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Ravi Sinha (R&AW Chief) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth14 January 1964

Age59 Years (as of 2023)

BirthplaceBhojpur district, Bihar

ProfessionIndian Police Service (IPS) officer

NationalityIndian

Ravi Sinha (R&AW Chief) Biography

Ravi Sinha is a 1988-batch Indian Police Service officer who was appointed the 24th secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in June 2023. A Chh‑

Early life and background

Ravi Sinha was born on 14 January 1964 in Bhojpur district, Bihar. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and later qualified the Union Public Service Commission civil services examination, joining the Indian Police Service in 1988.

He undertook his foundational police training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad, completing his training module on 21 August 1989.

Career

Sinha began his policing career with an initial allotment to the Madhya Pradesh cadre. After the creation of the state of Chhattisgarh in 2000, he was transferred to the Chhattisgarh cadre and served at the state police headquarters in Raipur. He was subsequently posted in Durg, where he held the post of Chief Superintendent of Police.

Known for his expertise in counter-insurgency, Sinha has served in operationally demanding environments including Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern states and the so-called red corridor affected by the Naxalite movement. His experience in these theatres led to central deputation in 2007, when he moved to New Delhi and joined the Research and Analysis Wing.

Within R&AW, Sinha rose through the operational ranks. In 2016 he took charge of the Operations Division. Over time he also served in roles described as Personal Security Officer and Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat (SR) during his tenure with the agency.

Sinha has been associated with planning and operational work on high-profile actions. After the 2016 attack on an army camp in Uri, he and then-R&AW secretary Rajinder Khanna were reported as contributors to the strategy that preceded the Indian Army’s cross-border surgical strikes. Following the 2019 Pulwama attack, he and Samant Goel were involved in strategic planning related to the Balakot airstrike.

In June 2023 the Government of India notified his selection as the 24th secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing. The appointment announced that he would hold the post for a tenure of two years from the date he assumed charge, or until further orders, whichever came earlier.

Public profile

Ravi Sinha is identified in public material as an IPS officer of the 1988 batch with the Chhattisgarh cadre. He is described as having a professional reputation rooted in counter-insurgency operations and intelligence operations. Physical descriptors recorded in public profiles include a height of approximately 175 cm (5 feet 9 inches), dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.

Personal life

Publicly available profiles list his hometown as Bhojpur, Bihar, and record his nationality as Indian. His date of birth places him under the Capricorn zodiac sign. He is reported to enjoy reading. Information about his marital status and spouse is not provided in the available material.

Latest updates

The key recent development in Ravi Sinha’s career is his appointment as R&AW secretary, announced by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 19 June 2023. The notification specified that he would replace Samant Kumar Goel on completion of that officer’s tenure on 30 June 2023 and would serve for a two-year term from the date he assumed charge.

As of 2023 Sinha is described as a senior intelligence official with decades of experience across state policing and national intelligence roles.
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Recent Work

Secretary, Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW)

Appointed as the 24th secretary of India’s external intelligence agency; appointment notified by the Government of India in June 2023 for a two-year tenure.

2023
Head of Operations Division, R&AW

Took charge of the Operations Division in 2016 and served in senior operational roles within the agency.

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. 1988 batch Indian Police Service officer
  2. Central deputation to R&AW in 2007
  3. Headed Operations Division of R&AW in 2016
  4. Appointed 24th Secretary of R&AW in June 2023
  5. Known expertise in counter-insurgency and operational planning
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ravi Sinha (R&AW Chief) born?

14 January 1964

What is Ravi Sinha (R&AW Chief) known for?

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer