List of Indian intelligence agencies

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates India has a number of intelligence agencies, of which the best known are the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the domestic intelligence agency, responsible for counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism and overall internal security.

National Technical Research Organization

Template:Main The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a technical intelligence agency under the National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office, India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was set up in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It also includes the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and the National Institute of Cryptology Research and Development (NICRD) for cryptologic education and research, which is first of its kind in Asia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Research and Analysis Wing

Template:Main Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is the primary foreign intelligence agency of India. The agency's primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, counterproliferation, advising Indian policymakers, and advancing India's foreign strategic interests. It is also involved in the security of India's nuclear programme.

Aviation Research Centre

Cameras of MiG-25RB for aerial surveillance

The Aviation Research Centre (ARC) is a part of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Cabinet Secretariat (Special Requirements) India. The first head of the ARC was R. N. Kao, the founding chief of R&AW. Over the years the ARC has grown into a large operation and flies a large and varied fleet. Aerial surveillance, SIGINT operations, photo reconnaissance flights (PHOTINT),<ref>NSNL 52 - Intelligence profile : India</ref> monitoring of borders, imagery intelligence (IMINT)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> are the main functions of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC). The aircraft are fitted with state-of-the-art electronic surveillance equipment and long range cameras capable of taking pictures of targets from very high altitudes. ARC also takes the responsibility along with the IAF to transport Special Frontier Force (SFF) commandos from their trans-location at Sarsawa, 250 km north of New Delhi, though the SFF's own base is in Chakrata in Uttarakhand state.

Radio Research Centre

The Radio Research Centre (RRC) is a part of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Cabinet Secretariat (Special Requirements) India. The RRC is a premier communication and signal intelligence agency of India. RRC's tasks include – communication with the embassies abroad, send cyphered code to agents stationed abroad, interception fixed line and wireless communication and the department closely works with the Joint Cypher Bureau. The RRC has offices all across the country and the perform the intercepts communication and sends code.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Electronics and Technical Services

Template:Main The Electronics and Technical Services (ETS) is the Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) arm of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Established in the mid-1980s under the leadership of then R&AW's chief N. F. Suntook, the organisation, it is housed in the CGO complex in New Delhi. ETS is believed to be involved in ELINT roles, not restricted but also includes jamming and spoofing - Electronic Warfare (EW). ETS also involved in Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESMs), Telemetry (TELINT), Tracking and monitoring data links, interception and monitoring of navigation signals and other ELINT and EW methods.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Intelligence Bureau

Template:Main The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India's internal intelligence agency.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Intelligence Bureau (IB) (Hindi: आसूचना ब्यूरो; IAST: āsūcanā byūro) is India's domestic internal security and counter-intelligence agency under Ministry of Home Affairs. It was founded in 1887 as Serval Intelligence Branch, and is reputed to be the oldest such organization in the world.

National Cyber Coordination Centre

Template:Main The National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) is an operational cybersecurity and e-surveillance agency in India. It is intended to screen communication metadata and co-ordinate the intelligence gathering activities of other agencies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

Template:Main The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is an Indian intelligence agency. It is India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency. The DRI is run by officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) who are posted in its various Zonal Units as well as in Indian embassies abroad as part of the Customs Overseas Intelligence Network. It is headed by a Director General of the rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India. The Agency works to secure India's national and economic security by preventing the outright smuggling of contraband such as firearms, gold, narcotics, counterfeit Indian currency notes, antiques, wildlife and environmental products. Moreover, it also works to prevent the proliferation of black money, trade based money laundering and commercial frauds.

All India Radio Monitoring Service

Template:Main All India Radio Monitoring Service (AIRMS) is the central monitoring service that monitors broadcasts in India as well as from all foreign broadcasts of Interest to India.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> AIRMS is located in Shimla.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It works in liaison with R&AW and Military intelligence.

Defence Intelligence Agency

Template:Main The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) was established on 5 March 2002 with the appointment of Lt. General Kamal Davar as the first Director General (DG). The DG reports to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). It is supposed to be the nodal agency for all defence-related intelligence, thus distinguishing it from the R&AW. Much of the agency's budget and operations are classified.

DIA has control of MoD's prized technical intelligence assets – the Directorate of Signals Intelligence and the Defence Image Processing and Analysis Centre (DIPAC). While the Signals Directorate is responsible for acquiring and decrypting enemy communications, the DIPAC controls India's satellite-based image acquisition capabilities. The DIA also controls the Defence Information Warfare Agency (DIWA) which handles all elements of the information warfare repertoire, including psychological operations, cyber-war, electronic intercepts and the monitoring of sound waves. Before the creation of the Defence Intelligence Agency, the military intelligence capability of India's armed forces was limited to Field Intelligence Units (FIU) and separate intelligence arms of the services.<ref name="FAS">Template:Cite web</ref> These distinct services were not able to effectively coordinate intelligence operations and sharing of information.<ref name="A">Template:Cite journal</ref> The armed forces also heavily relied on civilian intelligence agencies such as the Research and Analysis Wing and the Intelligence Bureau.<ref name="FAS"/> With wide-ranging resources and functions, the DIA will be superior to and coordinate the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Directorate of Air Intelligence and the Directorate of Naval Intelligence.<ref name="A"/>

Signals Intelligence Directorate

The Signals Intelligence Directorate is a joint service organisation, composed of personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. It has a large number of Wireless Experimental Units (WEUs) that carry out the task of monitoring military links of other countries.

Central Monitoring Organisation

The Central Monitoring Organisation (CMO) is directly under the Ministry of Defence. It has several monitoring companies, located at different locations around the country. Task is to monitor the use of radio spectrum by all users, such as Defence, Police, AIR, Railways, PSUs, etc.

Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring

Template:Main The Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM), formerly known as Vigilance Telecom Monitoring (VTM), is the vigilance and monitoring wing of the Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> TERM is made up of 34 cells in India's 22 telecom circles and 10 large telecom districts. The main functions of TERM Cells are vigilance, monitoring and security of the network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Apart from this, TERM Cells also operate the Central Monitoring System (CMS), a clandestine mass electronic surveillance program, and carry out other functions.<ref>https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/AR_English_2008-09_0.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref>

See also

• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
• Central Monitoring System
• Central Bureau of Investigation
• Criminal Investigation Department (India)
• NETRA
• Enforcement Directorate
• Law enforcement in India
• Anti Terrorism Squad
• Mass surveillance in India
• Multi Agency Centre (India)
• NATGRID
• National Investigation Agency
• NIA Most Wanted
• National Crime Records Bureau
• Bharatpol

Further reading

• Military Intelligence in India: An Analysis Bhashyam Kasturi: The Indian Defence Review, 1997
• Cryptography Technology and Policy Directions in the Context of NII Gulshan Rai, R.K.Dubash, and A.K.Chakravarti. Information Technology Group Dept. of Electronics Govt. of India December, 1997