Ex-R&AW Chief Rajinder Khanna Appointed New Additional NSA

The government has recently strengthened the National Security Council (NSC) by making several high-profile appointments. Former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Rajinder Khanna has been promoted to Additional National Security Adviser (NSA). T V Ravichandran and Pavan Kapoor have also been appointed as Deputy NSAs.

Background of Rajinder Khanna

Rajinder Khanna is a 1978-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre. He served as the R&AW Chief from December 2014 to December 2016. Khanna was appointed deputy NSA in January 2018, where he headed the Technology and Intelligence (T&I) section. Known for his expertise on Pakistan and terrorism, Khanna also led the operations desk in R&AW.

New Deputy NSAs

  • T V Ravichandran: A 1990-batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu Cadre, currently serving as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau.
  • Pavan Kapoor: Former Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Leadership of the National Security Council

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with NSA Ajit Doval serving as its secretary. Doval, a 1968-batch IPS officer, has been India’s NSA since 2014 and is a key aide to the Prime Minister, especially on policy matters. Doval has advocated for jointness and interoperability among central armed police forces, similar to the ongoing plans for the defense forces.

Piyush Shukla

Recent Posts

Top 10 States with Smart City Projects in India (2025 Update)

India’s Smart Cities Mission (SCM), launched in 2015, is entering its final stretch with an…

11 mins ago

November 2025 Month Current Affairs PDF

Welcome to the November 2025 Edition of the Affairs PDF – your all-inclusive monthly guide to…

42 mins ago

RBI’s ₹1 Trillion OMO Purchase: What It Means and Why It Matters

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced two major liquidity measures, a ₹1 trillion…

54 mins ago

Which Animal is Known as the Unicorn of the Sea? Know the Name

The ocean is full of amazing and mysterious creatures, many of which are rarely seen…

60 mins ago

Putin Receives Grand Ceremonial Welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan During India Visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2025 state visit to India marked a major diplomatic milestone, reviving…

1 hour ago

MEITY & MEA Enable Paperless Passport Verification via DigiLocker

In a major boost to Digital India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY)…

2 hours ago