The CIA, KGB, and Mossad are all names that most people are familiar with. RAW is the equivalent of these agencies to the Indian government. Yes, RAW is India’s external intelligence agency, which operates in the shadows to protect our country. While RAW’s primary mission is to deal with external threats, they are also permitted to deal with internal concerns.
The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is not as large as the CIA or the KGB, but it is more effective and clandestine. If you’ve observed, the word RAW has only been widely used in the media for a few years. Before that, we have to wonder if the majority of Indians are even aware that such a group exists. However, because of its importance and the type of employment it offers, a huge portion of the Indian population wishes to work at RAW. Getting a job at RAW is difficult when compared to the CBI, NIA, Enforcement, and other agencies. It is, to put it bluntly, impossible.
The only way to acquire a job in RAW is to fantasise about it; there is no surefire way to get a job in RAW. This is because RAW recruits its candidates and there is no method for submitting an application and joining RAW directly.
However, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of landing a job in RAW. Before we get into how to acquire a job at RAW, let’s take a look at the company as a whole. What is the purpose of it? How does it work?
What exactly is RAW?
The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is one of India’s most powerful external intelligence agencies. Most people are unaware that RAW was founded solely as a result of the Indian government’s intelligence failure to identify the Chinese army’s build-up for an attack on India in 1962. Prior to that, intelligence collecting and foreign operations were handled by the Intelligence Bureau. However, after an intelligence failure in 1962, the Indian government realised the current system’s flaws and decided to create a new dedicated external intelligence organisation.
As a result, RAW was formed as an external intelligence organisation to monitor China’s and Pakistan’s actions against India. However, RAW as we know it now is no longer the same. RAW is now active all over the world, and it is no longer limited to China and Pakistan. RAW’s power has likewise increased with time.
The RAW’s first leader Rameshwar Nath Kao is responsible for the RAW’s current diversity and efficiency. Rameshwar Nath Kao’s abilities and competence were responsible for the majority of the systems and RAW’s well-known success. However, only a small percentage of Indians are aware of these realities.
To Become a RAW Agent, You Must Meet the Following Criteria –
- Should be a citizen of India
- Should be able to communicate in at least one foreign language.
- Should be a patriot who is willing to labour whenever it is needed.
- Candidates with a broad range of abilities are preferred.
- The candidate must have completed a UG programme at a UGC-approved university or college.
Age Restriction
- Applicants for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) must be under the age of 56. Furthermore, 20 years of government service are required.
What is RAW’s purpose and role?
As previously stated, RAW’s position and objectives are extremely hidden; as far as we know, they are the only things we know for certain.
- To keep track of other countries’ military and political developments in relation to India. Simply put, whenever any country makes a military or political move against India, RAW is intended to keep track of it and take measures to prevent such military and political developments.
- RAW is also responsible for regulating and, when possible, entirely blocking or destroying the flow of arms and financial support to terrorists.
- RAW also plays a key role in restraining the supply of military gear to Pakistan and other neighbouring countries from other Western countries or China.
Although the media has highlighted various facets of RAW in recent years, there is no certainty that the details and facts reported in the media are accurate. RAW’s secrecy has always been a stumbling block to learning more.
What distinguishes RAW from CBI and NIA?
Yes, all three agencies are distinct from one another, and we still don’t know a lot of specifics about them. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
- The CBI and NIA are central investigation agencies that can work on the front lines without compromising their confidentiality. When it comes to RAW, though, they work in complete secrecy.
- The NIA and CBI handle the majority of their cases and work within India; however, RAW handles the majority of its work outside of India.
- When it comes to RAW, the CBI and NIA work closely with state governments and employ police machinery to carry out part of their groundwork; however, when it comes to the Indian army, navy, or air force, they work more closely with them.
- RAW is an external intelligence agency, while the CBI and NIA are internal investigation agencies.
- Because it is under the direct jurisdiction of the federal government, the CBI and NIA are sometimes politicised. However, the central government, as far as we know, is unable to politicise RAW.
What are the RAW job titles?
We only know about a few job titles in RAW, and the amount of information available to most people on these topics is restricted. However, as far as we are aware, these are some of the current job titles.
- Secretary –
- Special Secretary/Additional Secretary
- Joint Secretary
- Director or Deputy
- Senior field officer
- Field officer
- Deputy field officer
- Assistant field officer
The first four of these eight job positions are known as Group A officers. Holders of the IPS, IFS, and IRS are the most common. The remaining four job titles, on the other hand, are Group B or Group C officers.
There are no Sub-Inspector or Inspector posts in RAW, as there are in CBI and NIA. This is one of the characteristics that distinguishes RAW from other federal agencies.
Now you know everything there is to know about RAW. These details are incomplete, but no one can blame you because the agency is notoriously secretive. Let’s take a look at how you may acquire a job in RAW.
Before we get into how to acquire a career in RAW, there are a few things you should know about RAW agents and job openings.
- A RAW agent’s job can be extremely hard and difficult.
- While most field officers or RAW ground agents travel throughout the world, they must be able to communicate in a variety of languages and possess a variety of talents.
- A RAW agent should always be ready to work and learn new things from his or her experiences and reports.
- If you work as a RAW agent, you will not be acknowledged by the general public for your efforts.
- Everything a RAW agent does is monitored, and there is no such thing as personal life.
These are some of the things you need to know before pursuing this career; if you are unable to accomplish any of the above, you should not pursue this career. When compared to CBI and NIA, a RAW agent’s life is dangerous, and there is no way of knowing where such a life will lead them. If they were arrested or died outside of India, the government might throw them out.
How do you go about becoming a RAW agent?
As previously stated, unlike other Indian central agencies, there is no direct admission into RAW. To be honest, you can’t simply go to a website, find a job posting, and apply for it. No, with RAW, this is not feasible. RAW does not send out such notices or have any sort of recruitment program. To become a RAW agent, however, there are eight procedures and processes to follow.
- Obtain a position in the civil service or an elite Indian government position –
Holders of the IAS, IPS, or IRS frequently decorate the high-level post of RAW. This has been the situation for a long time and is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. If you want to work in Group A, you must first join the Civil Service and then demonstrate your skills and abilities. This may prompt the RAW to recruit you for their organisation. RAW officers are most usually recruited from central or Indian government intelligence and investigation agencies these days. Candidates with this background will have a strong basis for investigation and intelligence work.
- Forces of arms –
The majority of RAW agents are from India’s armed forces. It could come from the army, navy, or any other branch of the armed forces. There are no specifics about which branch RAW favors. Officers from the military forces have the option of lateral deputation to RAW, according to some experts.
- Direct Entry from Universities – It is important to understand that you cannot submit a request and be immediately hired by RAW. There is no other alternative but for the RAW to come to you and recruit you. Even for direct admittance from universities, the RAW agency must come in and pick the best individuals. However, this is a novel recruiting method that has been widely panned. As a result, don’t anticipate this method to persist indefinitely. You must possess great determination, physical requirements, and patriotism in order for the RAW to recruit you from the agency. One of the universities cited by some unnamed sources is the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.
- National Aptitude Test and Interview — Regardless of whether a candidate is cherry-picked from a university or another agency, he or she must take and pass the National Aptitude Test in intelligence, as well as personality and psychological exams. They must attend a personal interview after passing all of these tests, which will determine their future. As far as we know, there are only these three possibilities for joining RAW; there may be others, but they aren’t made public.
- Resign – When a candidate is hired by RAW, he or she must resign from any current job. You’ll need to attend training and other portions after you’ve recruited.
- Basic training – The candidate will be given a 10-day training in Delhi at the start of the job. During this training, the candidate will be given an overview of the job and information collecting. The next stage of instruction begins with the teaching of various languages, procedures, scientific information, weapon handling, and so on. Apart from that, the candidates will be required to solve a variety of inactive intelligence cases from the ISI, MOSSAD, KGB, CIA, and ASIS, among others.
- Extensive training – After completing basic training, the candidate is sent to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun for extensive training. The comprehensive training usually lasts between one and two years. Almost all physical, real-time abilities and tactics are taught in this training.
- Monitoring and appointment – After you’ve completed the rigorous training, you’ll be monitored to see how the candidate is progressing. The candidate could only be appointed to a relevant job title in RAW after passing this monitoring.
None of the procedures listed above are simple, and when it comes to extensive training, some experts claim that more than half of the candidates drop out because they can’t take the pressure and hardships.
As previously stated, RAW has three types of job titles: Group A, Group B, and Group C. Candidates for Group A are only recruited from the Indian civil service or existing intelligence services, most typically from the IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS, and officers in the military forces.
Rather than attempting to enter the RAW directly, We recommend that the prospects pursue a career in the Intelligence Bureau and then transfer to RAW from there.
What do you think?