Modi 3.0 Government / NSA Doval's power increased during the tenure of Modi government, he got the support of these powerful officers

Modi 3.0 Government: In the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the power of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has increased. The central government has deployed two senior officers to assist him. Both these officers included in Doval's team are considered experts in intelligence matters. Both these officers have been associated with the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for a long time. TV Ravichandran, who has been included in Ajit Doval's team, has been appointed Deputy National Security Advisor. Ravichandran was earlier Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Similarly, Deputy National Security Advisor and former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna has been appointed Additional National Security Advisor. Rajinder Khanna, former head of R&AW

Former chief of the country's external intelligence agency R&AW and Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Rajinder Khanna has been promoted to Additional NSA, while TV Ravichandran, a 1990 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, has been made Deputy NSA in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).

Rajinder Khanna is a 1978 batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre. He worked as the head of R&AW from December 2014 to December 2016. He has also headed the R&AW Operations Desk and is known as an expert on Pakistan and terrorism. Khanna was appointed Deputy NSA (T&I) in January 2018.

Intelligence Bureau Special Director Ravichandran

An order issued by the NSCS said that Tamil Nadu cadre IPS Ravichandran is currently the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau and has been appointed as Deputy NSA for a period of 2 years from the date of assuming charge, which will initially last till his retirement date (ie August 31, 2024). After this, Ravichandran will be re-appointed on contract basis.

It is believed that the government wants to maintain continuity in the national security structure by including 2 senior officers in the NSA. Both officers will look after internal security. In such a situation, after the inclusion of 2 new officers in Ajit Doval's team, the workload on the NSA may be reduced somewhat. According to sources, Ajit Doval is now completely free to help PM Modi as other issues related to internal security will be looked after by the additional NSA.

Expert in anti-terrorism matters

Rajinder Khanna, a 1978 batch officer of the Research and Analysis Wing Service (RAS), served as the chief of R&AW from December 2014 to December 2016. Prior to this, Khanna was the head of the operations desk in R&AW and is known for his expertise on Pakistan and counter-terrorism matters. Before being appointed as Deputy NSA in January 2018, Khanna headed the Technology and Intelligence (T&I) section.

Another Deputy NSA in the NSA is Pankaj Singh, who was appointed to this post for 2 years in January last year. Recently, 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Vikram Misri has been appointed as Foreign Secretary. He will replace Vinay Kwatra, who may be sent to the US. He may be appointed as India's Ambassador to the US.

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), working under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with NSA Ajit Doval as its Secretary, acts as the apex body for all matters related to internal and external security.