Who Is Parag Jain, The IPS Officer Appointed As India’s New R&AW Chief?

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Last Updated:June 28, 2025, 15:23 IST

Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre, a crucial arm of R&AW, Jain played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor

The Narendra Modi government on Saturday appointed Parag Jain as the new Secretary of R&AW.

The Narendra Modi government on Saturday appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, as the new Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)—India’s premier external intelligence agency—for a fixed tenure of two years. He will officially take over on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose term ends on June 30 after what many viewed as a relatively low-profile tenure.

Jain’s elevation was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on June 28, ending speculation over the leadership succession in one of India’s most sensitive security establishments.

Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC)—a crucial arm of R&AW—Jain played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, India’s precision retaliation following the Pahalgam terror attack. Under his command, ARC gathered actionable intelligence on Pakistani military deployments using a combination of HUMINT and TECHINT capabilities.

Over 15 Years in R&AW: Deep Domain Expertise

Parag Jain is currently the second-most senior officer in R&AW, directly reporting to the chief, and oversees several high-stakes operational and intelligence divisions. With over 15 years in the agency, he has built deep expertise in:

Counter-terrorism operations
Punjab’s internal security
Sikh extremism and Khalistan-linked movements
Cross-border and diaspora surveillance

His appointment comes at a time when India is intensifying its counter-Khalistan strategy abroad, especially in light of heightened tensions with separatist elements operating from Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Stints In Canada, Sri Lanka & J&K: Global Intel Exposure

Jain’s international assignments include a critical posting in Ottawa, Canada, where he monitored radical Sikh diaspora groups and worked to infiltrate separatist networks. He was later stationed in Sri Lanka during its 2022 economic crisis, witnessing regime change and political upheaval—giving him firsthand operational experience in high-volatility foreign environments.

Back home, he has served in Jammu and Kashmir, contributing significantly to the Centre’s counter-terrorism strategy, especially in the post-Article 370 security restructuring of the Union Territory.

Grassroots Policing To Strategic Ops: A Dual Lens

Before his R&AW tenure, Jain held several key policing roles across Punjab, including as Senior Superintendent of Police in Chandigarh, DIG Ludhiana Range, and postings in Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur. His deep familiarity with Punjab’s ground-level security dynamics, especially amid the legacy of militancy, gives him a unique advantage in handling transnational threats with regional roots.

Jain was empanelled for senior central postings and granted DGP rank benefits effective January 1, 2021, further underscoring his standing within the national security hierarchy.

Why His Appointment Matters

Parag Jain’s elevation comes at a time of rising strategic challenges for India’s external intelligence community—ranging from cross-border terrorism and Khalistani revivalism to China-Pakistan coordination, and evolving hybrid warfare.

With a rare combination of ground policing experience, foreign intelligence postings, and technical reconnaissance leadership, Jain is expected to bring sharper focus and operational depth to R&AW’s mission during a geopolitically sensitive period.