New Delhi: Former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Doval, considered one of the finest operational brains, was today appointed as National Security Adviser and will assist Prime Minister Narendra Modi on national and international security issues.
The name of 69-year-old Doval, a highly-decorated police officer who retired as Intelligence Bureau Chief in January 2005 as the UPA government delayed the system of implementing two-year term for this post, was cleared by Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister.
Doval's appointment is second key one by Modi after he assumed charge. The first was that of Nripendra Misra who was appointed as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
According to the official order, the appointment of Doval, takes effect from today and his term will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, whichever is earlier. He replaces Shivshankar Menon.
Widely acclaimed for his topnotch spycraft and expertise in international relations, Doval is the second Indian Police Service officer who has been selected to the post of NSA. The first was M K Narayanan who had a five year tenure from 2005 to 2010 under Prime Miniser Manmohan Singh before he was made Governor of West Bengal.
