History of Bipin Rawat in Timeline
General Bipin Rawat was a distinguished Indian military leader, serving as the inaugural Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from January 2020 until his untimely demise in a helicopter crash in December 2021. A four-star general, he held the position of the 57th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee before assuming the CDS role. He also served as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). His career was marked by significant contributions to the Indian Armed Forces.
1930: Birth of Bipin Rawat's Father
Bipin Rawat's father, Lakshman Singh Rawat, was born in 1930.
1951: Commissioning of Bipin Rawat's Father
Bipin Rawat's father was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1951.
March 1958: Birth of Bipin Rawat
Bipin Rawat was born in March 1958 in Pauri, Uttarakhand, India.
March 1958: Birth of Bipin Rawat (Duplicate)
Bipin Rawat was born on 16 March 1958 in Pauri Garhwal.
1962: Sino-Indian War Mention
The 1987 standoff was the first military confrontation along the McMahon Line since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
1967: Father-in-law's Political Career
In 1967, Bipin Rawat's future father-in-law, Kunwar Mrigendra Singh, served as an Indian National Congress MLA.
1972: Father-in-law's Continued Political Career
Kunwar Mrigendra Singh was re-elected as an MLA in 1972.
December 1978: Commissioning into the Indian Army
Bipin Rawat was commissioned into the 5th battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles, in December 1978.
1985: Marriage to Madhulika Rawat
Bipin Rawat married Madhulika Rawat (née Raje Singh) in 1985. She was from a princely family and the daughter of a politician.
1987: Sino-Indian Skirmish
In 1987, Bipin Rawat served in the Sino-Indian skirmish in the Sumdorong Chu valley.
1987: Sino-Indian Skirmish (Duplicate)
In 1987, then-Captain Rawat's battalion faced the Chinese PLA during the Sino-Indian skirmish.
1988: Retirement of Bipin Rawat's Father
Bipin Rawat's father retired from the Indian Army in 1988 as a Lieutenant General.
1997: Graduation from US Army Command and General Staff College
Bipin Rawat graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1997.
January 2001: Awarded Vishisht Seva Medal
Bipin Rawat was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal on January 26, 2001.
2001: Awarded Vishisht Seva Medal
General Rawat was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2001.
January 2005: Awarded Sena Medal and Yudh Seva Medal
On January 26, 2005, Bipin Rawat was awarded the Sena Medal. He also received the Yudh Seva Medal.
2005: Awarded Sena Medal
General Rawat was awarded the Sena Medal in 2005.
May 2009: Presentation of Revised Charter of Peace Enforcement
On May 16, 2009, Rawat presented the Revised Charter of Peace Enforcement at a conference in London.
2009: Awarded Yudh Seva Medal
General Rawat was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal in 2009.
2011: Honorary Doctorate Award
Bipin Rawat received an honorary doctorate from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in 2011.
January 2013: Awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Bipin Rawat was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on January 26, 2013.
December 2013: Jhelum Stadium Renamed
In December 2013, the Jhelum Stadium in Baramulla was renamed General Bipin Rawat Stadium in recognition of his service as GOC 19 Infantry Division, headquartered in Baramulla.
2013: Awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
General Rawat was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013.
2014: Promotion to Lieutenant General
Bipin Rawat was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2014.
June 2015: Cross-border strikes into Myanmar
In June 2015, during Rawat's command, Indian forces conducted cross-border strikes into Myanmar against NSCN-K.
2015: Death of Bipin Rawat's Father
Bipin Rawat's father passed away in 2015.
2015: 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar
In 2015, during Rawat's tenure, the Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar took place.
January 2016: Awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Bipin Rawat received the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal on January 26, 2016.
January 2016: Various Appointments (Duplicate)
Rawat was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command in January 2016.
September 2016: Appointment as Vice Chief of Army Staff
Rawat became Vice Chief of Army Staff on September 1, 2016.
December 2016: Appointment as Chief of Army Staff
In December 2016, Rawat was appointed the 27th Chief of the Army Staff, superseding two senior officers.
December 2016: Took office as Chief of Army Staff
Rawat took office as Chief of the Army Staff on December 31, 2016.
2016: Various Appointments
In early 2016, Rawat was promoted to Army Commander grade and appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command. Later that year, he became the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and was appointed the next Chief of the Army Staff.
2016: Awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
General Rawat was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2016.
September 2017: Two-Front War Warning
In September 2017, General Rawat warned of the possibility of a simultaneous war on two fronts against China and Pakistan, highlighting the reality of warfare along India's borders despite all three countries possessing nuclear weapons.
2017: Doklam Standoff
During Rawat's tenure as COAS, a 73-day military border standoff occurred at Doklam in 2017.
2017: Doklam Standoff and China's Assertiveness
Following the 2017 Doklam standoff, a 73-day military border standoff between India and China, General Rawat expressed concerns about China's growing assertiveness and its attempts to encroach on Indian territory. He urged India to remain vigilant and prepared for potential conflicts.
2018: Kashmir Human Shield Incident
In 2018, General Bipin Rawat defended an army major involved in the Kashmir human shield incident, where a Kashmiri civilian was tied to a jeep. The officer was subsequently awarded a Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Card by Rawat.
September 2019: Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Bipin Rawat served as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from September 2019 to December 2021.
2019: Awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal
General Rawat was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019.
2019: International Recognition and Honors
In 2019, General Rawat received international recognition. He was inducted into the United States Army Command and General Staff College International Hall of Fame and was also conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepalese Army, symbolizing the strong military ties between India and Nepal.
2019: Continued Two-Front War Warnings
Until 2019, General Rawat continued to issue statements cautioning India to be prepared for a potential two-front war against China and Pakistan. Critics questioned his preparedness for such a scenario.
January 2020: Appointment as Chief of Defence Staff
In January 2020, General Bipin Rawat became the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces.
January 2020: Appointment as India's First Chief of Defence Staff
In January 2020, Bipin Rawat was appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces.
January 2020: Appointment as India's First Chief of Defence Staff (Duplicate)
In January 2020, Bipin Rawat took on the role of the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
February 2020: Theater Commands Proposal
In February 2020, as CDS, General Rawat proposed the establishment of two to five theatre commands, anticipating a multi-year process to complete their formation. The Indian Air Force expressed opposition due to resource constraints.
September 2021: Clash of Civilizations Remarks
In September 2021, General Rawat's remarks on the theory of a clash of civilizations, particularly concerning the West and China's growing relationships with Iran and Turkey, prompted a clarification from India's Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, who stated that India did not subscribe to such a theory.
December 2021: Death of Bipin Rawat
Bipin Rawat died in December 2021 in a helicopter crash.
December 2021: Death of Bipin Rawat (Duplicate)
Bipin Rawat's tenure ended with his death in December 2021.
December 2021: Death of General Bipin Rawat
General Bipin Rawat died in December 2021.
December 2021: Cremation and Last Rites
General Rawat and his wife were cremated with full military honors in Delhi on December 10, 2021. Their daughters performed the last rites, immersing their ashes in the Ganges River at Haridwar.
December 2021: Helicopter Crash and Death
On December 8, 2021, General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and several staff members were killed in a helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The helicopter was en route to the Defence Services Staff College. Group Captain Varun Singh, Rawat's liaison officer, initially survived but later succumbed to injuries.
2021: Indian Air Force's Role Debate
In early 2021, General Rawat's characterization of the Indian Air Force as a "supporting arm" sparked a public disagreement with Air Chief Marshal R. K. S. Bhadauria, who asserted the IAF's broader strategic role.
2021: Theater Command Discussions Continue
Throughout 2021, the discussion regarding the formation of integrated and joint theatre commands continued.
March 2022: Posthumous Honors and Memorials
In March 2022, several memorials and honors were established in memory of General Rawat, including a bust at the United Service Institution of India, a chair of excellence, a memorial lecture, and the General Rawat India-Australia Young Defence Officers' Exchange Programme.
2022: Posthumously Awarded Padma Vibhushan
General Rawat was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2022.