New Delhi — In a significant move towards strengthening India’s external intelligence apparatus, the Narendra Modi-led government has appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, as the new Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Jain will officially take charge on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose tenure ends on June 30.
Who is Parag Jain?
Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), Parag Jain has been instrumental in providing intelligence support during critical operations, including Operation Sindoor, which targeted Pakistani military and terrorist infrastructure.
Jain brings extensive field and international experience to the role. He played a key operational role during the Punjab insurgency era, having served in volatile regions like Bathinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur, and held key positions such as SSP Chandigarh and DIG Ludhiana.
In the external intelligence arena, he has managed sensitive Pakistan-focused portfolios, particularly during critical national security episodes such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir and the Balakot air strikes. His international stints include strategic postings in Canada and Sri Lanka, where he represented Indian intelligence interests.
Notably, during his time in Canada, Jain reportedly flagged the rising threat of Khalistani separatism, cautioning New Delhi about the ecosystem’s evolution into a dangerous transnational movement.
Challenges Ahead: A Time for Revamp
Jain’s appointment comes at a time when R&AW has faced sharp criticism over intelligence lapses. The agency failed to predict major geopolitical shifts during crises in Maldives and Bangladesh over the past two years. The recent terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which resulted in significant casualties, also exposed gaps in real-time threat assessment despite inflammatory rhetoric from then Pakistani Army Chief.
With Field Marshal Asim Munir aggressively pushing cross-border terrorism as part of Pakistan’s strategy, India’s external intelligence agency needs urgent recalibration. The recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has further escalated tensions, with experts warning that Pakistan could resort to asymmetric warfare — namely, terrorism — in retaliation.
The Road Ahead for R&AW
Jain’s leadership is expected to bring a renewed focus on human intelligence (HUMINT) capabilities. Critics have long argued that R&AW’s over-reliance on technical surveillance has hindered its responsiveness to dynamic on-ground threats. Strengthening field operations, reviving assets in hostile territories, and tightening inter-agency coordination will be vital in the evolving security landscape.
As India navigates a complex web of regional threats and global power shifts, Parag Jain’s appointment is seen as a calculated step towards reinvigorating India’s foreign intelligence apparatus. Analysts believe his operational acumen and international experience make him well-suited to guide R&AW into a new era of proactive intelligence gathering and strategic foresight.
