The IAF chopper crash on December 8 that killed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others was due to an unexpected change in weather that led to spatial disorientation of the pilot. 

Born in Pauri, Uttarakhand on March 16, 1958, his family had been serving in the Indian Army for multiple generations.

Days after the government announced the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post, retiring Army chief, General Bipin Rawat, was appointed the first tri-service chief with effect from December 31, 2019. 

General Rawat was the first sitting Chief of Army Staff to be appointed to the top post. The government had initially amended the Army rules to extend the age of superannuation from 62 years to 65 years, paving the way for the appointment. The CDS is a one-point advisor to the government on matters related to the military and will function with the main aim of integrating the three services viz Army, Navy and the Air Force. CDS would also be the permanent Chief of Staff Committee (COSC).

General Bipin Rawat is the first and present Defense Chief or Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of India, he assumed the post of Chief of Defense on 1 January 2020. Prior to this, he was the head of the Indian Army. Rawat served as the Chief of Army Staff from 31 December 2016 to 31 December 2019. He was born in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, a Rajput caste (Parasai / Parasara Rawat, which is a branch of the Chauhan Rajputs of Uttarakhand in Garhwal).

General Rawat's mother is from the Parmar dynasty. In Rajasthan, Rawat community is in backward class while in Uttarakhand, Rawat is the surname or title of Savarna Rajputs. Some scheduled tribes in Uttarakhand also apply Rawat surname. ) Happened in. His forefathers came from Mayapur/Hariddar and settled in Parsai village of Garhwal and were called Parasara Rawat. Rawat is a military title that was given to various Rajputs by the rulers of Garhwal. His father is Lieutenant General Laxman Singh Rawat, who retired from the Army as Lieutenant General. Rawat started his career in 1978 with the 5th Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles. 

 Rawat studied at Cambrin Hall School in Dehradun, St. Edward's School in Shimla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he was awarded the 'Sword of Honour'. He is also a graduate of Defense Services Staff College, Wellington and Higher Command Course at Fort Leavenworth, USA. He also holds MPhil in Defense Studies, Diploma in Management and Diploma in Computer Studies from University of Madras. In 2011, he was awarded Doctorate of Philosophy by Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut for his research on Military-Media Strategic Studies.  

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