How General Bipin Rawat Became India's 1st CDS: Prolific Career of India's First CDS

In the Tamil Nadu IAF military chopper crash between Sulur and Coimbatore on Wednesday 8 December, Indian lost one of the most celebrated and quintessential military soldiers, Gen Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defense Staff. General Bipin Rawat died at the age of 63 after his long four decades of military service.

In December 1978 General Bipin Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in the same unit as his father who was the 5th battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles.

On December 30, 2019, Bipin Rawat as a retiring Army Chief General was named the first tri-service chief days after the announcement of the Indian government for the creation of the CDS (Chief of Defense Staff) position. Gen Bipin Rawat successfully became the first sitting Chief of Army to take the CDS position.

In the year 2016 on 17 December, Rawat became the 27th COAS (Chief of Army Staff) of the Indian Army. Rawat has also served the country as the permanent Chairman of the COSC (Chief of Staff Committee). Rawat was a National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA) alumnus who had served in some of the toughest terrains in India including the eastern and northern commands.

Throughout his long 4 decades of a military career, India's first CDS, Rawat has served in various positions including General Staff Officer Grade 2 at the Military Operations Directorate, Brigade Commander, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-C) Southern Command, Senior Instructor in the Junior Command Wing and Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary's Branch. His net worth was $2 Million Dollar i.e. Rupees 15 Crores

Rawat has played a very significant role in reducing militancy in the region of the Northeast. Indian Army had successfully responded to the sudden attack by NSCN-K militants in Myanmar in the year 2015. The mission was carried out from the operation command of the Dimapur-based III Corps under the supervision of Gen Bipin Rawat.

One of the major highlights in Rawat's career is his extreme involvement in the planning for the surgical strikes in 2016 when the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to reports, from South Block in New Delhi, Rawat was watching the situation.

He had also provided military service by working as a member of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and during his service he led a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rawat was honoured with various awards for his service including Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal, and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

Also read: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Makes Statement on Military Helicopter Crash in Tamil Nadu

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