Former CRPF Chief Anish Dayal Singh Appointed as India’s New Deputy National Security Adviser

New Delhi, August 2025 – The Government of India has appointed Anish Dayal Singh, former Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), as the country’s new Deputy National Security Adviser (Deputy NSA). Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Manipur cadre, will now serve in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and report directly to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Strengthening India’s National Security Team

Singh’s appointment comes as part of a wider strengthening of India’s top security establishment. Alongside him, the NSCS is currently helmed by a strong bench of senior officers, including:

• Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser.

• Rajinder Khanna, former RAW chief, serving as Additional NSA.

• T.V. Ravichandran and Pawan Kapoor, both Deputy NSAs handling key strategic domains.

With Singh’s entry, the NSCS brings in an officer with deep operational experience in internal security, counter-insurgency, and paramilitary operations.

Role as Deputy NSA

As Deputy NSA, Singh will focus on internal security matters, including:

• Counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Combating Left-Wing Extremism across central and eastern India.

• Managing security in India’s Northeast region, which continues to face challenges from cross-border insurgent groups.

This role will see Singh applying his decades of field experience to national-level policy and strategy formulation.

Legacy as CRPF Chief

During his one-year tenure as Director General of the CRPF (January to December 2024), Singh implemented several historic reforms and operational measures:

• Established more than three dozen forward operating bases in Maoist-affected states, extending the CRPF’s reach deep into extremist strongholds.

• Raised four new battalions in Left-Wing Extremism zones.

• Oversaw the realignment of 130 battalions — the first comprehensive restructuring in eight years.

• Introduced “Samvaad” (dialogue) sessions to directly engage with company commanders and incorporate ground-level feedback into operational planning.

• Directed the CRPF’s massive security deployments for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the historic first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the region’s reorganisation.

Policy Initiatives and Personnel Welfare

Singh is credited with initiating important reforms for the welfare of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel:

• Advocated for and secured approval of the policy granting honorary ranks to retiring personnel, a long-standing demand finally cleared by the Union government.

• Pushed through a promotion reform plan to tackle stagnation, addressing cases where constables had waited nearly two decades for their first promotion.

These measures earned Singh respect across the ranks for addressing long-standing grievances of CAPF soldiers.

Decorations and Recognitions

Over his distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Singh has been awarded several honors, including:

• Police Special Duty Medal (twice, including 1997).

• Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service (two terms, including 2004).

• President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2012).

His service reflects both operational effectiveness and a deep focus on personnel welfare.

Strategic Implications

Singh’s elevation to the Deputy NSA role strengthens India’s internal security leadership at a time when the nation is grappling with challenges such as:

• Cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir.

• The evolving threat of Left-Wing Extremism, though significantly reduced in recent years.

• Emerging hybrid warfare tactics, including cyber threats and drone-based surveillance from hostile actors.

His appointment also highlights the government’s approach of bringing senior police and paramilitary leaders into strategic policymaking positions, ensuring that operational realities inform national security strategies.

With his proven track record as a reformer and field strategist, Anish Dayal Singh is expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s internal security architecture under NSA Ajit Doval. His blend of operational expertise, structural reforms, and personnel-focused leadership makes him a valuable addition to the National Security Council Secretariat, as India continues to navigate complex security challenges in the coming decade.