The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Tapan Kumar Deka’s tenure as Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for one more year, beyond his current term, which is set to end on June 30, 2025. This marks the second extension of Deka’s tenure, allowing him to continue in the prestigious role until June 2026.
The extension has been granted in relaxation of the provisions under FR 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, which typically impose limits on tenure extensions for senior officers.
About Tapan Kumar Deka
Mr. Deka, an officer of the 1988 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has led the Intelligence Bureau since his appointment as its Director. His continued leadership comes at a time when the agency remains crucial in addressing national security concerns and intelligence gathering.
IPS officer Deka has spent the majority of his career in the Intelligence Bureau. He was appointed Additional Director in the IB before being promoted to the rank of Special Director in June of last year.
One of the most experienced IPS officers in the IB and in counter-terrorism, IPS Deka was appointed as the chief of counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir. He has previously held positions as Deputy Director, Joint Director, Additional Director, and Special Director within the Intelligence Bureau. During the Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Assam, Tapan Deka played a key role in managing the protests and restoring normalcy, in accordance with the advice of India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah.
Mr Deka was the mastermind behind the investigation into the 2008 Assam bombings case. He also oversaw the investigations into the Pathankot air base attack and the Pulwama attack, and played a pivotal role in the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, the founder of Indian Mujahideen (IM), from Nepal. He is believed to be a key official involved in the surgical strike in Balakot, Pakistan.
His tenure extension reflects the confidence the government places in Deka’s leadership and expertise in the intelligence domain.
About IB
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India’s premier internal security and intelligence agency, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Established in 1887 by the British colonial government, it is one of the oldest intelligence agencies in the world. Initially, it was created to manage security and intelligence issues related to the British Empire, but over time, it evolved to become a critical component of India’s security framework post-independence.
