The Center has appointed Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Mahesh Dixit as the new head of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), according to people familiar with the matter.
Dixit succeeds Tappan Deka, and will take over after the end of his extended term on June 30. Deka, a 1988 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre officer, was appointed IB president in 2022 and was given two one-year extensions thereafter.
The IB is India’s premier domestic spy agency that collects intelligence on several issues, including terrorism, conflicts in different regions, threat assessments related to government policies and counter-intelligence. It also provides assistance to other agencies and police forces.
Who is Mahesh Dixit?
A 1993 batch IPS officer, Dixit is from Andhra Pradesh cadre. He currently holds the position of Special Director of IB, the second highest position in the agency, and oversees important operations in various sectors, according to an earlier HT report.
A qualified doctor turned law enforcement professional, Dixit has extensive operational and intelligence experience in dealing with internal security challenges, officials said.
He also has experience in the field of combating terrorism. Before being appointed Special Director of the IB, he headed the sensitive Intelligence Sub-Bureau in Kashmir, and played a key role in maintaining law and order in the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370. He also has experience in dealing with regional security threats, having managed diverse portfolios ranging from operations in the Northeast and Ladakh to anti-Naxal offices, news agency PTI reported.
What did the government order say?
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Dixit’s appointment for a period of two years.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mahesh Dixit, IPS (AP:93), Special Director, Intelligence Bureau, as Director, Intelligence Bureau, Deputy Shri Tapan Kumar Deka, IPS, for a period of two years from the date of his assumption of office or until further orders, whichever is earlier, by granting extension in service….” He reads the government order regarding his appointment.
The Dixit government has granted him extension in service under the provisions of Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (d) and Rule 16 (1A) of the All Indian Services (Retirement and Death Benefits) Rules, 1958, to enable him to serve in the top intelligence post, news agency ANI reported.
During the tenure of current IB chief Deka, the intelligence agency focused on counter-terrorism operations, intelligence coordination and emerging security threats, according to ANI.
(With inputs from Neeraj Chauhan)
