General Bipin Rawat, born on March 16, 1958, in Pauri, Uttarakhand, was an Indian military officer who served as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from January 1, 2020, until his untimely death in December 2021. Prior to becoming the CDS, Rawat was the Chief of Army Staff from December 31, 2016, to December 31, 2019. He was known for his strategic acumen, firm leadership, and extensive experience in counterinsurgency operations, having served in various capacities across the Indian Army during his career. Rawat played a key role in modernizing India’s military forces and enhancing joint operational capabilities among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

As India’s first CDS, General Rawat’s primary focus was to oversee the integration of the three armed services and improve the country’s defense infrastructure. He was instrumental in strengthening India’s defense strategy and fostering coordination in military operations, particularly amid border tensions with China and ongoing conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir.

On December 8, 2021, General Rawat tragically died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu, along with his wife, Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other military personnel. His death was a significant loss to India’s defense establishment, with many considering him a pivotal figure in India’s military modernization efforts.

In December 2021, BOOM fact-checked a viral photo purportedly showing the helicopter crash involving General Rawat.

BOOM found out that the image was actually from a 2019 force-landing of an Indian Army helicopter in Jammu's Poonch district and not related to the Coonoor crash. This clarification helped counter misinformation surrounding the incident.