JN Dixit to oversee intelligence agencies

National Security Adviser JN Dixit will now have an overarching supervisory role in the functioning of the country's intelligence gathering outfits: the Research and Analysis Wing, the Intelligence Bureau and the Defence Intelligence Agency. The new arrangement was notified by the Cabinet Secretary on June 3.

This is the first time that the NSA will be in charge of these agencies — the move is being seen as an attempt to cut red tape. In the previous regime, Brajesh Mishra used to handle this job  as the PM’s principal secretary.

In the past the NSA's job was only to give advice. The new arrangement will also alter the role of the National Security Council, the NSA's secretariat. The crucial change now will be that that the NSA will be briefed on the day-to-day working of intelligence agencies.

Earlier the RAW chief reported to the Cabinet Secretary, the IB chief to the Home Secretary and the DIA chief to the Defence Secretary. While they may continue to do so, the role of the bureaucrats as an interface between the agencies and the PM will be greatly reduced.