Georgian Ajit Doval talks about lessons at school

Watch special interview with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Talking Point.

Ajit Kumar Doval, IPS (Retd), PPM, KC, PM, (born 20 January 1945), is the 5th and current National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India. He previously served as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau in 2004–05, after spending a decade as the head of its operation wing. Under his supervision 2016 Indian Line of Control strike on 29th September, 2016 and 2019 Balakot airstrike on 26th February, 2019 were conducted.

Doval was the youngest police officer to receive the Police Medal for meritorious service. He was given the award after six years in the police.

Early life and Education

Doval was born in 1945 in Ghiri Banelsyun village in Pauri Garhwal in a Garhwali family in the erstwhile United Provinces, now in Uttarakhand. Doval’s father, Major G N Doval, was an officer in the Indian Army.

In 1988, Doval was granted one of the highest gallantry awards, the Kirti Chakra, becoming the first police officer to receive a medal previously given only as a military honour.

He received his early education at the Ajmer Military School (formerly King George’s Royal Indian Military School) in Ajmer, Rajasthan. He graduated with a master’s degree in economics from the University of Agra in 1967. He was awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution in the field of strategic and security matters, in science and literature from Agra University in December 2017 and Kumaun University in May 2018 respectively.