During this tenure, the 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar took place where units under his command executed cross-border strikes against the NSCN-K.

[7][8][9] During Rawat's tenure as the COAS, in 2017, a 73-day military border standoff happened at Doklam between the Indian Armed Forces and the People's Liberation Army.

In 2011, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut for his research on military-media strategic studies.

[23][24] During the 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish in the Sumdorong Chu valley, then Captain Rawat's battalion was deployed against the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

He also served as a logistics staff officer of a Re-organised Army Plains Infantry Division (RAPID) in Central India.

Whilst simultaneously engaged in offensive kinetic operations against the CNDP and other armed groups, Rawat (then Brigadier) carried out tactical support to the Congolese Army (FARDC), He sensitised programmes with the local population and detailed coordination to ensure that all were informed about the situation and worked together in the progress of operations.

Goma never fell, the East stabilized and the main armed group was motivated to the negotiating table and has since been integrated into the FARDC.

[40] Rawat was accused of nepotism and gratuitously politicising the appointment, by the senior serving and retired military officers.

[41] He took office of Chief of the Army Staff as the 27th COAS on 31 December 2016, after retirement of General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

[45][46] Rawat had been criticized by the opposition party leaders for making political statements during the Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

[49][50] After the standoff ended Rawat said China had begun 'flexing its muscles' and was trying to 'nibble away' territory held by India in a gradual manner to test the limits of thresholds.

[41] He served as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his death in December 2021.

[70] Rawat put emphasis on the 'supremacy and primacy' of the Indian Army over the Air force and Navy, in fighting wars.

Rawat had stated, "Wars will be fought on land, and therefore the primacy of the army must be maintained over the air force and navy.

[41] In early 2021, Rawat called the Indian Air Force a "supporting arm" of India's defence network and infrastructure.

Air Chief Marshal R. K. S. Bhadauria made a public statement in response that the IAF served a bigger role than a supporting arm.

She became the president of the Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA), upon the creation of the post and the appointment of General Bipin Rawat as the first CDS.

[76] She was also involved with NGOs and welfare associations such as Veer Naris that assists widows of military personnel, differently-abled children and cancer patients.

[77] On 8 December 2021, Rawat, his wife and members of his staff were amongst 10 passengers and 4 crew members aboard an Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopter flight en route from the Sulur Air Force Base to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, where Rawat was to deliver a lecture.

[78] At around 12:10 p.m. local time, the aircraft crashed near a residential colony of private tea estate employees on the outskirts of the hamlet of Nanjappachatiram, Bandishola panchayat, in the Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area of Coonoor taluk, Nilgiris district.

Rawat's liaison officer, Group Captain Varun Singh initially survived the incident, but later succumbed to injuries on 15 December.

[84] Rawat and his wife were cremated according to Hindu rituals with full military honours and 17 gun salute at Brar Square Crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on 10 December 2021.

[85] Their cremation was carried out by their daughters, who took their ashes to Haridwar and immersed them in the Ganges at the Har Ki Pauri ghat on 12 December.

[88][89]On Rawat's first death anniversary, his bust was unveiled at the United Service Institution of India (USI) by the Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt.

The programme is aimed at enhancing professional military contacts between the two armed forces and facilitate the exchange of ideas and operational experiences.

The trophy was instituted to honour his contribution to transformational Agnipath Scheme and is presented at the sailors training centre INS Chilka.