On Saturday, the Narendra Modi administration appointed senior IPS officer Parag Jain as the upcoming head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), which is India’s foreign intelligence service.
Jain, an IPS officer of the Punjab cadre from the 1989 batch, will assume office on July 1 for a two-year term, succeeding the current chief, Ravi Sinha, whose term concludes on June 30.
Who is Parag Jain?
Recognized in intelligence communities as a ‘super sleuth’, Jain brings to the senior position with a reputation for adeptly merging human intelligence (HUMINT) with technical intelligence (TECHINT), a combination that officials claim has been vital for numerous high-stakes operations.
He was also appointed to positions comparable to a central DGP, highlighting his qualifications for leadership within the national intelligence structure. Jain has earlier represented India in both Canada and Sri Lanka.
One of his most lauded contributions in recent years was during Operation Sindoor, where intelligence inputs under his leadership enabled precision missile strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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Although the missile strikes occurred in a matter of minutes, those in the know emphasized that years of preparation and meticulous relationship-building enabled such precise targeting.
Jain’s considerable experience in the field in Jammu and Kashmir, among India’s toughest security environments, is anticipated to benefit him as the nation deals with a more unstable global security landscape.
Characterized by high-ranking officials as systematic and reserved, Jain has occupied various important positions during his career. On January 1, 2021, he was elevated to the position of Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab, although he was currently assigned to central deputation, receiving only nominal benefits.
