New Delhi

India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat along with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, will be posthumously conferred Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian award.

The Home Ministry announced the Padma Awards on the eve of 73rd Republic Day.

General Rawat was headed to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. He was India's, longest-serving four-star General.  General Rawat's wife Madhulika Rawat and twelve other defence force personnel had also died in the helicopter crash

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh also will be posthumously awarded Padma Vibhushan, while Former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will receive Padma Bhushan, said the government on the eve of 73rd Republic Day.

Kalyan was the 16th chief minister of Uttar Pradesh from June 24, 1991, to December 6, 1992. He was also Lok Sabha MP from 2009 to 2014. Dr Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella of Bharat Biotech will also be awarded Padma Bhushan.

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