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Parag Jain is new R&AW chief: From Khalistani threat to Operation Sindoor, the man who delivers during crises
Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, is the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)
India gets a new Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief today (July 1). Parag Jain, who played a big part in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, takes over from Ravi Sinha, who retired on Monday (June 30).
Parag Jain is known as a soft-spoken gentleman. But one who is 'repulsed by violence and abuse', his colleagues and peers tell CNN-News18.
Before his elevation to the top post, Jain served as the head of the technical wing of the R&AW, the Aviation Research Centre (ARC). He's a Pakistan expert, has taken on Khalistani networks, and now follows a fellow officer from his batch to take on the top job in India's external intelligence agency.
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Here's how the IPS officer rose through to ranks to lead R&AW.
From Punjab militancy to Khalistani threat, Parag Jain's many achievements
Jain is a 1989-batch IPS officer who was allotted to the Punjab cadre. The early 90s were a time when the state was reeling from years of militancy. There was concern among batchmates back in the day whether the softspoken cop who studied at the elite St Stephen's College would cope. But their worries were misplaced.
Jain was soon inducted into the security team of the Punjab chief minister. He also played an operational role as the state battled militancy, serving in Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur. He was appointed as the senior superintendent of police in Chandigarh and the deputy inspector general in Ludhiana, reports Hindustan Times.
'He [Jain] 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,' a senior IPS officer and one of Jain's batchmates told CNN-News18.
In post-insurgency Punjab, Jain gained the reputation of being calm and composed in the most intense situations. He rarely raised his voice or rushed to dominate a situation, the report says. Today, his juniors remember how his presence helped in steering the team.
Parag Jain, 1989 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre is set to lead Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
He has worked closely with Samant Goel, former chief of R&AW. pic.twitter.com/Qzj03cRGpp — Sheela Bhatt शीला भट्ट (@sheela2010) June 28, 2025
The assignments that followed were equally challenging, if not more. Jain served as an Indian representative in Canada and Sri Lanka. During his posting in Canada, he monitored Khalistan terror networks and warned India about their growing threat.
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He was India's station chief in Sri Lanka at a time when the country saw a regime change. The public protests triggered by the economic crisis forced Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave office in July 2022. Elections were held two years later in September 2024, when Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected as the new president.
The two years of political turmoil were a sensitive time, and this is when Jain served in Sri Lanka. He oversaw India's intelligence assessment and helped determine how New Delhi engaged with Colombo during this crisis.
Over the years, the officer has held various positions related to national security and foreign intelligence.
A specialist in counter-terrorism
Jain was posted in Jammu and Kashmir and played a crucial role in the Indian government's counter-terrorism strategy. He was posted in the Union Territory during Operation Balakot in February 2019, when India launched airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan's Balakot, and the Abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. It was an intense time in the region, and intel operations were the key to ensuring stability.
Even as the head of R&AW's Aviation Research Centre, he was responsible for the Pakistan desk, which monitors activities of the enemy nation.
Indian Air Force officers, who participated in the Balakot airstrike, fly 3 Mirage 2000 aircraft and 2 Su-30 MKI fighter planes in 'Avenger formation', during the 87th Indian Air Force Day Parade, at Hindon airbase, in Ghaziabad, on October 8, 2019. Jain was posted in Jammu and Kashmir during the Balakot airstrikes. File photo/PTI
The new R&AW chief's role in Operation Sindoor
Over the years, Jain came to be known as a 'super sleuth' within intelligence circles. He is an expert in combining human intelligence with technical intelligence, which has helped in several high-take operations.
One of his biggest contributions to India is the role he played during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. The intel inputs, including location details, provided by R&AW under Jain's leadership, helped precision missile strikes on terror camps and hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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Years of groundwork and network building resulted in tracking down and pinpointing targets with such accuracy. His extensive experience working in Jammu and Kashmir proved favourable, according to a report in India Today.
The 'hardworking', 'hands-on' officer
Jain is a diligent, hardworking and hands-on officer, say his seniors and peers. He is meticulous, more of a listener than a speaker, and one who asks the right questions.
Mohd Mustafa, a 1985-batch IPS officer who has worked with Jain, told The Indian Express, 'Parag is a good officer and a thorough gentleman. He is hard working, hands-on and a professional officer.'
Jain's quiet efficiency often finds a mention in conversations about him. '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,' those who know told News18.
A general view of a damaged portion of a building, after it was hit by an Indian strike, in Muridke near Lahore, Pakistan May 7. Jain played a big part in Operation Sindoor. Reuters
S Ramakrishnan, a retired IPS officer who trained Jain in the police academy, remembers his dedication. 'He did not easily give up and was determined to see his training tasks through to completion. He was not the most athletic at the start, not from a sporting background, but he worked tirelessly to meet and exceed the physical and professional standards we set. His rise is not just about rank, but about quiet, consistent achievement,' he told the publication.
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'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,' Ramakrishnan said.
It's all these qualities that will hold the new R&AW chief in good stead as he takes on his most challenging role to date. After all, the road ahead is a tough one, as India faces several security and strategic challenges in a volatile neighbourhood. But Jain, who is always with a map, is set to find his way.
With inputs from agencies
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