The Spy Who Rises: Parag Jain, Sindoor Strategist, Set to Helm RA&W

Parag Jain, the counterterror operations strategist behind key decisions for India's high-risk counterterror operations, will become the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) from July 1, 2025. Jain, an IPS man from the Punjab cadre batch of 1989, will succeed Ravi Sinha for two years, assuming charge at a decisive point for India's national security.

 

Key Highlights:

 

•⁠  ⁠Mastermind of Operation Sindoor: Jain is also the mastermind of 'Operation Sindoor,' in which targeted intelligence directed Indian troops to strike terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba command centers.

 

•⁠  ⁠HUMINT and TECHINT expertise: Renowned for integrating technical and human intelligence harmoniously, Jain previously led the Aviation Research Centre, which was involved in aerial surveillance, signals intelligence, and border watch.

 

•⁠  ⁠Counterterrorism Veteran: His service is characterized by frontline assignments in Punjab at the height of militancy, and sensitive postings in Jammu & Kashmir at the time of the abrogation of Article 370.

 

•⁠  ⁠International Experience: Jain has worked at Indian missions in Sri Lanka and Canada, where he oversaw Khalistani extremists and consolidated India's external intelligence stance.

 

•⁠  ⁠Strategic Leadership: His appointment is timely in the context of India being confronted with changing cross-border terrorism, regional instability, and complex geopolitical dynamics.

 

Prognosis Being a no-nonsense, results-driven administrator, Parag Jain will most probably lead the modernization campaign within R&AW and reinforce India's intelligence edge in a changing security landscape.

 

Sources: Indian Express, Economic Times, Times of India