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The full form of RAW is Research and Analysis Wing (रिसर्च एंड एनालिसिस विंग). It collects the political, military, economic, and scientific intelligence from outside India and helps in reducing terrorism and covert operations. After the India-China War in 1962 and India-Pakistan War in 1965, India realized the need to form an external Intelligence Agency. As a result, RAW was established on 21st September 1968. It works under the cabinet secretariat and the headquarter is located in New Delhi. The 1st RAW Chief was R.N. Kao and the current RAW chief is Parag Jain.
How to Join RAW?
- Through UPSC exam: The candidate should join the prestigious services(IPS, IFS, IRS) through passing the Civil Services Exam. After a few years in service, the officers may choose for lateral deputation to the cabinet secretariat.
- Recruitment from Armed Forces: The officers from CAPF, Indian Armed Forces(Army, Navy, Air Force) or IB through a special internal department selection.
- Special Recruitment: The officers having expertise in foreign language, cybersecurity, and date analysts are recruited into RAW through a special hiring process.
Objectives of Research and Analysis Wing
- Intelligence Gathering: The primary objective of RAW is to collect the foreign impacts(political, military, and economic) on the national security of India.
- Psychological War: They establish strategic communication and psychological operations in the best interest of their national security.
- Covert Operations: They conduct the covert field operations for the protection of the strategic assets of India and maintaining regional stability.
- Counter Terrorism: RAW helps in monitoring terror financing networks and stopping the external terror threats.
- Nuclear Tracking: They help in tracking the proliferation of nuclear weapons and military assets in neighboring hostile regions.
Ranks and Pay Levels
| S.No. | Rank in RAW | Equivalent Civil / Military Rank | Estimated Pay Level (7th CPC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secretary (R) | Director General of Police (DGP) / General | Level 17 (Rs.2,25,000 fixed) |
| 2 | Special Secretary / Additional Secretary | Additional DGP / Lt. General | Level 15 / 16 (Rs.1,82,200 to Rs. 2,24,100) |
| 3 | Joint Secretary | Inspector General of Police (IGP) / Major General | Level 14 (Rs. 1,44,200 to Rs. 2,18,200) |
| 4 | Deputy Secretary / Director | Deputy Inspector General (DIG) / Brigadier | Level 12 / 13 (Rs.78,800 to Rs. 2,15,900) |
| 5 | Senior Field Officer | Superintendent of Police (SP) / Colonel | Level 11 (Rs.67,700 to Rs.2,08,700) |
| 6 | Field Officer | Deputy SP / Major | Level 10 (Rs.56,100 to Rs.1,77,500) |
| 7 | Deputy Field Officer | Inspector / Captain | Level 7 (Rs.44,900 to Rs.1,42,400) |
| 8 | Assistant Field Officer | Sub-Inspector / Lieutenant | Level 6 (Rs.35,400 to Rs.1,12,400) |
Structure of Organization
| S.No. | Administrative Level | Bureau or Wing | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apex Command | Cabinet Secretariat (PMO) | It reports directly to the Prime Minister through the National Security Advisor (NSA). |
| 2 | Leadership | Secretary (Research) | It heads the overall administrative and operational framework of RAW. |
| 3 | Technical Wing | Aviation Research Centre (ARC) | It manages aerial reconnaissance, signals intelligence, and imagery intelligence. |
| 4 | Special Operations | Special Frontier Force (SFF) | It is a paramilitary commando unit designated for covert mountain warfare. |
| 5 | Operational Desk | Regional Desks | These are dedicated desks for specific geographic regions such as Pakistan, China, West Asia, Europe. |
RAW Chief of India
The chief of Research and Analysis Wing is the secretary rank officer and heads the external intelligence agency under the cabinet secretariat. Parag Jain is currently the Chief of RAW in India. He is a 1989 batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and assumed charge on 1st July 2025 as the 25th secretary of RAW. He succeeded the previous RAW chief Ravi Sinha. However, the first RAW chief was Rameshwar Nath Kao famously known as R.N. Kao.
List of Indian Intelligence Agencies
| S.No. | Agency Name | Scope & Jurisdiction | Key Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) | External Intelligence | Gathering foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism abroad, and strategic analysis. |
| 2 | IB (Intelligence Bureau) | Domestic Intelligence | Counter-intelligence, internal security, border monitoring, and political surveillance inside India. |
| 3 | DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) | Military Intelligence | Coordinating intelligence operations across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. |
| 4 | NTRO (National Technical Research Organisation) | Technical Intelligence | Geospatial gathering, satellite imagery, and cyber-defense security tracking. |
| 5 | NIA (National Investigation Agency) | Counter Terrorism Investigation | Investigating terror attacks, terror-financing networks, and security threats nationwide. |
| 6 | CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) | Criminal & Financial Corruption | Investigating major economic crimes, high-profile corruption, and international criminal cases. |
| 7 | NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) | Drug Law Enforcement | Combating illicit drug trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and transnational drug syndicates. |
FAQs about RAW
What is the full form of RAW?
RAW full form is the Research and Analysis Wing.
What is RAW?
The Research and Analysis Wing(RAW) is the intelligence agency of India that collects and analyses external security related information.
Who was the first chief of RAW?
The first RAW chief was Rameshwar Nath Kao.
Who is the present director of RAW?
The current chief of RAW is Parag Jain.
Where is the RAW headquarter located?
The headquarters of RAW is in New Delhi.
