New Delhi: In a rare administrative distinction, only two officers from the 1988 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) remain in active service today — Tapan Kumar Deka, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and Kailash Makwana, Director General of Police of Madhya Pradesh.
Both officers, from different cadres and vastly different policing domains, continue to hold some of the most sensitive positions in India’s security and law enforcement architecture.
Kailash Makwana: Engineer-Turned IPS Leading Madhya Pradesh Police
From Malwa to the Top Post
- Kailash Makwana, a 1988-batch IPS officer, currently serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Madhya Pradesh. He assumed office on December 1, 2024, succeeding Sudhir Saxena.
- Born on December 11, 1965, in the Malwa region of Ujjain district, Makwana comes from an academic background.
- Bachelor of Engineering from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal (formerly MACT)
- M.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
During his college years, he was known for his love of music and even won first prize in group singing on Independence Day in 1983.
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Career Milestones
Makwana joined the IPS on August 30, 1988. His career spans over three decades of field and administrative policing.
- Early Assignments (1989–1993)
- Additional SP in Durg, Morena, and Jabalpur
- District Leadership (1994–1999)
- Superintendent of Police in sensitive and Naxal-affected regions such as Dantewada and Bastar
- SP in Mandsaur and Betul
Lokayukta Role
In 2022, he served as DG of the Special Police Establishment (SPE) Lokayukta, where he gained national attention for initiating corruption cases against senior IAS and IFS officers.
Senior Leadership Positions
He has served as:
- ADG Intelligence
- ADG Narcotics
- ADG CID
- ADG Administration
Chairman, MP Police Housing Corporation
Transfers and Tenure Extension
Makwana’s career saw significant administrative churn, including seven transfers in just 3.5 years between 2019 and 2022.
Originally scheduled to retire in December 2025, his tenure as DGP was extended to ensure a full two-year term. He will now remain in service until November 30, 2026.
In November 2025, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his contributions to public service.
Tapan Kumar Deka: The “Superspy” Leading India’s Intelligence Bureau
From Assam Movement to IB Chief
Tapan Kumar Deka, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, currently heads the Intelligence Bureau.
- Born on February 25, 1963, in Tezpur, Assam, he hails from Sarthebari in Barpeta district.
- Master’s degree in Physics from University of Delhi
- Prominent leader of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)
- Active participant in the Assam Movement (1979–1985)
He became the first officer from Northeast India to head the IB.
Counter-Terrorism Expert and Crisis Manager
Widely regarded as a “crisis manager,” Deka has nearly two decades of experience in intelligence operations.
- Counter-Terror Operations
- Spearheaded operations against the Indian Mujahideen
- Instrumental in the arrest of IM founder Yasin Bhatkal in Nepal
Key National Security Investigations
He played major roles in investigations related to:
- The 2008 Mumbai attacks
- The 2008 Assam bombings
- The Pathankot airbase attack
- The Pulwama attack
- Security coordination during the Balakot surgical strike
He has also handled volatile security situations in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, including managing post-CAA protests in Assam in 2019.
Tenure as IB Director
Deka took charge as the 28th Director of the Intelligence Bureau on July 1, 2022, succeeding Arvind Kumar.
Originally appointed for two years, he received:
- One-year extension in 2024
- A second one-year extension in May 2025 by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
- He will now serve until June 30, 2026.
He was awarded the President’s Police Medal in 2012 for distinguished service.
Two Officers, Two Domains, One Batch
While Kailash Makwana leads conventional policing in a major state, Tapan Deka oversees India’s internal intelligence network.
Both officers represent:
- Over three decades of service
- Deep field and operational experience
- Continued trust of the Union government through tenure extensions
As most of their batchmates have retired, they remain the final serving representatives of the 1988 IPS cohort — holding two of the country’s most sensitive law enforcement positions.
