In a recent move reflecting the current national security climate, the Centre on Tuesday extended the tenure of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Kumar Deka by one year, beyond his current term ending June 30, 2025.
According to an official order from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), the extension has been approved “in relaxation of the provisions of FR 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.” The order allows Deka to continue as the IB Director until June 30, 2026, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
A 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Deka was first appointed IB Director in 2022 for a fixed two-year tenure. He received his first extension in June 2024, and this second consecutive extension comes amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, signaling the Centre’s desire for continuity in intelligence leadership during a critical period.
Deka is a seasoned intelligence officer with over three decades of experience in the IB. He has held key roles, including Joint Director, Special Director, and Head of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Assam. He is particularly known for his operational expertise in counter-terrorism and has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s internal security strategies.
His leadership has been credited with strengthening ground-level intelligence networks, especially in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, and ensuring swift coordination between central and state intelligence units.
