Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing

Secretary, Research and Analysis Wing of India
सचिव, अनुसंधान एवं विश्लेषण विंग
Emblem of India
Flag of India
Incumbent
Parag Jain, IPS
since 1st July, 2025
Cabinet Secretariat
Research & Analysis Wing
StatusHead of R&AW
Member ofStrategic Policy Group
National Security Council
Reports to
ResidenceClassified
SeatSeva Teerth-2, Cabinet Secretariat, New Delhi
AppointerAppointments Committee of the Cabinet
Term lengthTypically 2 years, can be extended
Inaugural holderR. N. Kao
Formation1968
Succession23rd (on the Indian order of precedence)
Salary₹225,000 (US$2,700) monthly
WebsiteClassified

The Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (Sachev, Anusandhan evam Vishleshan Wing) is the seniormost non-elected official of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's external intelligence agency. The post is generally held by a senior officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS). The Secretary R&AW reports directly to the Prime Minister of India and is responsible for all intelligence operations abroad.[1]

The first secretary was R. N. Kao, who established the agency in 1968. As the head of R&AW, the secretary is responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and national security assessments. [2]

History

The position of Secretary (Research) of R&AW was established in 1968, at the inception of the agency under the Indira Gandhi-led government. At that time, the Secretary (Research) was placed on par with other senior secretarial positions, such as the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.[3] In 1977, the Morarji Desai-led government downgraded the post and redesignated it as the Director of R&AW. This change was reversed in 1986 by the Rajiv Gandhi-led government, reinstating the original designation of Secretary (Research).[3]

The Secretary (Research) is appointed by the Prime Minister of India in consultation with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for an initial term of two years, with the possibility of extension if the officeholder's service is deemed fit for continuation.[4][5] The longest-serving Secretary was R. N. Kao, who led the agency from its inception in 1968 until his retirement in 1977. Although R&AW has its own specialised cadre, the Research and Analysis Service (RAS), most of the organization's chiefs have traditionally been drawn from the Indian Police Service (IPS), a practice that has occasionally faced criticism. To date, only N. F. Suntook and Vikram Sood have served as R&AW chiefs without coming from the IPS cadre.[6]

Powers and responsibilities

The Secretary of R&AW heads the entire organisation and oversees its operations, administration, and coordination with other security and intelligence agencies.[7] The role includes:

Emolument, accommodation and perquisites

The Secretary of R&AW holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. The post is accompanied by:

  • Official residence.
  • Security cover as per central government rules.
  • Eligibility for a diplomatic or official passport for foreign travel.
  • Salary as per Pay Level 17 of the 7th Pay Commission.[16]
Secretary, R&AW monthly pay and allowances
Base Salary (Per month) Pay Matrix Level
₹225,000 (US$2,700)[17] Pay Level 17

List of Secretaries of R&AW

Secretary (Research)
No. Name Cadre Took office Left office Notes
1 R. N. Kao Imperial Police (IP) 1968 1977 • Founder of R&AW and ARC and first Secretary (R).[7]
• Led intelligence efforts during the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict.[18]
• Participated in Operation Smiling Buddha and the 1975 annexation of Sikkim.[18]
Director, R&AW
2 K. Sankaran Nair Imperial Police (IP) 1977 1977 • Assisted in the establishment of Ghana's FSRB with R. N. Kao.[19]
• Organized intelligence operations during 1971 India-Pakistan conflict prior to appointment.[20]
• Resigned in protest after degradation of Secretary (R) to Director, R&AW.[3]
3 N. F. Suntook Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS) 1977 1983 Founder Director of RRC (Radio Research Centre), ETS
• Executed Operation Lal Dora
4 Girish Chandra Saxena Indian Police Service (IPS) 1983 1986 • Collaborated with the Intelligence Agencies of United States, the erstwhile USSR, China, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, etc.
• Kanishka Bombing
• Operation Blue Star
Secretary (Research)
5 S. E. Joshi Indian Police Service (IPS) 1986 1987 • Continued collaboration with Intelligence Agencies
• During his tenure, the post of Director of R&AW was re-designated as Secretary (R), and this designation has continued since then.
6 A. K. Verma 1987 1990 • Operation Cactus
• Indian Peace Keeping Force
7 G. S. Bajpai 1990 1991 Counter Insurgency operations
8 N. Narasimhan 1991 1993
9 J. S. Bedi 1993 1993 • Shortest serving Secretary (R) with a tenure of only four months; was not given extension.[3]
10 A. S. Syali 1993 1996 • Led intelligence collection efforts in Tibet during initial years of his career; not much other information known.[21]
11 Ranjan Roy 1996 1997 • Transferred from IB to R&AW.[22]
• Tenure marked by emphasis on Pakistan and Afghanistan affairs.[22]
12 Arvind Dave IPS (1962: Madhya Pradesh)[23] 1997 1999 • Was Secretary (R) during 1999 Kargil conflict; later testified before the Kargil Review Committee for mismanagement of intelligence operations.[24][25]
13 A. S. Dulat IPS (1965: Rajasthan)[26] 1999 2000 • Was Special Director, IB and transferred to R&AW prior to appointment.[24]
• Negotiated with IC 814 hijackers[27][28]
• Tenure market with deep engagement in Kashmir affairs.[26]
14 Vikram Sood IPoS (1966)
Absorbed into RAS[23] 		13 December 2000 31 March 2003 • Was Secretary (R) during the 2001 Parliament attack.[29]
• One of the few Secretary (R) to appointed from a non-IPS stream.[23]
15 C. D. Sahay IPS (1967: Karnataka)[30] 1 April 2003 31 January 2005 • Participated in negotiations to end 2001 IC 814 hijack prior to appointment.[30]
• First-ever Secretary (R) to be trained in Israel.[3]
• Was Secretary (R) during Rabinder Singh defection scandal.[31]
16 P. K. H. Tharakan IPS (1968: Kerala)[32] 1 February 2005 31 January 2007 • Investigated the 2001 IC 814 hijack.[32]
• Negotiated the end of Nepalese Civil War and helped warring parties to sign the Comprehensive Peace Accord.[33]
17 Ashok Chaturvedi IPS (1970: Madhya Pradesh)[34] 1 February 2007 31 January 2009 • Tenure marred by alleged decay of institutional decorum.[35]


• Investigated officer from Sri Lankan station accused of indiscipline.[36]

18 K. C. Verma IPS (1971: Jharkhand)[37] 1 February 2009 30 December 2010 • Permanent deputation from IB.[38]
• Was Secretary (Security) to Cabinet Secretariat and Internal Security Advisor to Home Ministry prior to appointment.[38]
• Spearheaded investigation of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks.[39]
19 Sanjeev Tripathi IPS (1972: Uttar Pradesh)
Absorbed into RAS[40] 		30 December 2010 29 December 2012 • Previously head of ARC prior to appointment.[41]
20 Alok Joshi IPS (1976: Haryana)[42] 30 December 2012 30 December 2014 • Joint Director, IB prior to appointment.[42]
• Appointed Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board in 2025.[42]
21 Rajinder Khanna RAS (1978)[43] 31 December 2014 31 December 2016 • Specialized in counter-terror operations at R&AW.[44]
• Appointed as Deputy NSA in 2018; promoted to Assistant NSA in 2024.[45][46]
22 Anil Dhasmana IPS (1981: Madhya Pradesh) 1 January 2017 29 June 2019[47] • Led intelligence efforts during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.[48]
• Served as Chairman, NTRO between 2020 and 2023.[49]
23 Samant Goel IPS (1984: Punjab)[50] 1 July 2019 30 June 2023 • Led R&AW's operations wing prior to appointment.[50]
• Led intelligence efforts during the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrikes.[51]
24 Ravi Sinha IPS (1988: Chhattisgarh)[52] 1 July 2023 30 June 2025 • Led R&AW's operations wing prior to appointment.[52]
• Provided emphasis on technical intelligence collection capabilities.[53]
25 Parag Jain IPS (1989: Punjab)[54] 1 July 2025 Incumbent • Handled R&AW's Pakistan desk; served in Kashmir during abrogation of Article 370 and 35A.[55]
• Led ARC during Operation Sindoor prior to appointment.[56]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Research and Analysis Wing [RAW]". fas.org. Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  2. ^ "R. N. Kao". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 13 April 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2006.
  3. ^ a b c d e "A RAW hand". www.rediff.com. 2 February 2005.
  4. ^ "Brain behind Operation Sindoor, IPS Parag Jain is new RAW Chief". www.thehindu.com. 28 June 2025.
  5. ^ "RAW chief Goel could be longest-serving in decades, but Modi govt undecided on another extension". theprint.in. 16 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Who will succeed RAW chief Vikram Sood?". Rediff. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  7. ^ a b "No IPS officer should head RAW, chief should be PM's choice — Indira Gandhi told RN Kao". theprint.in. 25 December 2019.
  8. ^ Bhatt, Sheela (2 April 2003). "New R&AW chief is first to be trained in Israel". Rediff.com. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  9. ^ "India's Enduring Challenge of Intelligence Reforms". www.orfonline.or. 9 December 2020.
  10. ^ Prahladan, Vivek (6 January 2017). "Declassified: How India Tracked Pakistan's Development of a Nuclear Device". The Diplomat.
  11. ^ "Strategic Policy Group - Evolution of Integrated National Security Structure". www.vifindia.org. 25 October 2018.
  12. ^ Raina, Asoka (1981). Inside RAW: the story of India's secret service. New Delhi: Vikas. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7069-1299-9. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016.
  13. ^ "ACC Approvals". pib.gov.in. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. ^ Laxmikanth, M. (2014). Governance in India (2nd ed.). Noida: McGraw-Hill Education (published 25 August 2014). pp. 3.16 – 3.17. ISBN 978-9339204785.
  15. ^ "Unmasking India's IB and RAW". moderndiplomacy.eu.com. 27 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Army Pay Rules, 2017" (PDF). Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission of India" (PDF). Seventh Central Pay Commission, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  18. ^ a b Bajoria, Jayshree (7 November 2008). "RAW: India's External Intelligence Agency". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  19. ^ Paliwal, Avinash (22 February 2021). "Colonial Sinews of Postcolonial Espionage - India and the Making of Ghana's External Intelligence Agency, 1958-61". The International History Review. 44 (4): 914–934. doi:10.1080/07075332.2021.1888768. ISSN 0707-5332.
  20. ^ "Former RAW chief Shankaran Nair passes away". www.thehindu.com. 17 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Those Magnificent Kaoboys On Mule-Back". www.outlookindia.com. 17 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b "A hero of Indian intelligence passes away". www.rediff.com. 30 November 2007.
  23. ^ a b c "Who will succeed RAW chief Vikram Sood?". www.rediff.com. 21 January 2003.
  24. ^ a b "CHANGE OF GUARD AT FIASCO-HIT RAW". www.telegraphindia.com. 27 July 1999.
  25. ^ "KARGIL PANEL QUIZZES EX-RAW CHIEF". www.telegraphindia.com. 27 October 1999.
  26. ^ a b "Newsmaker: A S Dulat, the 'spy' who never left Kashmir". indianexpress.com. 22 April 2025.
  27. ^ 'Advani pressed for release of terrorist', Hindustan Times, Saturday, 18 April 2009, Page 1
  28. ^ "Kashmir After Kandahar". Hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  29. ^ "R N Kao, India's legendary Spymaster". www.rediff.com. 17 October 2019.
  30. ^ a b "C D Sahay to head RAW". www.rediff.com. 15 March 2003.
  31. ^ "Did the CIA help Rabinder Singh flee?". www.rediff.com. 3 February 2005.
  32. ^ a b "New RAW chief was an 'insider'". indiatimes.com. 26 January 2005.
  33. ^ "The Fierce One". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  34. ^ "RAW chief gets a deputy". www.rediff.com. 1 April 2005.
  35. ^ "The walking-talking disaster of a spy chief". The New Indian Express. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  36. ^ "Infighting in RAW led to officer's recall", Sify News, 8 October 2007
  37. ^ "Former cops, dissidents on defaulter list". www.telegraphindia.com. 31 October 2011.
  38. ^ a b "K C Verma Moves in as New Chief of RAW". news.outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  39. ^ "Can its new chief turn R&AW around?". Rediff.com. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  40. ^ "Sanjeev Tripathi to be new RAW chief". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 26 December 2010.
  41. ^ "Sanjeev Tripathi to head RAW". 26 December 2010. 25 December 2010.
  42. ^ a b c "Who is Alok Joshi? Here's why former RAW chief was picked to lead the NSAB". www.theweek.in. 30 April 2025.
  43. ^ "Rajinder Khanna appointed R&AW Chief". indianmandarins.com. 20 December 2014.
  44. ^ PT, I. "Rajinder Khanna named new RAW chief". DNA. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  45. ^ "Rajinder Khanna made additional NSA, Ravichandran is new deputy NSA". theprint.in. 2 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Doval's supporting hands are seasoned spymasters—Rajinder Khanna, Pankaj Singh and Ravichandran". www.theweek.in. 4 July 2024.
  47. ^ Approvals of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Press Information Bureau, 26 June 2019, archived copy
  48. ^ "ormer RAW Head Anil Dhasmana Appointed as Chief of NTRO". www.news18.com/news. 18 September 2020.
  49. ^ "Former RAW chief Anil Dhasmana appointed as new chief of National Technical Research Organisation". www.indiatoday.in. 19 September 2020.
  50. ^ a b "Samant Goel, who played key role in Balakot strikes, is new RAW chief". www.newindianexpress.com. 27 June 2019.
  51. ^ "Balakot air strikes planner is new R&AW chief, Kashmir expert appointed IB chief". www.hindustantimes.com. 26 July 2019.
  52. ^ a b "RAW's Ravi Sinha who headed operations is now agency's new chief". indianexpress.com. 20 June 2023.
  53. ^ "India's New RAW Chief Ravi Sinha Is A Tech-Savvy Operations Expert". www.ndtv.com. 19 June 2023.
  54. ^ "Parag Jain, 1989-batch IPS officer, appointed R&AW secretary". Hindustan Times. 28 June 2025. Event occurs at 1:14 PM.
  55. ^ "Parag Jain, seasoned intelligence officer with key role in Op Sindoor, is new R&AW chief". theprint.in. 28 June 2025.
  56. ^ "Brain behind Operation Sindoor, 1989-batch officer Parag Jain appointed new R&AW chief". indianexpress.com. 29 June 2025.
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