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.

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.

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.

2016: Awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

General Rawat was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 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.

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 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).

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.

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: 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.