'Superspy' Tapan Kumar Deka Gets Another One-Year Extension As Intelligence Bureau Chief
IB chief Tapan Kumar Deka, an expert in terrorism and radicalization, receives a one-year extension until June 2026, as approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Tapan Kumar Deka, Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), has been granted another one-year extension in service, according to a government order issued on Tuesday. A 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Deka is widely regarded for his expertise in counter-terrorism and handling radicalisation cases.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension of Deka’s tenure beyond 30 June 2025. His service will now continue for one more year or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension in service of Shri Tapan Kumar Deka, IPS (HP:88) as Director, Intelligence Bureau for a period of one year beyond 30.06.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in relaxation of the provisions of FR 56 (d) and Rule 16 (1A) of All India Services (Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958,” the order stated.
These provisions allow the Central Government to extend the service of top officials such as the heads of IB, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Cabinet Secretary, and the Home Secretary in “public interest”, even beyond the retirement age of 60 years.
Deka, who was first appointed as the IB chief in June 2022 for a two-year term, was previously granted an extension in 2023, which was to conclude in June 2025.
About 'Superspy' Tapan Kumar Deka
Popularly referred to as the “superspy” within intelligence circles, Deka has held key positions over the years. He led the operations wing of the IB for over two decades before taking over as the agency’s chief. He played a significant role in the counter-assault operations during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
Known for his operational acumen, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, Deka has been instrumental in counter-terror operations against groups like the Indian Mujahideen. He also managed the law and order situation in Assam following the large-scale unrest that erupted after the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019.
Within the government and the intelligence community, Deka is considered a crisis manager with in-depth experience in tackling Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
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