File picture of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with IB Chief Tapan Kumar Deka. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday extended the services of Tapan Kumar Deka, a 1988 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as Director of the Intelligence Bureau for another year. Mr. Deka, 62, an officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed as IB chief in 2022. This is the second time his tenure has been extended by a year.

The officer will now remain in office at least until June 30, 2026.

The extension comes in the wake of the evolving security situation following Operation Sindoor. It was based on precise information provided by the IB that the terror camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were destroyed by the Indian armed forces on May 7.

Mr. Deka’s term was originally set to end on June 30.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Mr. Deka’s extension as the Director, Intelligence Bureau, for a period of one year beyond June 30, 2025,” an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

His extension is “in relaxation of the provisions of FR 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of All India Services (Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958”, said the order, which was issued more than a month before the completion of his current extended term.

The rules allow the Union government to extend, “in the public interest”, the services of the chiefs of the IB and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, and others beyond the superannuation age of 60 years.