The Narendra Modi government named Rajinder Khanna, a 1978 batch RAS officer, as the new chief of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). He will take over from incumbent Alok Joshi, who retires at the end of this month for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Khanna has led many counter-terrorism operations in the external spy agency and is reportedly an expert on Pakistan and Islamic terrorism.
Incidentally, Khanna superseded Arvind Saxena, who was the seniormost officer in the dedicated RAW cadre, after Joshi.
A simultaneous appointment order was issued on Saturday naming Saxena as director and ex-officio special secretary, Aviation Research Centre (ARC), until his retirement on August 31, 2015. Both Saxena and Khanna have served in the R&AW for most part of their careers.
