Parag Jain, a veteran IPS officer, has been appointed as the new head of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The appointment, announced by the central government, sees Jain taking over from Ravi Sinha on June 30th for a two-year term. Before this, Jain served as the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), where he was pivotal in strengthening India’s intelligence gathering capabilities. His work with the ARC was crucial during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ when monitoring Pakistan’s military and terrorist activities was essential.
With an extensive career in intelligence, Parag Jain, an IPS officer from the 1989 batch, brings significant experience to the position. Holding the second-highest rank within R&AW, he has been involved in numerous high-stakes operations, overseeing critical intelligence units. His extensive service in R&AW, spanning over 15 years, has positioned him as a key figure in India’s counter-terrorism strategies. His expertise encompasses counter-terrorism operations, internal security in Punjab, tracking Khalistan-linked movements, and monitoring cross-border migrant networks. Jain’s operational roles included postings during the Punjab militancy, with positions in cities like Bhatinda, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, Chandigarh and Ludhiana. He also managed the Pakistan desk in external intelligence, including crucial assignments following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and during Operation Balakot. Jain’s international experience includes roles in Ottawa, Canada, where he monitored Sikh separatist networks, and in Sri Lanka during the 2022 economic and political crisis, offering valuable insight into political transitions.