Ajit Doval
Ajit Kumar Doval KC PPM PM (born 20 January 1945) is a bureaucrat, spymaster and National Security Advisor (NSA) of India to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief and Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Kerala cadre.
Ajit Doval KC PPM PM | |
|---|---|
Doval in 2017 | |
| 5th National Security Advisor of India | |
| Assumed office 30 May 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Shivshankar Menon |
| Director of the Intelligence Bureau | |
| In office 31 July 2004 – 31 January 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | K. P. Singh |
| Succeeded by | E. S. L. Narasimhan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 January 1945 Ghiri Banelsyun, Pauri Garhwal, United Provinces, British India (now in Uttarakhand, India) |
| Nationality | India |
| Spouse |
Aruni Doval (m. 1972) |
| Children | 2 (including Shaurya Doval) |
| Residence(s) | New Delhi, India |
| Alma mater | Agra University (MA) National Defence College (M.Phil.) |
| Occupation | • National Security Advisors to Prime minister • Retd. IPS officer |
| Profession | Bureaucrat, Spymaster |
| Awards | Kirti Chakra Police Medal President's Police Medal |
| Nickname | James Bond of India |
He previously served as the director of the IB in 2004–05, after working for a decade as the head of its operation wing. He worked as an undercover spy of IB for one year in Pakistan then 6 years as an officer in Indian high commission in Islamabad. He spent most part of his career as a spy of IB.
His successful operation as a spy and intelligence head includes Operation Black Thunder 1988, rescue of 46 Indian national in Iraq, 2015's operation versus Nagaland militants with the India army, to sabotage terror organisation PFI and many more.
He is the founder director of the right of centre leaning think tank Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), before appointment as NSA. It was founded in December 2009.