Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a current affairs/general knowledge question regarding significant military appointments and events in India.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. General Bipin Rawat was appointed as the first-ever Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India on January 1, 2020.
2. He, along with his wife and 12 other personnel, tragically passed away when their Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, on December 8, 2021.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The first CDS of India who died in 2021 was General Bipin Rawat.