NEW DELHI: Seasoned IPS officer Parag Jain, a specialist on Pakistan and China, was appointed to lead the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), on the back of his pivotal role in the collection of crucial intelligence which shaped the precise execution of Operation Sindoor.The Centre issued an order Saturday in this regard after the Cabinet approved Jain’s appointment, ushering in a new tech-focused era for India’s external intelligence agency. He will have a two-year tenure after taking over on July 1. A 1989-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, Jain succeeds Ravi Sinha, who retires June 30.Jain, currently heading the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) in the agency, is known within the agency as “a man who listens” and “who gets things done,” people who know him closely said. “He is a field-tested man who has sharp thinking and operates in silence without much hullabaloo,” said an officer.Jain was the field commissioner in the cabinet secretariat (official name for RAW) and posted in Jammu during the air strikes in Balakot and abrogation of Article 370. His key stints were in Nepal, Canada, where his team tracked Khalistani outfits and their members, and in Sri Lanka during its economic crisis.“In his new role, he will prioritise leveraging technology for advanced intelligence collection, monitoring diaspora communities, and developing strategies to counter hybrid warfare tactics, particularly in response to the escalating threats of disinformation warfare posed by China and Pakistan,” a govt officer said.With experience in leading the Pakistan and Canada desks, Jain has been an asset for the agency for the last 14 years, spearheading many technical-and-human-intelligence-based operations, sources said.As chief of ARC in the cabinet secretariat, Jain is credited with the introduction of new technology in unmanned surveillance using drones, besides aerial monitoring to support special operations.While Jain has his task cut out as the head of the agency, China and Pakistan post-Op Sindoor are being considered his key focus areas. His appointment is also being seen as a strong message to Canada. Jain found himself in Canada’s crosshairs following the assassination of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Prior to joining RAW, Jain had a distinguished policing career in Punjab, serving in prominent positions such as senior superintendent of police in Chandigarh, deputy inspector general of Ludhiana Range, and SP of Patiala, Mansa, and Bhatinda districts.
