The Indian government has named senior IPS officer Parag Jain as the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). He will take over the responsibility for a two-year term, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose tenure concludes on June 30. Jain, currently heading the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), has been instrumental in bolstering India’s external intelligence capabilities. Under his leadership, the ARC played a vital role in gathering crucial intelligence during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ especially when monitoring Pakistan’s military activities and terrorist groups was paramount.
Parag Jain, an IPS officer from the 1989 batch of the Punjab cadre, brings a wealth of field experience and strategic intelligence expertise to his new leadership role. As the second most senior officer in R&AW, he currently reports directly to the chief, overseeing high-risk operations and intelligence units. With over 15 years of service in R&AW, Jain has become a key figure in India’s counter-terrorism infrastructure. His areas of expertise include counter-terrorism operations, internal security in Punjab, monitoring Khalistan-linked movements, and surveillance of cross-border migrant networks. His operational experience includes significant postings during the Punjab militancy period, including roles in Bhatinda, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana. In external intelligence, Jain handled the Pakistan desk and was posted at critical junctures after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and during Operation Balakot. Jain’s international experience is also notable. In Ottawa, Canada, he played a key role in monitoring and infiltrating militant Sikh separatist networks while observing the diaspora. His posting in Sri Lanka provided valuable insights during the 2022 economic and political crisis, providing expertise vital for India’s strategic interests in a global landscape.