Rajinder Khanna

Rajinder Khanna is a senior Indian intelligence officer and government official known for his service in the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)—India’s external intelligence agency—and for his contributions to national security, intelligence coordination, and strategic affairs. Over a career spanning several decades, Khanna has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s external intelligence capabilities, counter-terrorism strategies, and foreign policy coordination from a security perspective.

Early Life and Education

Rajinder Khanna was born in 1954 in India. Details about his early life remain limited due to the confidential nature of his profession. However, it is known that he pursued higher education at Delhi University, where he completed a Master’s degree in Physics. Before joining the intelligence community, he worked as a scientist, demonstrating an analytical and methodical mindset that would later serve him well in intelligence operations and strategic analysis.

Entry into Intelligence and Early Career

Rajinder Khanna joined the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in 1978, one of India’s most critical intelligence organisations responsible for external intelligence and counter-espionage. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, holding multiple key operational and analytical positions.
His early assignments included work in technical intelligence, counter-terrorism, and covert operations, particularly concerning India’s western and neighbouring regions. He became known within the agency for his deep understanding of Pakistan-based terrorist networks and for developing analytical frameworks that enhanced India’s threat assessment and counter-terror operations.

Director of the Research and Analysis Wing (2014–2016)

In December 2014, Rajinder Khanna was appointed as the Secretary (Research) and the Chief of R&AW, succeeding Alok Joshi. His tenure as head of India’s premier external intelligence agency lasted until December 2016.
During his leadership, Khanna focused on:

• Modernisation and technological upgrades in intelligence gathering.
• Counter-terrorism intelligence concerning cross-border infiltration and Pakistan-based groups.
• Strengthening India’s intelligence coordination with key global partners, including the United States, Israel, and other strategic allies.
• Enhancing R&AW’s operational integration with the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and domestic intelligence agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Khanna’s approach was marked by discretion, professional discipline, and an emphasis on intelligence-led decision-making rather than reactive responses. His tenure was particularly significant given the geopolitical shifts in South Asia during that period, including the rise of asymmetric warfare and increasing digital intelligence operations.

Later Roles in National Security

After retiring as R&AW chief in 2016, Rajinder Khanna continued to serve the Indian government in strategic and advisory capacities.
In January 2018, he was appointed as Deputy National Security Adviser (Deputy NSA) under Ajit Doval, within the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). In this role, he was responsible for:

• Coordinating national intelligence assessments.
• Overseeing counter-terrorism and strategic security initiatives.
• Advising the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on intelligence and defence matters.
• Strengthening inter-agency coordination among India’s security and intelligence establishments.

His expertise in external intelligence, particularly concerning South Asia and the Middle East, has continued to inform India’s national security policy.

Expertise and Contributions

Rajinder Khanna’s professional expertise extends across multiple dimensions of security and intelligence work:

• Counter-Terrorism: He is regarded as one of India’s foremost experts on Pakistan-based terrorist organisations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. His analytical work contributed to developing pre-emptive counter-terror strategies and intelligence-based security operations.
• Technical and Cyber Intelligence: With a background in science and technology, Khanna advocated for modernising India’s intelligence infrastructure, emphasising signals intelligence (SIGINT), cyber surveillance, and satellite-based monitoring.
• Strategic Intelligence Coordination: He has worked on enhancing inter-agency collaboration between the military, intelligence, and diplomatic sectors, ensuring cohesive national responses to external threats.
• International Cooperation: Khanna promoted greater collaboration with global intelligence partners, aligning India’s security strategies with shared international objectives against terrorism and cyber threats.

His analytical acumen and discretion have earned him respect within India’s security establishment as a professional who combined operational insight with strategic foresight.

Legacy within R&AW

Rajinder Khanna’s tenure as R&AW chief was notable for its emphasis on institutional strengthening and internal reform. He is credited with reinforcing professionalism within the organisation and improving the agency’s technological competence.
His leadership came at a time when intelligence agencies globally were adapting to the digital age—where threats no longer arose solely from state actors but also from non-state groups, cyber networks, and hybrid warfare. Under his direction, R&AW began shifting its focus towards data analytics, real-time intelligence sharing, and covert digital operations.
Khanna also maintained a low public profile, consistent with the ethos of intelligence work, focusing instead on results-oriented operations and policy inputs.

Views and Public Engagements

Though largely private, Rajinder Khanna has occasionally expressed his perspectives on national security through public forums and academic events after his retirement. He has spoken about:

• The need for technological integration in intelligence agencies.
• The importance of multi-agency cooperation to address cross-domain threats.
• Challenges posed by cyber warfare, radicalisation, and terrorism.

His insights continue to influence scholarly discussions on India’s intelligence structure and reforms.

Recognition and Impact

While intelligence officers rarely receive public awards due to the classified nature of their work, Rajinder Khanna’s long-standing service has earned him a reputation as one of India’s most capable intelligence professionals. Within policy and security circles, he is regarded as a key figure in the evolution of India’s external intelligence operations in the twenty-first century.
His career represents the professionalisation and modernisation of India’s intelligence services—from traditional field operations to technologically integrated and globally connected systems.

Personal Traits and Professional Ethos

Colleagues describe Rajinder Khanna as analytical, composed, and discreet—qualities that are central to the practice of intelligence. His scientific background and decades of operational experience shaped his methodical approach to problem-solving and strategic planning.
He is also known for encouraging younger officers to blend traditional intelligence techniques with modern technology and inter-disciplinary analysis, reflecting his forward-looking outlook on national security.