logo
Parag Jain appointed as new RAW Chief, succeeds Ravi Sinha

Parag Jain appointed as new RAW Chief, succeeds Ravi Sinha

Time of India7 hours ago

The central government has appointed
Parag Jain
, a 1989-batch
Indian Police Service
(IPS) officer of the Punjab cadre, as the next chief of the
Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW), India's external intelligence agency.
Jain will take over from the current chief
Ravi Sinha
, whose tenure concludes on June 30, 2025. The appointment is for a fixed two-year term, with Jain scheduled to assume office on July 1, 2025.
A seasoned intelligence officer, Parag Jain has held various sensitive positions related to
national security
and foreign intelligence. His elevation to the top post of RAW comes at a time when India's external security dynamics remain complex and closely linked to evolving geopolitical developments.

Hashtags

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BJP leaders meet to strengthen party, chalk out strategies to fight against Congress in Karnataka
BJP leaders meet to strengthen party, chalk out strategies to fight against Congress in Karnataka

Time of India

time17 minutes ago

  • Time of India

BJP leaders meet to strengthen party, chalk out strategies to fight against Congress in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leaders in Karnataka met at former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan 's house to chalk out strategies to strengthen the party organisation, expand its outreach, and present a united front against the ruling Congress. The meeting gains significance in light of the upcoming reorganisation of party leadership, including the position of BJP state president, currently held by B Y Vijayendra . Among those present at the meeting were Vijayendra, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, MP Govind Karjol, MLA V Sunil Kumar and some MLAs loyal to party veteran B S Yediyurappa. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo The meeting is being seen as an attempt to project unity within the principal opposition party, which has been facing internal dissent in recent months. "It was just a routine monthly meeting and not a special one. We had a similar meeting last month, and we'll continue to have them regularly," Narayan told reporters here on Saturday. Live Events He said the objective of such meetings was to ensure party leaders remained connected and united. "When Congress MLAs are vocally criticising their own government on the streets, we too must demonstrate greater strength than them," Narayan, who represents the Malleswaram assembly segment, said. Despite the recent expulsion of three dissenting MLAs, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, S T Somashekar, and A Shivaram Hebbar, for six years over anti-party activities, differences continue to simmer within what is often called "the party with a difference". Recently, former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda described the situation in the BJP as "embers beneath the ashes", hinting at underlying unrest that could flare up anytime. Vijayendra, who has been at the centre of the internal tensions, dismissed Gowda's remarks. "In a large party like the BJP, there are bound to be some differences, but there's nothing like 'embers beneath ashes'," said Vijayendra. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka clarified that he could not attend the meeting as he was in New Delhi. "The meeting was originally planned at my residence, but since I was away, it was held at Ashwath Narayan's house," Ashoka told reporters in Mysuru on Saturday. He added that his visit to Delhi was to submit a quarterly report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "I've been asked to submit a report every three months. I will be heading to Delhi again in another three months," he noted.

‘800 kg of explosives': How suicide blast hit military convoy in Pakistan's North Waziristan, killing 14 soldiers
‘800 kg of explosives': How suicide blast hit military convoy in Pakistan's North Waziristan, killing 14 soldiers

Hindustan Times

time18 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘800 kg of explosives': How suicide blast hit military convoy in Pakistan's North Waziristan, killing 14 soldiers

At least 14 soldiers were killed and 25 others, including civilians, injured in a suicide car bombing in northwest Pakistan's North Waziristan district on Saturday, making it one of the deadliest recent attacks in the region. At least 14 soldiers killed in suicide car bombing in Pakistan's North Waziristan.(Representational image/AFP File) The blast struck a military vehicle around lunchtime in Khadi village, despite a curfew that had been imposed in the area to facilitate the movement of security forces. An initial probe found that approximately 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of explosives were used in the bombing, causing severe damage to several nearby houses, according to the news agency Associated Press. Among the injured were 15 soldiers and 10 civilians, including children. However, Pakistan's military, in its official account, put the death toll at 13 soldiers and reported that three civilians had been wounded, the report added. Footage from the scene showed children with bandages lying near shattered glass and debris inside damaged structures. Pakistani Taliban faction Hafiz Gul Bahadur group claims responsibility The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the attack occurred, is home to several banned militant organisations that frequently target security personnel. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban government in Kabul of offering safe haven to these groups, a charge Afghanistan denies. Earlier this year, security analyst Abdullah Khan called the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction as 'more lethal' than the Pakistani Taliban, noting its ongoing rivalry with the main group. Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, had also warned of a resurgence in activity by groups such as Lashkar-e-Islam, which operates out of the region and has contributed to rising militant violence in the country. Earlier in December 2023, at least 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed after militants linked to a Pakistani Taliban affiliate rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a security forces' post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province With AP inputs

Raghu Rai on the symbolic photo that told the story of the Emergency
Raghu Rai on the symbolic photo that told the story of the Emergency

Indian Express

time22 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Raghu Rai on the symbolic photo that told the story of the Emergency

I distinctly remember the day the Emergency was declared. Almost overnight, police presence intensified everywhere. Protesters were put behind bars. I was a photojournalist with The Statesman and every photograph we wanted to publish required government approval. When we were told, 'You can't print this picture,' we would sometimes leave the space blank as an act of defiance. There were several photographs that couldn't be published, including that of political leaders who were arrested and protesters. We devised ways to depict reality, with symbolic representations. For instance, one of my photographs that was published had a man riding a bicycle, taking his daughter somewhere. Behind them stood a few onlookers and a posse of police in a rather empty street — a rare sight for Chandni Chowk, which is usually bustling with people. The caption read, 'Life normal in Chandni Chowk', a blatant fallacy, as nothing was truly normal, which was also evident through the photograph. Since there were no political and cultural activities, I also used the time to travel to villages and to the Himalayas to document life there. We are here in big cities to serve the big guys, but it's crucial to look beyond. I also extensively photographed one particular wall in Old Delhi during this period, running from Daryaganj to Jama Masjid — resulting in the series 'Confessions of a Wall'. That wall seemed to possess a life of its own: a bazaar was held nearby on Sundays, children sketched on it and there were also people who scribbled abuses on it. It was interesting to see how its facade changed. The final nail in the coffin was when the wall gave me the final image of the political situation in the country. Transformed into a political canvas, this wall was plastered with posters after the Emergency was lifted and elections were announced. This included posters of Indira Gandhi urging people to vote for her, and with her now-infamous slogan: 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' — the popular interpretation of 'Do' was her and Sanjay Gandhi. At the time, elections were held on the same day across the country and I had gone to Old Delhi to photograph people standing in queues to cast their votes. By 5 pm voting was over. On my way back, I saw a man collecting posters of political leaders and shoving them into a sack to sell them as raddi (scrap). I instinctively captured that moment. When I showed it to my editor Kuldip Nayar, he appreciated it but declined to publish it, fearing that if Indira Gandhi returned to power, both of us would be jailed. I was not a political writer, but I could feel the pulse of the people. I told him she would not return but he wasn't completely convinced. Frustrated, I tore the photograph and said I would not return to this office. The next afternoon, it was becoming clear that the Congress was losing. Mr Nayar started looking for me but I hadn't gone to the office in protest. He rang up to say the Congress was losing and my photograph can be published on the front page, in five columns. The photograph was published the very next day. When she lost the elections, the Gandhi family realised that you cannot run an ancient civilisation like India by such ruthless measures. Sure enough, the Janata Party couldn't survive long and she came back to power with full freedom for expression and democracy. When wars and terrorism are undeclared and when the Emergency and its parameters are undeclared, there remains an unknown and unmeasurable fear which retards the growth and well-being of the nation. As told to Vandana Kalra

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store