This comprehensive biography details the life and career of General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Wiki/Biography

Bipin Rawat was born on Sunday, March 16, 1958 (age 63 at the time of death) in Saina Village, Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand). His zodiac sign was Pisces. He received his early education at Cambrian Hall in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and St. Edward’s School in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He then attended the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune. Rawat graduated first in his class from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, earning the “Sword of Honour.” He also held a graduate degree from the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras, and several diplomas in Management and Computer Science from the same university. Notably, he received an honorary doctorate and a PhD in Military Media Strategic Studies from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut in 2011.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 5’ 8”
• Eye Colour: Dark Brown
• Hair Colour: Grey

Family

Bipin Rawat came from a family with a long history of service in the Indian Army. He represented the third generation of his family to join the armed forces.

Parents & Siblings

His father, Lakshman Singh Rawat, was a retired Lt. General and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (retired in 1988), commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1951. His mother was the daughter of Kishan Singh Parmar, a politician and former MLA from Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.

Wife & Children

Bipin Rawat married Madhulika Raje Singh, a member of a former princely family, on April 14, 1986. Madhulika was the daughter of Kunwar Mrigendra Singh, a former Riyasatdar of Sohagpur Riyasat in Shahdol district. In 2021, she served as President of the Army Women Welfare Association (AWWA). Tragically, she perished alongside Bipin Rawat in the helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.

They had two daughters: Kritika Rawat and Tarini Rawat.

Other Relatives

Rawat’s paternal uncle, Bharat Singh Rawat, served as a Havaldar (non-commissioned officer) in the Indian Army. Another uncle, Harinandan, also served in the army.

Religion

Bipin Rawat practiced Hinduism and belonged to a Kshatriya (Rajput) family.

Career

Commissioned into the 5th Battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles (the same battalion as his father) on December 16, 1978, Rawat’s career spanned numerous significant roles. These included commanding the 5th Battalion 11 Gorkha Rifles in the Eastern sector along the LOC at Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh; the 5th Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir; and a multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he received the Force Commander’s Commendation twice. He also served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 19th Infantry Division in Uri, J&K; commander of III Corps headquartered in Dimapur, Nagaland; and commander of the Southern Army in Pune. His appointments included instructional roles at the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), and various staff positions.

His career highlights include the 2015 cross-border operation in Myanmar and involvement in the planning of a surgical strike in 2016. He was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Southern Command on January 1, 2016, and became Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOS) on September 1, 2016. He was appointed the 27th Chief of Army Staff on December 17, 2016, assuming office on December 31, 2016. A day before his scheduled retirement, he was appointed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on December 30, 2019, assuming office on January 1, 2020. He served until his death on December 8, 2021.

Significant Ranks Held

The table below outlines the significant ranks held by General Bipin Rawat throughout his distinguished career:

Controversies

General Rawat faced several controversies during his career, including criticism for meeting the RSS chief in uniform, for his statements regarding Kashmiri civilians, for awarding a commendation to Major Leetul Gogoi, for comments about soldiers falsely claiming disability pensions, for his views on women in combat roles, and for publicly commenting on political matters.

Medals

General Rawat was the recipient of numerous medals and awards throughout his career, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Wound Medal, Samanya Seva Medal, Special Service Medal, Operation Parakram Medal, Sainya Seva Medal, High Altitude Service Medal, Videsh Seva Medal, 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal, 30 Years Long Service Medal, 20 Years Long Service Medal, 9 Years Long Service Medal and MONUSCO.

Award

Posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan (Civil Service) in 2022.

Salary

As of 2021, Bipin Rawat’s monthly salary as Chief of Defence Staff was ₹250,000, along with other allowances.

Death

On December 8, 2021, General Bipin Rawat was killed in a helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, while en route to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. His wife, Madhulika, and 11 others also perished in the accident.

Cremation

General Rawat was cremated with full military honors at the Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on December 10, 2021. His wife’s remains were also present on the pyre.

Facts/Trivia

• Enjoyed playing football and reading.
• Possessed over ten years of experience in high-altitude warfare and counter-insurgency operations.
• Served as an honorary General of the Nepalese Army.
• His appointment as Chief of Army Staff bypassed two senior officers.
• Was the third officer from the Gorkha Brigade to become COAS.
• He simultaneously held the positions of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Secretary Department of Military Affairs, and Chief of Defence Staff.
• A garrison in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kibithu military camp was named after him.