Ms. Rajbala Rana is a Research Analyst in the Internal Security Centre at MP-IDSA. She holds a Master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Punjabi University, Patiala and also qualified the UGC-NET & JRF. Her broader research interests include issues related to national security, internal security, Maoist insurgency, and demographic challenges. She was associated with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on projects related to demographic disaster and mainstreaming of apprehended Maoist cadres.

Prior to joining MP-IDSA, Ms. Rana had teaching stints at Government College, Chandigarh; Department of Distance Education, Punjabi University and Government Mohindra College, Patiala. She also has a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management.

Her publications include:

• Internal Security: A Psychological Approach by Major General Sanjay Bhide, Book Review, ournal of Defence Studies, Vol. 15, No. 2, April-June 2021.
• “COVID-19: Impact on Left Wing Extremism in India”, MP-IDSA Comment, April 28, 2020.
• “Naxalite Violence and India’s Security: Linkages”, in Sanjay Kumar and Anurag Jaiswal (eds.), Threats to India’s Internal Security: Issues and Challenges, Mohit Publications, New Delhi, 2014.
• “How the new government must tackle the Maoist threat?”, rediff.com, June 2014 (co-authored with Dr. P.V. Ramana).
• “Naxalite Movement and the State Response: An Appraisal”, Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking, Centre for Defence Sciences (Research & Development), Allahabad, 3 (1), January-June 2013.
• “Naxalite Movement: A Socio-Economic Perspective”, Third Concept, 306, August 2012.
• “Naxalite Movement and Salwa Judum: An Appraisal”, Suraksha Chintan, Advanced Research Institute for Defence and Security Studies, Meerut, 4 (4), January 2012.