All You Need To Know About CDS General Bipin Rawat

As the government announced the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post, retiring Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was on December 30, 2019, appointed as the first tri-service chief.

Here, General Bipin Rawat is the first sitting chief of Army Staff at a top post. The government had initially amended the Army rules to extend the age of superannuation from 62 to 65 years, which made it possible for him to be appointed at this position.

For the post of CDS, he is the one-point adviser to the government on matters related to the military and also functions as the main aim in ingratiating the three services-Army, Navy and the Air Force. He is also the permanent Chief of Staff Committee (COSC).

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His Life and Education:

Gen Bipin Rawat was born in Pauri, Uttarakhand, India. His family had been serving in the Indian Army for many generations, and his father was Lieutenant General Laxman Singh Rawat. He went to Cambrian Hall School, Dehradun and the St Edward¡¯s School in Shimla. He later on joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun where he was awarded the ¡®Sword of Honour¡¯.

Graduated from 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.

In the year 2011, he was awarded the Doctorate of Philosophy by Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut for his research on Military Media Strategic Studies.

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Military Career:

CDS Rawat was commissioned in the 5th battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles on 16 December 1978, it was the same post as his father¡¯s. Rawat has a lot of experience in high altitude warfare and spent ten years of his career in conducting counter-insurgency operations.

He was also commanding a company in Uri,Jammu and Kashmir as a Major. As a colonel, he was commanding his 5th Gorkha Rifles Battalion in the Eastern sector.

He was then promoted to the rank of Brigadier, Rawat then took the command of 5 Sector Rashtriya Rifles in Sapore.

He was then commanding the multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of the congo. Here he was also awarded twice with the force of Commander¡¯s commendation.

After getting promoted to Major General, Gen Rawat took over as the General Officer Commanding 19th Infantry Division (Uri). As a Lieutenant General he was commanding III corps, headquartered in Dimapur before taking over the Southern Army in Pune.

He is the third person to become an officer from the Gorkha Brigade to become the Chief of army Staff, after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

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Awards:

During his brief career of 37 years, rawat has been awarded several awards and medals such as gallantry and distinguished service with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, the COAS Commendation on two occasions and the Army Commander¡¯s Commendation.

He is also a honorary General of Napalese Army. This has been a tradition between the India and Nepal Armies to confer the honorary rank of General to each other¡¯s chief. This is to signify their close and special ties between the military forces.

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His Family:

As his family is serving the nations through multiple generations, his father Lieutenant General Laxman Singh Rawat and rawat is married to wife Madhulika Rawat who is the president of Army women welfare association. He has three kids. He has been working in the Indian Military forces since 16 December 1978 till present.