Ajit Doval: India's Longest-Serving National Security Advisor

Ajit Doval is one of India's most recognised names in national security. As NSA, he holds Cabinet rank and advises the Prime Minister directly on defence strategy, counter-terrorism, and intelligence matters.

Before this role, Doval spent decades in the Indian Police Service (IPS) and later the Intelligence Bureau (IB), where he built a reputation as one of the country's most capable field operatives. His journey from a small Himalayan village to the heart of India's security establishment is what makes his story stand out.

He was first appointed NSA on 30 May 2014 and has since been reappointed twice, most recently in June 2024, making him India's longest-serving National Security Advisor to date.

• Date of Birth: 20 January 1945
• Current Age: 81 years old (as of 2026)
• Ajit Doval Birth Place: Ghiri Banelsyun, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand (then part of the United Provinces, British India)

He turned 80 in January 2025, an event widely covered across Indian news outlets given his stature as the country's longest-serving NSA.

Ajit Doval's education laid the foundation for his analytical, strategy-focused approach to national security work.

• Schooling: Early education in Delhi and Ajmer, including time at a disciplined, military-style institution
• Master's Degree: M.A. in Economics from Agra University, now known as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University
• Advanced Study: M.Phil from the National Defence College, adding a strategic and military dimension to his training
• Entry into Services: Joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1968, allotted to the Kerala cadre

Doval's career reads less like a typical bureaucrat's file and more like a real-life spy story. Here is a quick timeline of the major milestones:

Early in his intelligence career, Ajit Doval spent an extended period undercover inside Pakistan, reportedly around six to seven years during the 1970s and 1980s.

He is said to have lived disguised, gathering critical intelligence during a period of high tension between the two countries. This chapter of his life is widely regarded as the foundation of his reputation as a master strategist, and it forms the real-life inspiration behind several fictionalised depictions of Indian spies on screen.

Doval's fieldwork earned him some of India's highest honours:

The Kirti Chakra is one of India's highest peacetime gallantry awards. Doval became the first police officer to receive it, a medal previously reserved for the armed forces.

Despite his high public profile, Ajit Doval keeps his family life fairly private.

• Ajit Doval Wife: Aruni Doval, a retired teacher who maintains a low public profile. The couple married in 1972.
• Son of Ajit Doval: He has two sons, Shaurya Doval and Vivek Doval. Shaurya is known for his work in investment banking and policy strategy circles, while Vivek is involved in business.
• Ajit Doval Caste: He belongs to a Garhwali Brahmin family from Uttarakhand, with roots in a community known for its martial traditions.

His father served in the Indian Army, and this early exposure to military discipline is often credited with shaping Doval's lifelong commitment to national service.

As NSA, Ajit Doval holds Cabinet Minister rank. Reports place his monthly salary at approximately ₹2,00,000, which works out to roughly ₹24 lakh a year, including allowances.

His exact net worth is not officially disclosed, since Indian government officials aren't required to publish detailed asset statements. Public estimates online vary widely, so it's best to treat any specific net worth figure as an unverified approximation rather than an official number.

Photos of Ajit Doval in police uniform date back to his years as an IPS officer with the Kerala cadre, before he moved into full-time intelligence work with the Intelligence Bureau. These early images are often shared alongside his more recent appearances as NSA, showing the full arc of his journey from a young police officer to India's top security advisor.

Ajit Doval, you're likely thinking of Dhurandhar (2025), directed by Aditya Dhar. The film features actor R. Madhavan in a role named "Ajay Sanyal," a character widely reported to be inspired by Ajit Doval.

The film draws loosely on real events tied to Doval's career, including his undercover missions, though it is not presented as a strict, factual biopic. The connection between the character and Doval's life has been confirmed by multiple reports covering the film's cast and production.

• India's longest-serving National Security Advisor, now in his third term
• First police officer to receive the Kirti Chakra, previously a military-only honour
• Key architect behind the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrike
• Founder of the Vivekananda International Foundation, a leading Delhi policy think tank
• Real-life inspiration behind a major character in the 2025 film Dhurandhar

From an undercover mission in Pakistan to shaping India's modern security strategy, Ajit Doval's career remains one of the most compelling stories in Indian public life. His steady rise from a small Himalayan village to Cabinet rank in New Delhi reflects decades of quiet, high-stakes service to the country.

Uttarakhand has given the country many such leaders. IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar, from Nainital, is another proud name from the state, now serving as Secretary of Higher Education, Government of India.