Updated June 3, 2023
RAW (Research and Analysis Wing)
RAW is India’s external intelligence service. The full form of RAW is Research and Analysis Wing. Until 1968, the Intelligence Bureau was in charge of external and internal intelligence operations. Both the Indo-China War in 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan War in 1965 exposed flaws in the IB’s intelligence gathering. The IB underestimated Pakistan’s and China’s military readiness for the 1962 and 1965 wars. Given this, the then-Gandhi government decided that a highly specialized organization for gathering intelligence operations was required, resulting in the establishment of RAW.
History of RAW
The main reason for the establishment of RAW was the Intelligence Bureau‘s poor performance in the 1962 and 1965 wars with China and Pakistan. When RAW was established in September 1968, Rameshwar Nath Kao was the project manager. RAW began as a division of the Chief Intelligence Service with 250 or more employees and a yearly budget of $20 million. In 1970 and 1990, RAW first tried to introduce the Radio Research Facility and the Electronics and Technology facilities, respectively. Over the year, RAW has evolved and protected India from some of the worst nightmares.
What is the Organisational Structure of Raw?
As the head of state, the Prime Minister must approve only those operations and be informed of RAW’s responsibilities. The Chief Secretary, in charge of the organization, communicates with the Prime Minister via the Joint Intelligence Committee. The committee chairman is usually an IAS or IPS officer, and members are generally ministers from various government departments.
The departments that report to the Chief Secretary are the Office of Special Operations, Additional Secretaries, and Special Office staff for Aviation and Special Services. In addition, several trainee secretaries manage the technical departments and numerous international locations under the additionals. The agency is a full-service operation with representatives from every department on staff.
What are the Objectives of Raw?
After an overview of the full form of RAW and other facets of RAW. The objectives of RAW are as follows:
- To keep an eye on developments in neighboring countries that directly affect India’s national security and to conduct undercover operations to protect India’s national interests.
- Operations to combat terrorism and eliminate terrorist groups that threaten India.
- To give service to India’s nuclear program.
- To collect and destroy information on the leadership styles and organizational structures of various insurgency groups outside India that threaten its security and integrity.
- Control and limit the supply of military hardware to Pakistan, which primarily comes from the United States, China, and Europe.
- Through a robust and active Diaspora, they affect both public opinion and foreign governments worldwide.
What are the Functions of RAW?
The organization has the most deserving and qualified candidates who can contribute to the formulation of national security policy. The functions performed by RAW agents are as follows:
- Keeping an eye on foreign developments in science, politics, and the military that affect India’s foreign and national security policies.
- To carry out covert anti-terrorist operations and tasks.
- They manage operations that benefit the country and harm its integrity. They segment public opinion in other countries and influence their governments.
Top 7 Interesting Facts about RAW
Some of the interesting facts related to RAW are as follows:
- RAW supported the Bangladeshi guerrilla group Mukti Bahini by providing training, intelligence, and ammunition. RAW also interfered with Pakistani army movements in East Pakistan, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.
- According to RAW information, Pakistan planned an incursion into the Siachen glacier in 1984 as part of Operation Ababeel. As a result, the Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot and deployed approximately 300 soldiers there. As a result, the Pakistani Army was forced to withdraw its troops to seize the strategic peak.
- RAW was critical in maintaining the secrecy surrounding India’s first nuclear test in 1974. Even China and the United States were unaware of India’s activity.
- RAW officials sent famous theatre entertainer Ravindra Kaushik to Pakistan as a spy in 1975. He joined the Pakistani Army and rose to the rank of “major” there. He saved the lives of hundreds of Indians by providing vital information to intelligence agencies. RAW gave him the nickname “Black Tiger” as a result.
- RAW successfully intercepted a phone call between Pakistan’s army chief and his deputy chief of staff, who was in Islamabad, and Musharraf had been in Beijing at the time. This tape was critical in proving Pakistan’s involvement in the Kargil invasion.
- RAW launched Operation Chanakya to bring peace to Kashmir and infiltrate separatist organizations. Their main accomplishment was to end the valley’s terrorist activities, and they also successfully gathered information about the ISI’s ties to terrorist and secessionist organizations. Also capable of splintering the terrorist organization Hizb-ul-Maqdis and forming pro-Indian in Kashmir.
Conclusion – Full Form of RAW
The Research and Analysis Wing is a secretive government agency that works hard to ensure the safety of India. RAW has been actively working throughout the year. This article has helped you understand the full form of RAW and the other facets related to it.
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