The Centre on Saturday appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Punjab cadre, as the new chief of India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Jain will serve a two-year term, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose tenure will end on June 30.
Currently the head of the Aviation Research Centre, Jain played a critical role in Operation Sindoor. His leadership during this operation was widely credited for enabling intelligence-led targeting through years of groundwork and covert network development, according to reports.
Who is Parag Jain?
Jain brings to R&AW decades of operational experience. He was active and held key postings in Punjab at the time of terrorism. He later also served as SSP Chandigarh and DIG Ludhiana. Within R&AW, he has handled sensitive Pakistan desks and reportedly had on-ground roles in Jammu & Kashmir during the abrogation of Article 370 and the Balakot air strikes.
His overseas tenures include postings in Canada and Sri Lanka, where he served as India’s intelligence representative. Jain is said to be among the first ones to raise the signal on the surge of Khalistani activities in Canada and its implications on India.
Jain assumes charge at a time when India’s external intelligence setup is under scrutiny for its handling of diplomatic challenges in the Maldives and Bangladesh. With Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir now elevated to Field Marshal and cross-border terror threats rising, Jain’s task will be both urgent and complex.