Ravi Sinha, one of the Research and Analysis Wing's senior-most officers, was on Monday appointed as chief of India's external intelligence agency.

Sinha will succeed Samant Kumar Goel whose four-year tenure ends on June 30.

Sinha, a 1988 batch Indian Police Service officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently special secretary, RA&W.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Sinha's appointment for a two year tenure, the order issued by the ministry of personnel said.

Sinha has been with RA&W for over two decades and headed RA&W's operational wing before his current promotion.

Considered a neighbourhood specialist, Sinha has worked extensively in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East and other countries. He takes over at a time when Sikh extremism is being propagated from some countries.

Sinha's predecessor Goel -- an IPS officer of the Punjab cadre before he joined RA&W -- was appointed R&AW chief for two years in June 2019. He was later given two extensions of one year each in 2021 and June 2022.

Goel, an expert on matters related to Jammu and Kashmir, is believed to have played a key role in planning the February 2019 surgical strike in Pakistan's Balakot.