The Narendra Modi government on Saturday named Parag Jain as the next chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency. He is a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Punjab cadre and will serve for a term of two years.

Jain will officially take over the position on Monday, June 30, from Ravi Sinha, whose tenure ends the same day. Sinha’s time as RAW Secretary is widely seen as unremarkable, with few notable achievements during his leadership.

Parag Jain’s Background

Parag Jain is currently the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), a key unit within RAW. Under his leadership, the ARC played a crucial role in Operation Sindoor by gathering critical intelligence on Pakistan’s armed forces.

Earlier in his career, Jain served as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Chandigarh. He has also represented India in diplomatic postings in Canada and Sri Lanka, where he was involved in intelligence and security coordination.

Key Role in Jammu and Kashmir

Jain has also been posted in Jammu and Kashmir, where he contributed significantly to the Centre’s counter-terrorism efforts. His work in the conflict-affected region strengthened India’s national security strategy.