Parag Jain Named New Secretary of R&AW, Assumes Role on June 30

The Indian government has appointed Parag Jain, an Indian Police Service officer of the 1989 batch from the Punjab cadre, as the Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the country's external intelligence agency. Jain is set to assume the role on June 30, following the conclusion of Ravi Sinha's two-year term.

Currently, Parag Jain is the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), an essential intelligence unit within the Cabinet Secretariat. Earlier this year, during 'Operation Sindoor,' the ARC was instrumental in collecting actionable intelligence on Pakistani military movements, contributing significantly to India's strategic military response.

Jain's professional journey includes significant domestic and international assignments. He has held the position of Senior Superintendent of Police in Chandigarh and has represented India in diplomatic and intelligence roles in Canada and Sri Lanka. His experience in Jammu and Kashmir involved active participation in the central government's counter-terrorism efforts in the Union Territory.

Ravi Sinha, who has led R&AW since 2023, is concluding a term characterized by relatively minimal activity. Jain's appointment is perceived as a strategic move to bolster India's intelligence capabilities in the face of evolving regional and global security threats.

Parag Jain's tenure as R&AW Secretary is slated for two years. His appointment arrives at a time when India's external intelligence services are increasingly relied upon for real-time surveillance, cyber-intelligence, and regional threat evaluation.