Doval appointed as National Security Adviser

He is the second key appointment made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge

Highly decorated police officer former Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajit Doval, considered one of the finest operational brains, was today appointed as the National Security Adviser.

69-year-old Doval's is the second key appointment made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge. The first one was that of Nripendra Misra as Modi's Principal Secretary.

According to the official order, the appointment of Doval, who retired in January 2005 as Intelligence Bureau Chief, takes effect from today.

His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, whichever is earlier, the order said.

The name of Doval had started doing rounds in the power corridors ever since Modi became Prime Minister-designate. Doval had met Modi at Gujarat Bhavan and gave him a brief on security challenges facing the country.

Having the distinction of being the first police officer who received 'Kirti Chakra', a military honour, Doval will be providing his deep insight about the threats faced by the country from within and from outside.

A 1968-batch IPS officer, Doval, known one of the best operational brains within intelligence circles, was India's main negotiator with the hijackers of Indian Airlines plane IC-814 taken to Kandahar in 1999.

After a few years in uniform, Doval had worked as an intelligence officer for over 33 years during which he had served in the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.