‘Gentle & Firm' Parag Jain To Be R&AW Chief: Peers Recount Journey From Punjab Cadre To Spy Agency

News18

a day ago

Parag Jain will take over as the chief of R&AW, India's external intelligence agency, on July 1
Parag Jain, an 1989 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre who has been announced as the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief designate, has always been known among his peers and seniors as 'measured, soft-spoken, and visibly repulsed by violence, abuse, or any form of custodial excess".
Years ago, at the police academy, the moment Jain's allotment to the Punjab cadre was announced, a few heads turned. For some of his batchmates and a few squadmates, more than a surprise it was a quiet concern. Punjab in the early 90s was still ravaged and scarred by years of militancy, and a politically volatile administration, bruised by decades of armed conflict. The concern was how a 'soft spoken" person like Jain, with degrees from India's elite college, would face and manage such a situation, a senior IPS officer, and one of Jain's batchmates told News18, grinning broadly as he spoke.
'However, the assumptions did not last long. He adapted, observed, and absorbed, not by becoming hardened, but by learning to be strategic, deliberate, and quietly effective. Slowly and systematically, he was known as one of the most efficient officers in Punjab and also taken in the CM security team quickly. He rose through his ranks really fast," added his batchmate.
Jain, believed to have overseen India's intelligence gathering and aerial reconnaissance during Operation Sindoor, has been the government's preferred choice for the position. Interestingly, Jain will succeed his batchmate Ravi Sinha, the current chief of R&AW from the same batch, which is a rare instance in IPS.
'I feel elated and extremely proud to have trained not one but both the incumbent Ravi Sinha and the designated R&AW chiefs. Parag's journey, starting from the training grounds of the Academy to the top of India's intelligence—reflects the kind of discipline, character, and resolve we always hoped to instil. His position today is matched only by the reputation he's earned. It is well-deserved," he said.
THE OTHER FACE OF GRIT
His batch-mates and peers called Jain's toughness of a 'different kind". 'He has always been an officer with a brilliant mind, who never fell prey to provocation or acted in haste. His actions have always been calculated and calibrated," they said.
Jain has held multiple key positions in Punjab during its peak militancy crisis, serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and later as Deputy Inspector General (DIG). He has also handled critical assignments on the Pakistan desk at R&AW and was stationed in Jammu and Kashmir during the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
He is called a 'Pakistan expert" in bureaucratic and security circles. His overseas stints include several intelligence and diplomatic roles in Sri Lanka and Canada, where he was tasked to track Khalistani terror networks. Throughout his career, Jain has occupied several high-stakes and crucial roles in national security and foreign intelligence In the chaos of post-insurgency policing in Punjab, Jain stood apart. His colleagues rarely saw him raising his voice, or rushing to dominate a situation, or playing to the gallery. Instead, he built a reputation for unshakable composure, even in the most testing situations. Officers who worked under him recall how his presence often changed the tempo of the team.
NOW THE SPY CHIEF
On July 1, Jain will take over as the chief of India's external intelligence agency, R&AW — the most discreet, and arguably the most critical post in India's security architecture. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Jain's journey from the field to the shadows has been shaped by precision, intellect, and quiet resilience.
He currently heads the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), a critical and crucial arm of R&AW. He is often credited with playing a pivotal role during Operation Sindoor, supplying intelligence and location details which enabled precision missile strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. In a rare moment of institutional continuity, Jain now follows a fellow officer from his own training batch, and becomes the second consecutive RAW chief from that cohort.
His years of experience and work in the intelligence community have been marked by a consistent emphasis on planning over posturing. Known to be meticulous and deeply strategic, he listens more than he speaks, asks questions that unsettle more than confront, and never moves without a map. 'Even his instincts feel like they've been edited down to essentials," noted a colleague who worked with him on national security planning.
About the Author
Madhuparna Das
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa...Read More
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First Published:
June 29, 2025, 13:58 IST