On March 16, 2023, the Indian Navy announced instituting two awards (trophies) in the memory of late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat.
The announcement was made on the eve of the 65th Birth Anniversary of General Rawat.
The first trophy would be General Bipin Rawat’s rolling trophy for ‘Women Agniveer Trainee Standing the First Overall Order of Merit.’
The second trophy is the rolling trophy for ‘Most Spirited Officer’ undergoing the Naval Higher Commander Course at the Naval War College in Goa.
On March 15, 2023, Commander Vivek Madhwal, the spokesperson of the Indian Navy, said that the trophy for the current year will be presented by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Hari Kumar during the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the first batch of Agniveers on March 28, 2023.
The event will take place at the Navy Premier sailors training centre at INS Chilka.
In a statement, the Indian Navy has said- “On the occasion of his 65th Birth Anniversary on March 16, the Indian Navy fondly remembers General Rawat, the first CDS of India.”
In addition, the Indian Navy also described General Bipin Rawat as a “visionary leader” and a “military reformer,” who was known for his professionalism, principles, conviction, and decisiveness.
“In a distinguished career spanning over four decades, His achievements were remarkable in all spheres of military and national security affairs,” the Navy said.
The Indian Navy stated- “As India’s first CDS, General Rawat rallied for organisational and structural reforms to integrate the armed forces. Path-breaking transformational initiatives and civil-military synergy will remain his legacy.
His enthusiasm led the Armed Forces to turn the Agnipath- the biggest transformational by the armed forces since the independence, from an idea to reality.”
On December 8, 2021, General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika along with twelve military personnel were killed in a helicopter crash near Coonor in Tamil Nadu.
