Meet Gen. Bipin Rawat, the newest and the first Chief of Defence staff in India

• General Bipin Rawat is set to take oath as India’s first Chief of Defence staff.
  
• Before this, he served full three-year terms as the Indian Army Chief after he superseded two officers in 2016.
  
• Rawat had also served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff for a brief period from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.

General Bipin Rawat is set to take oath as India’s first Chief of Defence staff. Before this, he served full three-year terms as the Indian Army Chief after he superseded two officers in 2016. The Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mukund Naravane will replace Rawat as the Army chief.

Rawat had also served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff for a brief period from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.

An alumnus of St. Edward School, Shimla, the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Rawat was commissioned into the 5th battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in 1978.

Counter insurgency specialist and high altitude warfare experience.

Rawat was well known for his experience in high altitude warfare and counter-insurgency operations. He led an infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control ( a line that separates Indian territory with that of China in Jammu and Kashmir) in the eastern sector; an infantry division in the Kashmir Valley; and a Corps in the Eastern theatre and the Southern Command. He was also a part of instructional appointments at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and at Army War College, Mhow.

As the Chief of Army Staff, Rawat brought about many reforms such as bringing in leaner combat formations. He implemented integrated battle groups — a self-sustaining combat formation equivalent to the size of a brigade — to rapidly mobilize operations.

Rawat along with former Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, introduced a Special Human Rights Cell and a special vigilance cell. This was after reports of human rights violations by the Indian army started doing the rounds in Kashmir valley and parts of Northeast.In his 38 years of service, he has been rewarded with many commendations along with the Army Commander’s Commendation.

He had also pursued M. Phil in Defence Studies from Madras University- and received his Ph. D in military media strategic studies from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. The maverick also has a diploma in management and computer studies.


He even authored authored numerous articles on ‘National Security’ and ‘Leadership’.

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