On July 1, 2025, Parag Jain, a senior 1989‑batch Punjab‑cadre IPS officer, stepped into India’s top spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), succeeding Ravi Sinha after a two-year term that ended on June 30. Jain’s elevation follows decades of frontline counter‑terrorism work, technical‑human intelligence leadership, and strategic overseas experience. In taking charge, he inherits the mantle at a critical moment for India’s national security apparatus.
Architect of Operation Sindoor
Jain’s reputation as an intelligence stalwart stems from his pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, India’s precision missile campaign launched in May 2025 following a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. As head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC)—R&AW’s technical surveillance wing—he orchestrated aerial monitoring and supplied pinpoint target data. These inputs enabled the Indian Air Force to strike nine terror launchpads deep inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with “pinpoint accuracy”. His leadership in blending HUMINT (human intelligence) and TECHINT (technical intelligence) is credited for the mission’s success.
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐀𝐖 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟
Government has appointed senior IPS officer Parag Jain as the next Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for a term of two years.
Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, will… pic.twitter.com/wNYTDw8DY3
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 28, 2025
A Career Forged in Punjab, Kashmir, Canada, and Sri Lanka
Parag Jain’s career began in the early 1990s in militant‑affected Punjab. He served as SSP Chandigarh, DIG Ludhiana, and SSP in districts like Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur, where he spearheaded anti-terror operations during the turbulent Khalistan insurgency. His hands-on experience during Punjab’s toughest years earned him a reputation for being “hands-on, hardworking and a thorough professional”.
He later undertook sensitive assignments abroad. In Canada, he tracked Khalistani extremist networks, alerting both Delhi and Ottawa to emerging threats. In Sri Lanka, he served as station chief during a period of political turmoil culminating in the 2022 regime change, ensuring Indian strategic interests were safeguarded. Within India, Parag Jain was also active in Jammu & Kashmir during the 2019 Balakot operation and the controversial abrogation of Article 370, acting as a vital intelligence liaison on the ground.
Tech‑Savvy and Field‑Hardened
A postgraduate in History and holder of an MBA in Public Service from Birmingham University, Jain champions the integration of sophisticated technologies into R&AW’s toolkit. During his ARC tenure, he remained central to modernising signal processing, aerial surveillance, cyber warfare intelligence, and drone-based platforms. His balanced mastery over both human networks and technological systems shaped a decisive operational edge, personifying the evolving intelligence paradigm.
Challenges Ahead for India’s Spy Agency
As Parag Jain steps into the role of Secretary (R), he faces mounting expectations. India’s intelligence community is under scrutiny after recent setbacks in Bangladesh and the Maldives, as well as the tragic Pahalgam attack that preceded Operation Sindoor. The appointment of Parag Jain signals a renewed emphasis on intelligence-led deterrence, bridging conventional military responses with covert precision strikes.
Regional dynamics, marked by Pakistan’s deepening nexus with China, renewed cross-border terror threats, and renewed Khalistani activity abroad, will test his leadership. His challenge will be to reverse recent missteps, reinforce technical‑human coordination, and manage rising hybrid threats like disinformation and cyber warfare.
A Legacy of Continuity and Quiet Efficiency
Parag Jain becomes the 25th chief of R&AW since its formation in 1968, following a lineage of expertise‑driven professionals. His professional style is described by colleagues as understated but effective quiet, observant, and mission focused. Many within the agency view this leadership choice as preserving organisational ethos: seniority, deep field experience, and technical know-how over public profile.
What Parag Jain Tenure Means for R&AW
From July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, Parag Jain holds a two-year fixed term to steer R&AW toward key strategic goals:
- Institutionalising intel‑military synergy exemplified by Operation Sindoor
- Augmenting HUMINT‑TECHINT frameworks across land, maritime, and cyber domains
- Enhancing overseas capabilities in hotspots from Kabul to Colombo to Ottawa
- Rebuilding confidence after intelligence failures in recent years
- Anticipating evolving asymmetric threats spanning disinformation, cyber ops, and drone surveillance
His early months in office will likely involve internal audits, reorganisation of station networks, rapid development of tech-driven intel cells, and strengthening cross-agency data‑sharing.