Rajinder Khanna

Rajinder Khanna (born 1956) is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who is currently serving as the Additional National Security Advisor of India since July 2024.^[1] From 2018, he has served as the secretary of the National Security Council Secretariat. He was also the former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, the external intelligence agency of India.^[2]

Rajinder Khanna, IPS (Retd.)
Khanna in 2023
Additional National Security Advisor of India
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 July 2024
Preceded by	Position Established
Deputy National Security Advisor of India
In office 2 January 2018 – 14 July 2024
Preceded by	Arvind Gupta
Succeeded by	T V Ravichandran
Secretary of the Research & Analysis Wing
In office 31 December 2014 – 31 December 2016
Preceded by	Alok Joshi
Succeeded by	Anil Dhasmana
Personal details
Born	1956 (age 68–69)
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	(BA) Hansraj College (MBA) Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi Delhi University

Early career

Rajinder Khanna is a graduate with BA in economics (Hons.) from Hansraj College Delhi University followed by an MBA from Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi in 1978.^[3]

Career

During the foundation course for civil services at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, he was awarded the Director's silver medal for securing the highest marks in Economics. ^{[citation needed]}

He joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1978 and was allotted to Odisha cadre.^[4] From 1979 to 1985, he held several important posts including Superintendent of Police in Puri and Ganjam districts in Odisha. As the Superintendent of Police in Puri, he received a number of commendations from the Chief Minister for eradicating dacoity in the district.^[5]

Rajinder Khanna meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

Khanna is considered as the founder and driving force of the counter-terrorism unit in R&AW,^[6] he is said to be an expert on terrorism. He was appointed as one of the three Deputy National Security Advisors of India in 2018, taking over from Arvind Gupta.^[7]