A 1988-batch IPS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, Ravi Sinha will be India’s new Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Chief. He is currently serving as Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, on central deputation.
Mr. Sinha will have a two-year tenure, a Personnel ministry order mentioned. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has already approved Sinha’s appointment.
The senior IPS officer is often credited with adopting modern technology in the field for gathering information in RAW. He has been working as the Chief of the Operational Division in RAW for the last seven years.
He will replace Samant Kumar Goel, a 1984-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, who had a successful tenure as RAW Chief, with multiple extensions.
Mr Goel’s tenure, that will be completed on June 30, saw Balakot Airstrike in Pakistan, peaceful Article 370 abrogation in Jammu & Kashmir, and action against designated Pakistani and Khalistani terrorists. His tenure as RAW Chief was full of achievements.
Mr. Sinha’s appointment comes amidst the recent tensions along the border with China, and the government’s commitment to strengthen India’s intelligence apparatus and ensure smooth continuity on key posts.
A low profile officer, he is an alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He is widely respected in the intelligence community for his professional competence. He has worked in many fields, and will enter the domain with a wealth of experience and knowledge in his new role.
He is known to have a good grasp of developments in the neighborhood apart from Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and Left Wing extremists affected regions, where he has worked at different point of time. This enables him to integrate technological and human intelligence dimensions to work together to address the challenges of our times.
Incidentally, Tapan Deka, the current Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), is also of 1988 batch and was the Chief of Operations in the IB for many years.
The government order also stated: “The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Rajiv Sinha, IPS, Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, as Secretary, Research and Analysis Wing vice Samant Goel on completion of his tenure on June 30, 2023, for a tenure of two years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”
The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was established on 21 September 1968. Its main functions are foreign intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, advising Indian policy makers and advancing India’s foreign strategic interests. Prior to the establishment of the Research and Analysis Wing, foreign intelligence collection was primarily the responsibility of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), which was created by the Government of India during the British Raj.
RAW is also involved in the security of India’s nuclear programme.
