Parag Jain Appointed New RAW Chief; 1989-Batch IPS Officer To Succeed Ravi Sinha

The Central government has appointed senior IPS officer Parag Jain as the new chief of India’s external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), according to official sources.

Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Punjab cadre, will take charge after the current RAW chief, Ravi Sinha, retires on June 30. His tenure will last for two years.

Currently serving as the head of RAW’s Aviation Research Centre (ARC), Parag Jain is credited with leading major aerial surveillance and intelligence missions. He is the second senior-most officer in the agency.

Played crucial role in Operation Sindoor

Parag Jain was instrumental in intelligence operations during Operation Sindoor, which followed the April 22 terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack claimed 26 civilian lives.

In retaliation, India conducted targeted strikes deep inside Pakistani territory, blaming Islamabad for harbouring the attackers.

Pakistan denied the allegations and demanded an independent probe. A ceasefire was reached on May 10 after four days of intense military action.

Jain’s contribution during the operation played a key role in his elevation to the top post in RAW.

Parag Jain brings over two decades of RAW experience to the role. He previously handled RAW’s Pakistan desk and served in Jammu and Kashmir during the sensitive period of Article 370 abrogation.

Earlier in his police career, he served as SSP and DIG in several districts during the peak of terrorism in Punjab. Within RAW, his foreign postings included stints in Sri Lanka and Canada, where he tracked Khalistani terror modules.

His appointment comes at a time of rising cross-border tensions and growing global scrutiny of India’s external intelligence activities.

Officials believe his deep operational experience and sharp regional insight make him well-suited to lead RAW through evolving security challenges.

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