New Delhi: Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Kumar Deka has been given a one-year extension, allowing him to continue at the helm of India’s internal intelligence agency until June 2026, according to a government announcement made on Tuesday.
Deka, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1988 batch (Himachal Pradesh cadre), is widely acknowledged for his extensive experience in counterterrorism, particularly in operations involving Pakistan-backed groups and radical networks.
His expertise has been instrumental in managing security challenges in sensitive regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension beyond his scheduled retirement date of June 30, 2025, under provisions that permit service continuation in the national interest.
This marks his second consecutive one-year extension as IB Director.
Deka’s service tenure has been extended under special rules that allow top-level positions—such as those of the IB and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chiefs, Cabinet Secretary, and Home Secretary—to continue past the typical retirement age of 60, when deemed necessary.
ALSO READ: Barpeta launches District Monitoring Committee to ensure accessible elections for PwDs
Before being appointed IB chief in 2022, Deka led the agency’s operations division for more than 20 years.
His leadership was critical in countering the Indian Mujahideen’s activities during the 2000s, and he played a key role during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, overseeing counter-assault efforts.
He also received recognition for managing unrest in Assam during the protests following the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019, successfully navigating the complex security situation.
