What we can call an unexpected fallout-like situation between two top helms on the appointment of the next NTRO chief shows a serious picture of a clash between competency and ego. According to a recent news report, three IPS officers were in the zone of consideration for NTRO Chief- DG CRPF Anish Dayal, former J&K DGP R.R Swain and DG RPF Manoj Yadava. The process to appoint a full-fledged NTRO chief has been floating for a few months, considering Arun Sinha's six-month extension, which was due to end in October. 

The top brass of PMO is said to have cleared Manoj Yadava's name but was turned down by the MHA. Later, MHA floated Anish Dayal's name and sent it to PMO. Surprisingly, the PMO turned down Dayal's name. According to the news report, the preliminary level suggests an ego battle at the top helms. However, top sources of power corridors have hinted towards a more credible sight, a case of "competency and institutional future."

Top sources say that while all three candidates have decent experience in Intelligence activities, the crucial factor of strategic foresight in tradecraft is lacking. This gap in the three officers has been noted by MHA and PMO, with each department reacting differently to this deficit. 

With MHA and PMO both identifying deficits in their respective candidates, the NTRO is now in a deadlock situation, a well-placed source said. The NTRO, which has always had a R&AW boss, is now facing a situation where even former R&AW man R.R Swain, who spent 15 years in R&AW, is seen to be out of contention. The reason is said to be poor strategic decision making and intelligence management during his tenure as J&K DGP. 

For time being two months of extension has been given to Arun Sinha till December 2024 but NTRO has again fallen in turf war a decade ago it was with R&AW's Aviation Research Centre on clash of mandate and utility of NTRO and now its turf war for its Chief. Top sources say that considering evolving threats and intelligence management issues, PMO is considering a new man who is not only capable of handling technical intelligence but also rightly assessing skills tempered with a pre-emptive mindset. After Nitin Agarwal episode, the top brass is now careful in selecting officers for critical tasks. If India's intelligence management issues need a way out, it must avoid a bureaucratic approach and officers with naive tradecraft skills.