The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is India’s premier external intelligence agency, responsible for safeguarding national interests and security. Becoming a RAW agent is a matter of pride, but the path is highly selective, indirect, and involves several stages of rigorous assessment.
RAW does not recruit candidates directly from the public. Instead, it selects officers from various government services, including:
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Indian Police Service (IPS)
Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Indian Armed Forces and other Group A services
To be considered for RAW, you must:
Be an Indian citizen with unwavering loyalty and a clean legal record (no criminal background, no narcotics addiction).
Hold a graduation degree from a recognized university.
Be less than 56 years of age and have completed a specified duration of government service (usually 20 years).
Proficiency in a foreign language is an added advantage.
Demonstrate excellent service records and strong professional reputation.
There is no direct exam for RAW recruitment. The most common pathway is:
Clear the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which selects candidates for IAS, IPS, IRS, and IFS.
Alternatively, clear the SSC CGL exam for certain technical or administrative roles.
Candidates are shortlisted from those who have cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam and are undergoing the Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
RAW also recruits through lateral deputation from the Indian Armed Forces and other central services.
At the end of the Foundation Course, RAW conducts interviews and psychological assessments to identify candidates with the right aptitude for intelligence work.
Shortlisted candidates are inducted for a one-year probationary period.
Selected candidates undergo basic and advanced training in intelligence, language, information security, and field operations.
Initial training is held in Delhi, followed by specialized training at institutions like the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
After a year of training and field assessment, candidates are evaluated for permanent induction into the Research and Analysis Service (RAS), RAW’s own cadre.
Those who excel are absorbed as full-time RAW officers; others may return to their parent service.
Becoming a RAW agent is not just about clearing an exam-it’s about years of dedicated government service, exceptional performance, and readiness for the challenges of intelligence work. If you aspire to serve in RAW, focus on excelling in civil services or the armed forces, maintain an impeccable record, and prepare for a career that demands utmost dedication, secrecy, and patriotism.
