Anish Dayal Singh Appointed India’s New Deputy National Security Adviser
On August 24, 2025, Anish Dayal Singh, a retired IPS officer and former chief of both the CRPF and ITBP, was appointed as India's Deputy National Security Adviser. His appointment follows his extensive career in law enforcement and national security.
A member of the 1988 batch from the Manipur cadre, Singh will report directly to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. His responsibilities will focus on internal security issues, including counterterrorism efforts in Jammu & Kashmir, tackling Left-Wing Extremism, insurgency in the Northeast, and addressing cyber and hybrid warfare threats.
This appointment is a strategic decision amid India's ongoing security challenges, such as border tensions with China, terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, and rising cyber threats.
Anish Dayal Singh was born on December 9, 1964, in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh. His family includes his younger brother, Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh, a judge at the Allahabad High Court. Singh holds a Bachelor's degree in Arts and embarked on his Indian Police Service career on August 21, 1989, after passing the UPSC Civil Services examination. He received training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad.
Singh’s career began during a period marked by intense insurgency in the Northeast, providing him with significant early experience in counterinsurgency operations.
Anish Dayal Singh's career is distinguished by several notable roles. He spent nearly three decades with the Intelligence Bureau, serving in various capacities including Joint Director and Special Director, where he honed his skills in intelligence gathering and threat assessment.
As Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police from 2022 to 2024, Singh assumed leadership during a period of heightened India-China border tensions. He managed the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control with China and also took on additional responsibilities with the Sashastra Seema Bal.
In 2024, Singh served as the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force, leading the nation’s largest paramilitary force of over 300,000 personnel. During his tenure, he oversaw the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the first Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir post-reorganization.
Throughout his career, Singh achieved significant milestones. In counterterrorism and anti-Naxal operations, he established over 30 Forward Operating Bases in Maoist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh and raised four new CRPF battalions dedicated to these operations.
In terms of election security, Singh played a crucial role in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and securing Jammu & Kashmir's first Assembly elections as a Union Territory.
Singh also initiated organizational reforms within the CRPF, implementing the first major battalion realignment in eight years. This reduced the average unit distance from 1,200 kilometers to 500 kilometers, allowing more family time for troops.
His leadership innovations included the introduction of "Samvaad" dialogue sessions with company commanders, which enhanced ground-level feedback and participatory decision-making.
Anish Dayal Singh has been recognized with several awards, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2012 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2004, as well as receiving the Police Special Duty Medal twice, including in 1997.
In his new role as Deputy NSA, Singh's duties encompass oversight of internal security in regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, the Naxal belt, and insurgency in the Northeast. He will coordinate inter-agency efforts with the Intelligence Bureau and RAW, bolster cybersecurity and hybrid warfare preparedness, and contribute to policy formulation through long-term threat assessment and strategic planning.
Singh joins a team led by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, with other key members including Rajinder Khanna, Additional NSA and former RAW chief, TV Ravichandran, Deputy NSA and retired IPS officer, and Pawan Kapoor, Deputy NSA and former diplomat.
The appointment of Anish Dayal Singh is significant for several reasons. His experience with the ITBP is vital amid ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control with China. His expertise in counterterrorism is expected to influence strategies in Kashmir, while his insights into internal threats like Naxalism and Northeast insurgency will be critical. Additionally, Singh's role will be pivotal in enhancing India's preparedness against cyber and hybrid threats.
