The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Career Guide

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Career Guide

RAW

Q I wish to make a career as an Intelligence agent with the Research and Analysis Wing. Please tell me how should I go about it.

Harjeet Singh

A Recruitment to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) (which is technically under the Cabinet Secretary) is conducted in the following manner:

Direct recruitment: Deputy Field Officers (GD) Class II non-gazetted level, equivalent to Sub-Inspector in the police are recruited directly to the Research and Analysis Service (RAS).

DFOs are recruited for GD, Telecom. Other than GD, the rest are promoted to FO and then RO (Res Off) in their respective cadres.

Field Officers (equiv to Inspector) and Senior Field Officers (equiv to DSP) are appointed on seniority. You need to work for a minimum of eight years as DFO to be promoted to the next level ie. FO. Similarly, after a minimum of five years as FO, you can be promoted to SFO (Class I)

Foreign postings are only for FO (GD), SFO (GD), Under Sec, Dep Sec, Director, Jt Sec and Addl Sec.

Recruitment at the lowest Class I level is that of an ‘attache’ (OSD) on a payscale of RS 8000/- pm. and during the probation period, you are designated as Under Secretary (Rs 10,500/-).

As per the rules, 50 per cent of the posts in the senior cadre are filled through direct recruitment while the remaining are filled through promotions and deputation of special officers from the CBI, IT, Customs, the RBI and the state police (at the SP, DIG or IG level) for a period of 5-7 years which is extendable up to 10 years.

Senior level appointments: These are made in two ways: (i) on-campus recruitment of Civil Service candidates while training for the foundation course. Final selection is made through a test and interviews.

Specialist appointments: Generally, technical experts with some experience in government organisations are preferred. The interview panel includes experts and selectors from the UPSC.

Language specialists: Interestingly, as a part of the work involves dealing with foreign countries, RAW also recruits interpreters who are promoted to Asst Foreign Language Examiner and then to Deputy Foreign Language Examiner. Interpreters are recruited directly to the Language Cadre.

There is no SC/ST quota or reservation for any of these jobs.