Ajit Doval Biography: Ajit Kumar Doval KC PPM PM born January 20, 1945 is an Indian bureaucrat and intelligence expert, currently serving as the National Security Advisor (NSA) since 2014. A former Indian Police Service officer from the Kerala cadre, Doval previously led the Intelligence Bureau as its Director from 2004 to 2005, having earlier spent a decade heading its operations division. During his intelligence career, Doval operated undercover in Pakistan for a year and later served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years. He played a key role in several significant missions, including Operation Black Thunder in 1988, the rescue of 46 Indian nationals from Iraq, Operation Hot Pursuit in 2015, and efforts targeting the PFI, among others.
Ajit Doval Biography
Ajit Kumar Doval is the fifth and current National Security Advisor (NSA) to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having held the position since 2014. Nicknamed “The James Bond of India,” Doval previously served as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) from 2004 to 2005 and is a retired IPS officer.
Ajit Doval Biography 2025 Details
| Born | 20 January 1945 Ghiri Banelsyun, Pauri Garhwal, United Provinces, British India (now in Uttarakhand, India) |
|---|---|
| Spouse |
Aruni Doval
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 2 (including Shaurya Doval) |
| Residence(s) | New Delhi, India |
| Alma mater | Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University (MA) National Defence College (M.Phil.) |
| Occupation | Spymaster and Bureaucrat |
| Awards | Kirti Chakra Police Medal President’s Police Medal |
| Nickname | James Bond of India |
| Category | Politician Biography |
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About Ajit Doval
Ajit Kumar Doval KC PPM PM is an Indian bureaucrat and former spymaster, who is currently serving as the National Security Advisor since 2014.
- Born: 20 January 1945 (age 80 years), Ghiri Village
- Spouse: Aruni Doval (m. 1972)
- Children: Shaurya Doval, Vivek Doval
- Education: Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University (1967), Rashtriya Military School Ajmer, National Defence College
- Office: National Security Advisor of India
- Organization founded: Vivekananda International Foundation
- Parents: Gunanand Doval
Early Life and Education
Ajit Doval was born in Ghiri Banelsyun village in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, into a Garhwali family. His father, Major G.N. Doval, served in the Indian Army. He completed his schooling at King George’s Royal Indian Military School (now Ajmer Military School) in Rajasthan. Doval earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Agra University in 1967. Over the years, he has received several honorary doctorates from Agra University (Science), Kumaun University (Literature), and Amity University (Philosophy).
Personal Details
- Date of Birth: January 20, 1945
- Age: 77
- Profession: National Security Advisor of India
- Spouse: Anu Doval
- Children: Shaurya Doval, Vivek Doval
- Height: 1.63 m
- Weight: 70 kg
- Salary: Approx. $2,400 USD
Career in IPS and Intelligence
Doval joined the Indian Police Service in 1968 and played a crucial role in anti-insurgency missions in Punjab and Mizoram. In 1972, he was deployed in Thalassery, Kerala, to help restore peace during communal tensions.
Between 1971 and 1999, Doval was key to ending 15 aircraft hijackings. In 1999, he was one of three negotiators during the IC-814 hijacking in Kandahar. He spent over a decade leading the operations wing of the IB and also founded the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI).
Notable Intelligence Operations
Doval significantly influenced the resolution of insurgencies and covert missions. He persuaded six out of seven commanders of Laldenga’s Mizo National Front to surrender, operated undercover in Burma and Chinese territory, and assisted in the merger of Sikkim with India. In 1988, Doval infiltrated the Golden Temple before Operation Black Thunder and also helped rescue Romanian diplomat Liviu Radu from kidnappers.
Role as NSA and Diplomatic Achievements
Following retirement in 2005, Doval established the Vivekananda International Foundation. He was appointed as NSA on May 30, 2014. Just weeks later, he orchestrated the successful rescue of 46 Indian nurses trapped in Iraq by ISIL, coordinating with Kurdish authorities and the Iraqi government.
In 2015, Doval planned a controversial cross-border operation targeting NSCN-K insurgents in Myanmar, though its location was later disputed by both Myanmar and the NSCN-K. He played a central role in changing India’s national security strategy to a more assertive posture, shifting from a defensive approach to one of “defensive offense” and “double squeeze.”
Awards and Honors
- Youngest officer to receive the Police Medal for Meritorious Service
- Recipient of the President’s Police Medal
- First police officer to be awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, traditionally reserved for military personnel
Ajit Doval Net Worth
FAQs
What is Ajit Doval known for in Indian intelligence?
Ajit Doval is renowned for his extensive career in Indian intelligence, particularly for his undercover operations in Pakistan and his role in several key missions such as Operation Black Thunder and the rescue of Indians from Iraq.
Where did Ajit Doval receive his education?
Ajit Doval studied at the Ajmer Military School in Rajasthan and later earned a master’s degree in economics from Agra University in 1967.
What was Ajit Doval’s role in Operation Black Thunder?
Ajit Doval played a pivotal role in Operation Black Thunder in 1988, using his intelligence expertise to help neutralize militants inside the Golden Temple without causing major damage to the shrine.
What is the Vivekananda International Foundation?
The Vivekananda International Foundation is a right-wing think tank founded by Ajit Doval in 2009, which he led until he was appointed as India’s National Security Advisor in 2014.
How did Ajit Doval contribute during his time in Pakistan?
Ajit Doval served as an undercover spy in Pakistan for a year and later held a position in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years, gathering crucial intelligence for India.
What is Ajit Doval’s background in the Indian Police Service?
Ajit Doval is a former IPS officer from the Kerala cadre and served as Director of the Intelligence Bureau, with a decade-long leadership of its operations wing prior to that.