervised a cross-border counter-insurgency operation in neighboring Myanmar in 2015. He was Vice Chief of Army Staff when India carried out a surgical strike across the Line of Control in September 2016, in retaliation against a terror strike on an army camp in Uri in which 19 soldiers were killed. He was part of the planning and closely monitored the strike in Delhi. Three months later, he took over as Army Chief.
Last year, he had said on the strikes: “The surgical strikes post-Uri terror attack and the Balakot airstrikes have delivered a strong message to Pakistan that it no longer enjoys the impunity of pushing terrorists across the Line of Control under the nuclear bogey.”
He played a key role in the planning of the surgical strikes across enemy lines. General Rawat was reportedly monitoring the development from the south block in New Delhi. General Rawat’s deep knowledge of counter-insurgency and high altitude warfare came from his posting in difficult terrains of the northern and eastern commands. He has also served in southern commands in his long and illustrious career as he rose through the ranks he has seen the length and breadth of this vast country.
Honour & Decorations
The Bipin Rawat Biography would be incomplete without the mention of these honors. During his career that has gone through more than 40 years, CdS General Bipin Rawat has received many medals and honors for distinguished service. Rawat also played a key role in the formation of the army. He was instrumental in restructuring the military to reduce administrative interference, reduce duplicity, and increase combat potential.He also ensured that the man behind the car remained important, arming new assault rifles bought in the United States. He also played a vital role in the modernization of the army.
However, his tenure was also marked by controversy. Under his tenure, the military accepted the government’s decision to impose the disability pension, angering disabled veterans by the military fraternity.
| 1 | Param Vishisht Seva Medal |
| 2 | Uttam Yudh Seva Medal |
| 3 | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |
| 4 | Yudh Seva Medal |
| 5 | Sena Medal |
| 6 | Vishisht Seva Medal |
| 7 | Wound Medal |
| 8 | Samanya Seva Medal |
| 9 | Special Service Medal |
| 10 | Operation Parakram Medal |
| 11 | Sainya Seva Medal |
| 12 | High Altitude Service Medal |
| 13 | Videsh Seva Medal |
| 14 | 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal |
| 15 | 30 Years Long Service Medal |
| 16 | 20 Years Long Service Medal |
| 17 | 9 Years Long Service Medal |
| 18 | MONUSCO |
| RANKS | DATE OF APPOINTMENT |
| Second Lieutenant | 16 December 1978 |
| Lieutenant | 16 December 1980 |
| Captain | 31 July 1984 |
| Major | 16 December 1989 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 1 June 1998 |
| Colonel | 1 August 2003 |
| Brigadier | 1 October 2007 |
| Major General | 20 October 2011 |
| Lieutenant General | 1 June 2014 |
| General (COAS) | 1 January 2017 |
| General (CDS) | 30 December 2019 |
- General Bipin Rawat had superseded two army officers when he was appointed the Indian Army chief. His appointment as the CDS by December-end 2019 came naturally given his experience in handling tough situations in both the eastern and western sectors.
Famous Quotes By General Bipin Rawat
“To emerge as a global power, it is imperative that India must invest in building long-term indigenous capabilities or applications of decisive military power. The unequivocal assurance of our commitment to procuring indigenous equipment and weapon systems will remain with the industry and all those who support them.”
On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas in 2019, Bipin Rawat spoke on several things. Out of which, the one which is remembered by many is the quote:
“There is a difference between talk and action. One should only believe in talks when they see the action happening on the ground.”
Last month while delivering the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture at All India Radio, General Rawat said armed forces must remain alert throughout the year due to the ‘territorial ambitions’ of China and Pakistan.
“Territorial ambitions of China and Pakistan require India’s armed forces to remain alert and deployed along disputed borders and also along the coastal regions round the year.
Death Of Bipin Rawat
India has lost a capable and experienced military leader in the tragic death of the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, in a helicopter crash. The Indian Air Force on Wednesday confirmed that Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others died in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
“It is now confirmed with great regret that General Bipin Rawat, Mrs. Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others have died in the unfortunate accident,” The statement also informed that Group Captain Varun Singh was grievously injured in this accident and is currently undergoing treatment at Military Hospital (Wellington).
On 8 December 2021, an Indian Air Force Mil Mi – 17 V5 helicopters with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS Bipin Rawat and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, killing the CDS, his wife, and 11 more. According to the Indian Air Force, Bipin Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, a helicopter that crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course.
General Rawat and his wife were cremated according to Hindu rituals with full military honors and 17 gun salutes at Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on 10 December 2021. Their last rites of cremation were carried out by their daughters Kritika and Tarini, who took their ashes to Haridwar and immersed them in the Ganges at the Har Ki Pauri Ghat on 12 December.
The lives who fell and one lone survivor of the incident. Brigadier LS Lidder, Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Vivek Kumar, and B Sai Teja, and Havildar Satpal Rai, Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan who also met their end in the fatal crash. Indian Air Force’s Group Captain Varun Singh is in critical condition and undergoing treatment at the Military Hospital in Wellington.
General Rawat once shares 5 words to be always remembered by a jawan that is Naam, Namak, Nishan, wafadari, Izzat. He said these 5 words are the pillar of a jawan. If these 5 words soldiers will take along then no one will be able to draft the Indian Army.
The country will always remember the courageous decisions taken by him General Bipin Rawat for the security of the borders and the contribution made by him to keep the morale of the armed forces always high,” the Uttarakhand chief minister said. All of them will always remember for their bravery and courage. We salute them for serving the best for our country.
Top 13 Interesting Facts About Bipin Rawat
The distinguished service rendered and valour displayed over the span of over 42 years of his entire service career, General Bipin Rawat has been conferred several Presidential Awards which include the PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM and the VSM. Besides these, he has been awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation on two occasions as also the Army Commander’s Commendation. While serving with the UN in Congo, he was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.
Rawat was very close to his hometown in Uttarkhand and he often paid a visit to his native village even during his busy schedule.
In February 2019 Mr. Rawat took a sortie in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru at the Aero India 2019.
Rawat’s battalion was deployed against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army during the 1987 face – off in the Sumdorong Chu Valley.
Bipin Rawat was also the honorary General of the Nepalese Army.
General Rawat has held several important instructional and staff appointments. These include instructional tenures at the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun) and at the Junior Command Wing as the Senior Instructor. He was the General Staff Officer at Military Operations Directorate, the Colonel and later Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch, the Major General General Staff of the Eastern Theatre and was also the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The General was the Chief of the Army Staff from 31 Dec 2016 to 31 Dec 2019.
General Rawat was the first military officer to wear three hats: he was the permanent Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, the Secretary Department of Military Affairs and Chief of Defence Staff.
General Rawat was known to be a controversial figure in the military. He wanted to cut back on the pension bill and implement the ‘Integrated Capability Development Plan’. This plan would have drastically transformed the method of hardware acquisition done in the military forces. As CDS, he was also keen on uniting the Army, Air Force and Navy into a ‘synergy’.
General Rawat has written a number of pieces on national security and leadership that have appeared in a variety of publications.
In the 37 years of service, Rawat has been awarded for gallantry and distinguished service with the AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, COAS Commendation on two occasions and the Army Commander’s Commendation. Whilst serving with the United Nations, he was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.
He has vast experience in counter-insurgency operations and high altitude warfare. Rawat has also commanded an Infantry battalion, along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector; a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley.
As a Brigadier, he also commanded a multinational brigade in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bipin Rawat salary, you must be wondering how much does and top-grade General earn per month. Bipin earns a monthly salary of $3,400, ₹260,000 Indian rupees. His is the estimated salary he’s taking home.
Some FAQs Or Also Ask Question
Who is first CDS of India?
Late General Bipin Singh Rawat was the first Chief of Defense of India (CDS). He was the four-star highly decorated officer.
Why General Bipin Rawat was selected as CDS?
General Bipin Rawat was one of the most decorated and senior officers serving at the rank of General in the armed forces when the concept of CDS officially started. So, he was made CDS of India.
Who is the best Indian Army general?
Till now India has seen many army generals and all of them were excellent in everything, but late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is considered the best army general. He is also known as the people’s general.
Who is the Army chief of India?
General Manoj Mukund is the current serving Chief of Army Staff of India. And most likely he will be the new CDS of india.
What is the rank of CDS?
Chief of Defense Staff is a four star military ranking officer. CDS is a Military Secretary rank. CDS acts as a coordinating body for all the three wings of our armed forces namely Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air force.
What is the qualification of General Bipin Rawat?
Late General Bipin Rawat was a highly qualified general in the army.
His Educational Qualifications are given below:-
- National Defence Academy (B.Sc.)
- Indian Military Academy (IMA)
- (MPhil) from Defence Services Staff College
- (ILE) from U.S. Army Command & General Staff College
- (Ph.D.) from Chaudhary Charan Singh University.
Gautmi Khosla
Writer
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