National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval (IPS:1968:KL) has made significant changes in his National Security Coordination Secretariat team. TV Ravichandran (IPS:1990:TN), Special Director in Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Pawan Kapoor (IFS:1990), Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have been appointed as Deputy National Security Advisors.
Ravichandran’s appointment is initially until his retirement on August 31, 2024 and thereafter he will be re-employed on contract basis as per the rules and norms applicable to Dy NSA.
Ravichandran will replace Rajendra Khanna (IPS:1978:OD), who has been elevated from Dy NSA to Additional NSA. Khanna was appointed to Dy NSA post in 2018. Khanna served as the Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) from December 2014 to December 2016. Prior to this role, he oversaw the operations desk at RAW. He is regarded as an expert in Pakistan affairs and anti-terrorism issues.
Kapoor will replace Vikram Misri (IFS: 1989) who has been appointed as the Foreign Secretary of India.
Pawan Kapoor has extensive experience, having served in various missions abroad for India, in the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s Office. He also worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
Doval will now have an additional NSA and three deputy NSAs working under him. While former Border Security Force (BSF) Chief Pankaj Kumar Singh cantinues as deputy Secretary.
Notably, Doval was appointed as the NSA for the third time by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government.
