Veteran police officer and former CRPF chief Anish Dayal Singh has been appointed as the new Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA), officials confirmed on Sunday.
A 1988-batch IPS officer of the Manipur cadre, Singh retired from service in December 2024 after a career spanning more than three decades. Before leading two of India’s largest paramilitary forces — the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) — Singh spent nearly 30 years in the Intelligence Bureau (IB), where he built expertise in counter-insurgency and internal security.
Singh’s New Role in National Security
In his new assignment, Singh will oversee internal affairs, including security in Jammu and Kashmir, the fight against Left-Wing Extremism, and insurgency in the Northeast, reported PTI, citing sources.
He will join a team that already includes former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna as Additional NSA, and two other Deputy NSAs — retired IPS officer T.V. Ravichandran and former diplomat Pawan Kapoor.
Leadership Record in CRPF
As Director General of the CRPF, Singh spearheaded several initiatives to reshape the force’s operational efficiency and outreach. He expanded the CRPF’s presence in Maoist-affected areas by establishing more than three dozen forward operating bases and raising four new battalions.
He also oversaw crucial deployments during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after its reorganisation. In a major move, Singh carried out the first realignment of 130 battalions in eight years, cutting the average distance between battalion headquarters and home centres from 1,200 km to 500 km — a step aimed at improving efficiency and giving personnel more “family time.”
He also introduced “Samvaad” sessions with company commanders to gather grassroots feedback, a practice that earned praise within the force.
Policy Push for Paramilitary Forces
Beyond operations, Singh championed a policy granting honorary ranks to retiring Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel — an initiative meant to address stagnation in promotions, with some constables waiting nearly two decades for elevation. The Union government later approved this policy.
Officials say Singh’s appointment as Deputy NSA will draw on his wide-ranging experience in intelligence, counter-insurgency, and organisational reform, making him a key figure in shaping India’s internal security strategy.