Born: 1 January 1967 (Nawla village, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh)
Service: Indian Police Service (1989 batch, Punjab cadre)
Current Position: Secretary (Research), Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) — from 1 July 2025 for a two-year term
🎓 Education & Early Service
Parag Jain holds an M.A. in History and an M.B.A. in Public Service from the University of Birmingham. He joined the Punjab Police in 1989, where he rose through the ranks, serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in multiple districts (including Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur) during the militancy phase in Punjab.
🏛️ R&AW & Intelligence Career
- Transferred to R&AW, he held key positions including head of the Pakistan desk and postings in Jammu & Kashmir during major operations such as the Balakot airstrike and the abrogation of Article 370.
- Led a diplomatic-intelligence team in Sri Lanka and later in Canada, focusing on monitoring Khalistani extremist networks.
- Promoted to Director General of Police rank in 2021 while on central deputation.
- Served as Secretary of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC), the aerial surveillance arm of R&AW, overseeing technical-intelligence operations.
📌 Secretary (Research), R&AW
- Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in June 2025 to take over as Secretary (Research)—the head of R&AW—from 1 July 2025 for two years, succeeding Ravi Sinha.
- As Secretary (Research), he oversees India’s premier external intelligence agency under the Cabinet Secretariat, responsible for foreign intelligence, strategic analysis, and counter‑terror intelligence.
🛡️ Notable Operations & Expertise
- Operation Sindoor (May 2025): As head of ARC, he was credited with providing critical intelligence for precision missile strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan-administered territory.
- Recognized for his ability to integrate human intelligence (HUMINT) and technical intelligence (TECHINT), especially in counter-terror and cross-border security contexts.
- Played an important role in addressing security challenges during crises in the Maldives and Bangladesh, aiming to overhaul and strengthen R&AW’s capabilities.
🏅 Recognition & Style
- Awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2005.
- Known as a “super sleuth” in intelligence circles—valued for calmness, analytical precision, and low-profile professionalism.
- Brings vast operational experience in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan affairs, and diaspora-related intelligence.
📝 Summary
Parag Jain is a seasoned intelligence professional whose career spans field policing during militancy, senior R&AW roles, and international intelligence postings. His leadership as Secretary (Research) is expected to reinforce India’s external intelligence machinery and bolster strategic security operations under his guidance.