Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau, TV Ravichandran has been appointed Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) while Deputy NSA and former Research and Analysis Wing chief Rajinder Khanna has been appointed Additional NSA.
A notification was issued by the Centre in this regard on Tuesday, reported ANI.
The official notification stated: "In pursuance of approval of Appointments Committee of the Cabinet conveyed vide DoP&T communication No. 31/1/2024-EO(SM.II) dated 02.07.2024, Shri T. V. Ravichandran, IPS (TN:1990), Special Director, Intelligence Bureau is appointed to the post of Deputy National Security Advisor, NSCS vice Shri Rajinder Khanna, for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, initially up to the date of his superannuation on 31.08.2024; and thereafter on re-employment on contract basis, as per usual terms and conditions as are applicable to Dy. NSA, or until further orders whichever is earlier."
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The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with NSA Ajit Doval as its secretary serves as the apex body for all internal and external security matters in India.
Ravichandran is a 1990-batch Indian Police Services officer and replaces Vikram Mistry as Deputy NSA, as per the ANI report. Mistry, a 1990-batch was named foreign secretary last month. He is currently serving as Special Director, Intelligence Bureau, looking after South India and was to retire in August 2024.
Khanna is a 1978-batch IPS officer from the Odisha cadre. Khanna served as the chief of R&AW from December 2014 to December 2016 and was appointed as deputy NSA in January 2018, overseeing the Technology and Intelligence section, reported ANI.
On June 13, NSA Ajit Doval was re-appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for the third time. He has been assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister.