Ruchin Singh Rawat

Biography

Lance Naik Ruchin Singh Rawat was born in 1992 in Kunigad Malli village, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, to Shri Rajendra Singh Rawat. Drawn to the uniform from his teenage years, he enlisted in the Indian Army in 2009 at the age of 17. He initially joined the Naga Regiment before volunteering for the rigorous commando selection that earned him a place in the elite 9 Para (Special Forces) battalion of the Parachute Regiment. Over twelve years of service, he matured into a seasoned para-commando and rose to the rank of Lance Naik. He married Ms Kalpana Devi, and the couple had a son, Harshit. Back home, he remained closely involved with village initiatives and inspired many local youth to take up a career in uniform. Between 3 and 5 May 2023, his unit was deployed in a counter-terrorist operation against militants entrenched in the Kandi Forest of Rajouri. While closing in on a fortified cave hideout, the terrorists detonated explosives inside the cave. Lance Naik Rawat sustained fatal injuries in the blast and laid down his life at the age of 30, alongside four of his comrades. For his exceptional bravery and unwavering devotion to duty, Lance Naik Ruchin Singh Rawat was posthumously awarded a Mention-in-Despatches.