New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) On Monday, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan offered heartfelt tributes to General Bipin Rawat, the inaugural Chief of Defence Staff of India, in honor of his birth anniversary.

The Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff conveyed in a social media message, “General Anil Chauhan, #CDS along with all ranks of the #IndianArmedForces, pay tribute to General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, on his birth anniversary.”

“We remember him as a visionary #MilitaryLeader who devoted his life to enhancing the nation’s security framework and promoting #Jointness among the Armed Forces,” it further stated.

General Rawat was born on March 16, 1958, and served as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his unfortunate passing in a helicopter crash in December 2021.

Earlier, the IDS Headquarters released a statement indicating that discussions surrounding naval aviation capabilities and infrastructure supporting the Indian Navy's maritime operations were at the forefront as participants of the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC-21) visited Naval Base, Karwar, and INS Hansa.

The Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, announced in a social media post, “Participant officers, including 12 from friendly foreign nations, enrolled in #HDMC21 at #CDM, along with faculty members, visited Naval Base, Karwar. They received in-depth briefings on the current and forthcoming world-class infrastructure that supports the Indian Navy’s maritime operations.”

“The delegation also toured #INS Hansa and Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), gaining valuable insights into India's naval aviation capabilities and indigenous shipbuilding expertise. The visit showcased the Navy’s #OperationalReadiness in the #MaritimeDomain and GSL’s crucial role in achieving #Aatmanirbharta in #DefenceShipbuilding,” the statement added.

“Maj Gen G Srinivas, Commandant of #CDM, engaged with #FOGA Rear Admiral Ajay D Theophilus, reinforcing the solid relationship between #CDM and the #IndianNavy,” the official reported.

The official social media account of Goa Naval Area noted, “Participants of the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC-21) visited #INSHansa #Goa on March 13, 2026. The delegation, led by Maj Gen G Srinivas, Commandant of the College of Defence Management, included 04 Heads of Faculty, 24 Directing Staff, 155 participants, and 12 officers from Friendly Foreign Nations. This visit provided the officers with firsthand experience of naval air operations.”