General Bipin Rawat, Army Officer
Army Officer

General Bipin Rawat

Born 16 March 1958 · Uttarakhand — Died 8 December 2021

Serving as India's first Chief of Defence Staff from 2020 to 2021.

Bipin Rawat was an Indian military officer who was a four-star general of the Indian Army. He served as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his death in a helicopter crash in December 2021. Prior to taking over as the CDS, he served as the 57th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces as well as 27th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

General Bipin Rawat was awarded the Sword of Honour at the Indian Military Academy, a distinction given to the best cadet of his batch in 1978.

The Story

1
In December 1978, Bipin Rawat was commissioned into the 5th battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles, the same unit where his father had served decades earlier, marking the start of a military lineage carrying forward in the same regiment.
2
🏔️ Between 1987 and the mid-1990s, Rawat spent a crucial decade conducting counter-insurgency operations, including commanding a company in Uri and a battalion along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh, placing him at the frontline of India's most sensitive borders.
3In 2015, as General Officer Commanding III Corps at Dimapur, he oversaw the bold cross-border strikes into Myanmar against NSCN-K insurgents, a rare offensive that demonstrated a shift in India's counter-insurgency doctrine.
4🎖️ In 2016, Rawat superseded two senior generals to become the 27th Chief of Army Staff, an unusual move that stirred debates and reflected confidence in his vision for modernizing the Indian Army.

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Rawat superseded two senior generals to become Chief of Army Staff in December 2016, an uncommon event that highlighted the government’s trust in his strategic vision.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff in New Delhi (2016).
Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff in New Delhi (2016).
2016
General Bipin Rawat takes over as the Chief of Army Staff in New Delhi (2016).
The portrait of the first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat (2016).
Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat receiving the expedition flag at the MAHAR Regiment Mount Kamet Expedition ceremony (2016).
General Bipin Rawat meets U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Pentagon (2021).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Pauri, Uttarakhand
Bipin Rawat was born into a military family in Pauri Garhwal district, inheriting a legacy from his father, Lt. Gen. Lakshman Singh Rawat.
1958
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Career
Commissioned into 11 Gorkha Rifles
Rawat was commissioned into the 5th battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles after receiving the Sword of Honour at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
1978
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Career
Service in Sumdorong Chu skirmish
Rawat served during the 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish at Sumdorong Chu valley, gaining experience in high-altitude warfare.
1987
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Career
Led cross-border strikes in Myanmar
As commander of III Corps, Rawat oversaw the 2015 Indian military operation striking insurgent camps across the Myanmar border.
2015
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Career
Appointed Chief of Army Staff
Rawat became the 27th COAS, superseding two seniors, marking a major leadership transition in the Indian Army.
2016
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Career
Led Army during Doklam standoff
Rawat commanded Indian forces during the 73-day border standoff with China at Doklam, a key strategic confrontation.
2017
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Career
Became India’s first CDS
Rawat was appointed the first Chief of Defence Staff, integrating command across Army, Navy, and Air Force.
2020
🕊️
Death
Died in helicopter crash
General Bipin Rawat and his wife died near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, in a helicopter crash that claimed 14 lives.
2021
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He commanded a multinational brigade as part of the United Nations MONUSCO mission, earning the Force Commander's Commendation twice, a rare honor for Indian officers in UN peacekeeping.

02 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Rawat completed the Higher Command Course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, blending Indian and international military training.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

He held a PhD from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut for research on military media strategic studies, showcasing his academic pursuits beyond battlefield command.

No quote recorded for General Bipin Rawat yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
'No gay sex in Army', says Army chief Bipin Rawat
More from this archive
'No gay sex in Army', says Army chief Bipin Rawat
01
'No gay sex in Army', says Army chief Bipin Rawat
Dialogues from Facebook | General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff, India with Indrani Bagchi
02
Dialogues from Facebook | General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff, India with Indrani Bagchi
General Bipin Rawat — Not Just A Military Officer, A National Spirit! | Life Story | #curixtv
03
General Bipin Rawat — Not Just A Military Officer, A National Spirit! | Life Story | #curixtv
CDS Bipin Rawat Speaks About Taliban Surge & Implications On India Says Will Deal With Any Activity
04
CDS Bipin Rawat Speaks About Taliban Surge & Implications On India Says Will Deal With Any Activity
Gen. Bipin Rawat India’s first Chief of Defence Staff wife Madhulika Rawat & 11 others die in Crash
05
Gen. Bipin Rawat India’s first Chief of Defence Staff wife Madhulika Rawat & 11 others die in Crash
General Bipin Rawat #CDS conveys best wishes to the Indian contingent for Paralympic Games Tokyo2020
06
General Bipin Rawat #CDS conveys best wishes to the Indian contingent for Paralympic Games Tokyo2020
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Addresses At the Kargil War Memorial In Dras
07
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Addresses At the Kargil War Memorial In Dras
CDS Bipin Rawat's Childhood Friend Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan (R) Speaks To India Today | Exclusive
08
CDS Bipin Rawat's Childhood Friend Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan (R) Speaks To India Today | Exclusive
General Bipin Rawat | 1st Chief of Defence Staff | Armed Forces
09
General Bipin Rawat | 1st Chief of Defence Staff | Armed Forces
Full Military Honour For CDS General Bipin Rawat, 800 Service Personnel To Be In Attendance
10
Full Military Honour For CDS General Bipin Rawat, 800 Service Personnel To Be In Attendance

🌱 What changed because of them

General Bipin Rawat fundamentally transformed India's military command by becoming the first Chief of Defence Staff, a role created to unify and coordinate the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. His leadership during the 2017 Doklam standoff and the 2015 Myanmar counter-insurgency strikes signaled a more assertive and integrated defense posture. His push for jointmanship led to institutional changes that continue to shape India's defense operations.

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