Research and Analysis Wing — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

For Prelims, focus on factual recall: establishment year (1968), founder (R.N. Kao), reporting structure (PM through Cabinet Secretariat), legal framework (Intelligence Organizations Act 1985), and clear distinction from IB (external vs internal).

Memorize key dates, acts, and organizational relationships. Common traps include confusing RAW's reporting with IB's (Home Minister), mixing up establishment dates of different agencies, and incorrectly attributing internal security functions to RAW.

Use elimination technique by first identifying whether the question is about internal or external intelligence, then applying specific agency knowledge. Practice questions often combine RAW with other agencies, so maintain clear conceptual boundaries.

Pay attention to recent developments like cyber intelligence capabilities and coordination mechanisms, as these frequently appear in current affairs-based questions.