Ajit Doval has been granted cabinet status and five more years as the National Security Adviser

Ajit Doval has been granted cabinet status and five more years as the National Security Adviser (NSA). "He has been given cabinet rank in recognition of his contribution in the national security domain," officials said.

There had been much speculation about Ajit Doval after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for the second time last week, with his longtime aide Amit Shah as the new Home Minister and former Home Minister Rajnath Singh moving to Defence.

Ajit Doval, as the man in charge of the national security establishment that includes all anti-terror and intelligence outfits, is among the most powerful officers in the country. The 1968-batch Indian Police Service officer was a former Intelligence Bureau chief.

Mr Doval oversaw the Balakot air strike after the Pulwama terror attack and the 2016 surgical strikes after the Uri strike.

In India's three-tier internal security structure, the National Security Council is headed by the Prime Minister. There is also a strategic policy group and a National Security Advisory Board. Mr Doval works as the secretary of the National Security Council.