Research and Analysis Wing

Introduction

What is it, really?  What is the mission of this organization?  Where do they get recruits from and is there any training?  Does it have a structure?  Do it have any divisions, if so how many?  Were there operations successful?  How long have it been operating?  

Definition

They collect foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, and protect nuclear sites.  Their HQ is in New Delhi, India.  They are India's version of the BND.  The prime minister is ova it and RAW is a somewhat effective intelligence agency.    

Mission

They monitor other countries political and military developments that would have an effect on India.  They also try to improve India's image internationally.  In the past they tried to stop Pakistan from receiving weapons other countries; and they kept an eye on Communist countries and parties.  Psychological warfare, subversion and sabotage are some of the methods used to collect intelligence.            

Recruitment

They get recruits from armed forces and civil service.  The recruits have to take an IQ test, personality test, mental test, and several interviews.  In the past recruits came from the military, police, and universities.  Linguists and people in other fields are recruited as well.    

Training

First recruits are taught jargon and information classification.  Afterwards they are given case studies from other intelligence agencies.  "Foreign policy determines which country is friend or foe, not intelligence agencies."  They are taught how to infiltrate, exfilitrate, avoid capture, interrogation, marital arts, administrative duties, etc.       

Structure

It's based off the CIA.  

Divisions

Radio Research Center: They communicate with embassies worldwide, send secret codes to agents and get sigint.  

Electronics & Tech. Services: They get imagery intelligence.  

Aviation Research Center: They get intelligence from airplanes.   

Operations

They supported a militia in what became Bangladesh in the early 1970's. 

In 1974 Operation Smiling Buddha was a success.  They kept other countries from finding out India tested a nuke.  

Operation Kahuta was unsuccessful.  RAW agents infiltrated "nuclear energy installations" and India's prime minster told Pakistan's president by mistake.  In response those infiltrators were killed.  

A RAW agent became a major in Pakistan's army.  He gave RAW valuable information that 'saved thousands of Indian lives.'  

Information from Operation Meghdoot allowed India to takeova Siachen. 

Tamil rebels invaded Maldives, so the president asked India for help.  1600 soldiers were sent and RAW gave them the intelligence they needed.  The government was restored in several hours.  This incident is known as Operation Cactus.  

RAW discovered Pakistan was involved in the Kargil War.  

Operation Chanakya was a success; the agents infiltrated terrorists organizations in Kashmir.  

"Retired RAW officers" helped train African intelligence agents during apartheid.  

RAW backed the Northern Alliance in 1996 after the Taliban invaded Afghanistan.  Pakistan backed the Taliban.  It's their mother, Pakistan birthed them.    

They helped the CIA during the War on Terror and saved the life of the former president of Pakistan.  

They did several snatch operations; that's catching criminals in other countries, taking them to India and questioning them.  Then arresting them @ a public place.                 

History

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) was the first agency in India that collected foreign intelligence.  It was created by the British.  IB fell apart when the British left.  There was intelligence failures when India went to war with China and India.  R. N. Kao became the director of IB and created RAW.  Other divisions were added to it in the 1980's and 1990's.  

Conclusion

They are India's version of MI6.  Their mission is collecting intelligence of other countries and improving India's image abroad.  They get recruits from the military and the bureaucracy.  The recruits get a lot of training.  They have a CIA like structure and 3 divisions.  They had many operations and have been successful @ most.  They have been for 55 years.      

Reference

wikipedia.org

bing.com

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/raw-indias-external-intelligence-agency

https://ssbcrackexams.com/indian-intelligence-agencies/

RAW Stuff

https://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/india/raw.htm

https://theprint.in/opinion/why-was-raw-formed-and-what-has-india-learnt-after-50-years-of-its-existence/119811/ 

https://www.storypick.com/raw-interesting-facts/

http://dictionary.sensagent.com/Research_and_Analysis_Wing/