Research and Analysis Wing

"R&AW" redirects here. For other use, see RAW (disambiguation).

Research and Analysis Wing
Foreign Intelligence Wing overview
Formed21 September 1968; 56 years ago (1968-09-21)
HeadquartersCGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Delhi, India[1]
MottoDharmō Rakṣati Rakṣitaḥ (ISO)
transl. "Dharma protects, When it is protected"[2]
EmployeesClassified[3]
Annual budgetClassified
Minister responsible
Foreign Intelligence Wing executive
Child agencies
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The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is the foreign intelligence agency of India. The agency's primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, advising Indian policymakers, and advancing India's foreign strategic interests.[4][5] It is also involved in the security of India's nuclear programme.[6][5]

During the nine-year tenure of its first Secretary, Rameshwar Nath Kao, R&AW quickly came to prominence in the global intelligence community, playing a role in major events such as accession of the state of Sikkim to India in 1975.[7] Headquartered in New Delhi, R&AW's current chief is Ravi Sinha.[8][9] The head of R&AW is designated as the Secretary (Research) in the Cabinet Secretariat, and is under the authority of the Prime Minister of India without parliamentary oversight. Secretary reports to the National Security Adviser on a daily basis.[10] In 1968, upon its formation, the union government led by the Indian National Congress (INC) adopted the motto Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah.[11]

  1. ^ "Again RAW officer under cloud, IB searches his office, seals computer". The Indian Express. 17 June 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  2. ^ Madhusudan, Harsh (29 May 2023). A New Idea of India: The Civilizational Republic. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5708-084-2.
  3. ^ "Five years after 26/11, Intelligence services still crippled by staff shortage". The Hindu. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. ^ "B-Net:Reference Publications:India, Intelligence and Security:Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security (2004)". Findarticles.com. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Federation of American Scientists". Fas.org. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  6. ^ "RAW: India's External Intelligence Agency". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  7. ^ Malhotra, Jyoti (15 August 2007). "What's the score on India's covert operations". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012.
  8. ^ "IPS officer Ravi Sinha appointed new RAW chief, to succeed Samant Goel". Hindustan Times. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Balakot strategist Samant Goel is new RAW chief, Kashmir expert Arvind Kumar IB director". India Today. 26 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  10. ^ Ranjan, Amitav (26 November 2015). "On govt table: 5-yr term for RAW chief". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  11. ^ Madhusudan, Harsh (29 May 2023). A New Idea of India: The Civilizational Republic. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5708-084-2.