Research and Analysis Wing - Functions and Methods

Functions and Methods

Methods of Intelligence collection
Signals Intelligence – Human Intelligence – Imagery Intelligence– Electronic Intelligence – Measurement & Signature Intelligence – Open Source Intelligence – Communications Intelligence – Foreign instrumentation signals intel – Geospatial Intel – Financial Intelligence – Technical Intelligence – Telemetry Intelligence – Acoustic Intelligence – Infrared Intelligence – Radiation Intelligence

The Secretary (RAW) reported to the Vohra Committee that RAW offices abroad have limited strength and are largely geared to the collection of military, economic, scientific and political intelligence. RAW monitors the activities of certain organisations abroad only insofar as they relate to their involvement with narco terrorist elements and smuggling arms, ammunition, explosives, etc. into India. It does not monitor the activities of criminal elements abroad, which are mainly confined to normal smuggling without any links to terrorist elements. The present strength of the Agency’s offices abroad would not permit it to enlarge its field of activities. If, however, there is evidence to suggest that these organisations have links with Intelligence agencies of other countries, and that they are being used or are likely to be used by such countries for destabilising India's economy, it would become RAW’s responsibility to monitor their activities.

The primary mission of RAW includes aggressive intelligence collection via espionage, psychological warfare, subversion and sabotage. RAW maintains active collaboration with other secret services in various countries. Its contacts with FSB of Russia, KHAD, the Afghan agency, Israel's Mossad, the CIA and MI6 have been well-known, a common interest being Pakistan's nuclear programme. RAW has been active in obtaining information and operating through third countries like Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Myanmar and Singapore.

RAW obtains information critical to Indian strategic interests, both by overt and covert means. The data is then classified and filed with the assistance of the computer networks. International business houses, information technology sector and media centers can easily absorb RAW operatives and provide freedom of movement. A task force report prepared by a New Delhi based security think tank highlighted that RAW operatives have inadequate non-official cover for overseas operations which 'limits access to spot real targets' and causes issues on handling 'high-value assets'.

A combination of military, academicians, bureaucrats and policemen was a fine start for RAW which modelled itself on the lines of CIA.

Espionage Techniques
Agent Handling– Black Bag Operations– Black operation Concealment device– Cryptography– Dead drop Eavesdropping– False flag operations– Honeypot– Nonofficial cover– Interrogation– Numbers messaging– One-way voice link – Steganography– Surveillance– TEMPEST

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