Parag Jain Appointed as RAW Head, to Lead India’s Intelligence in a Shifting Global Order

From aerial surveillance missions to counter-terror ops and foreign postings, the 1989-batch IPS officer brings deep intelligence experience to head India’s premier spy agency

28 June 2025, New Delhi

In a major development in India’s national security establishment, Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s top external intelligence agency. His two-year term will officially begin on July 1, following the completion of incumbent Ravi Sinha’s tenure on June 30.

1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, Parag Jain, currently the chief of ARC and someone who has served in Canada and Sri Lanka, has been appointed as the next Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for a term of two years.

He succeeds Ravi Sinha, who completes… pic.twitter.com/0u9UfPAJPu

— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) June 28, 2025

Currently heading the Aviation Research Centre (ARC)—RAW’s airborne intelligence wing—Parag Jain has quietly built a career marked by discretion, strategy, and operational depth. He is credited with leading “Operation Sindoor,” a classified aerial reconnaissance mission that played a key role in monitoring Pakistani military movements. Insiders say the success of this operation earned him high regard within the intelligence community.

Jain’s résumé goes far beyond the skies. He has served in several high-stakes intelligence roles, including stints in Canada and Sri Lanka, where he focused on sensitive missions, including tracking Khalistani extremist groups. Domestically, he has handled crucial assignments in Jammu & Kashmir and led counter-terror operations in Punjab as SSP and DIG.

His appointment comes at a time when India’s external security environment is becoming increasingly complex. With growing concerns around cross-border terrorism, cyber espionage, and regional instability, Jain’s mix of field intelligence, aerial surveillance, and foreign experience is expected to offer a strategic edge to the agency.

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Outgoing RAW chief Ravi Sinha, a 1988-batch officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, exits quietly without an extension. Though low-profile, Sinha was respected for strengthening RAW’s capabilities during a particularly volatile period in India’s neighbourhood.

Jain’s two-year fixed term is seen as a move to ensure stability at the helm, especially as RAW navigates challenges across borders—from Pakistan and China to global surveillance threats.

Parag Jain’s journey from leading field operations in Punjab to becoming the man behind India’s eyes in the sky has now culminated in one of the most critical positions in the country. As he steps into his new role, all eyes will be on how this seasoned officer shapes India’s future intelligence strategy.

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