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Pavan Kumar Rai Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 13, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1 November 1970

Age52 Years

BirthplaceBarabanki, Uttar Pradesh

ProfessionCivil Servant (IPS officer)

NationalityIndian

Pavan Kumar Rai Biography

Pavan Kumar Rai is a 1997-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Punjab cadre who has served in senior policing and diplomatic posts, including central

Early life and background

Pavan Kumar Rai was born on 1 November 1970 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. He completed a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and later joined the Indian Police Service. Rai’s hometown is listed as Barabanki, and his zodiac sign is Scorpio.

Career

Rai is a 1997-batch officer of the Indian Police Service allocated to the Punjab cadre. Early in his policing career he served as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in multiple Punjab districts, including Tarn Taran, Jalandhar and Amritsar. During his time in the state force he was involved in investigations and operations connected to drug trafficking and other major cases; reports note recoveries and arrests linked to his tenures in those postings.

After field service in Punjab, Rai began a central deputation on 1 July 2010, taking up a post as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat in New Delhi. At that time he also joined the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

In December 2018 he was appointed Joint Secretary (Personnel) in the Ministry of External Affairs for a three-year term. That same year he was posted to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa where he served as minister for economic, coordination and community affairs.

On 31 January 2023 the Punjab government promoted Rai to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). Records indicate he falls under Level 14 of the pay matrix as of 2023. His scheduled retirement date is 31 October 2030.

Public profile

Rai’s career has included assignments that bridged policing, intelligence and diplomatic duties. He is listed among the regular recruits of the 50th IPS batch and received training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy. His service record shows progression from district policing leadership to posts within central government agencies and the external affairs ministry.

In 2018 he took up responsibilities at the Indian mission in Ottawa. In 2023 his name became public in the context of a diplomatic controversy between the governments of Canada and India. Canadian authorities identified and expelled a senior Indian diplomat in September 2023; media reports at the time identified that individual as Pavan Kumar Rai. The Government of India denied the allegations that prompted the Canadian action and in turn asked a senior Canadian diplomat to leave India within a five-day period.

Personal

Rai is an Indian national. Physical descriptors in public records list his eye and hair colour as black. Information about his marital status and family is not publicly provided in the available material.

Latest updates

As of 31 January 2023 Rai held the rank of Additional Director General of Police and continued to be a serving officer with a retirement date set for 31 October 2030. In 2023 he was publicly named by Canadian authorities during a diplomatic dispute, and the Ministry of External Affairs issued statements responding to the developments.
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Recent Work

Minister (Economic, Coordination, Community Affairs) at the Indian High Commission in Ottawa

Assigned to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa in 2018, serving in a ministerial role covering economic, coordination and community affairs.

2018
Joint Secretary (Personnel), Ministry of External Affairs

Appointed to the Ministry of External Affairs as Joint Secretary (Personnel) for a three-year term beginning December 2018.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. 1997-batch IPS officer, Punjab cadre
  2. Served as SSP in Tarn Taran, Jalandhar and Amritsar
  3. Joined central deputation as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat in 2010 and concurrently associated with RAW
  4. Appointed Joint Secretary (Personnel) in the Ministry of External Affairs in 2018
  5. Posted to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa as minister (economic, coordination, community affairs) in 2018
  6. Promoted to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) on 31 January 2023
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pavan Kumar Rai born?

1 November 1970

What is Pavan Kumar Rai known for?

Civil Servant (IPS officer)