The central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has named Parag Jain as the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency. Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Punjab cadre, will serve as RAW Secretary for the next two years.
He will take charge on Monday, June 30, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose tenure ends the same day. According to sources, Sinha’s time in office was seen as relatively uneventful.
A Background in Critical Intelligence Roles
Currently, Parag Jain leads the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), a key technical intelligence unit under RAW. His leadership was especially important during ‘Operation Sindoor’, where the ARC helped gather crucial intelligence on the Pakistani military.
Rich Experience Across India and Abroad
Jain brings extensive experience to the role. He has served as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Chandigarh and has also represented India abroad, including in Canada and Sri Lanka.
In addition, he has served in Jammu and Kashmir, where he played a significant part in shaping the Indian government’s counter-terrorism strategy in the conflict-affected region.