Pakistan expert Punjab Police officer appointed as new RAW chief; second officer from Punjab to get this prestigious post
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ June 28,2025
The 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. Jain, who is a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, will succeed Ravi Sinha. The appointment committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of Parag Jain.
Parag Jain is currently the second senior-most official in R&AW, after outgoing chief Ravi Sinha. Before going on deputation, Jain has played an operational role during Punjab terrorism days serving in Bhatinda, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and was SSP Chandigarh and DIG Ludhiana in the past. Parag Jain has served in Canada and in Sri Lanka as Indian representative.
Jain presently heads the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), the aerial intelligence arm of R&AW responsible for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
As per reports, Jain brings to the top post a reputation for effectively combining human intelligence (HUMINT) with technical intelligence (TECHINT). Jains’ 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.
The R&AW’s role becomes very important considering the fact that Asim Munir has become a Field Marshal with cross border terrorism against India high on his agenda.
Jain has held several key roles throughout his career. He was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab on January 1, 2021, though he was then serving on central deputation and thus received only notional benefits.
Pakistan expert Punjab Police officer appointed as new RAW chief; second officer from Punjab to get this prestigious post. Earlier Samant Kumar Goel, IPS officer of Punjab cadre was appointed as secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) on 26 June 2019 and remained on seat till June 30,2023.
