Mahesh Dixit Appointed New IB chief

Senior IPS officer Mahesh Dixit is the new Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He takes over from Tapan Kumar Deka, whose extended term is ending soon. Dixit, from the 1993 Telangana IPS batch, has worked in counter-terrorism and internal security.

Before this, he was Special Director at IB headquarters and previously led the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Srinagar. In Jammu and Kashmir, he worked to maintain internal security, counter terrorist groups, and monitor cross-border threats during a challenging time.

In that position, he managed intelligence work across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. He kept track of overground workers and foreign handlers, and gave real-time updates that helped the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police act quickly.

His leadership was important in the first years after the reorganisation, when there were fewer stone-pelting incidents, terror attacks, and infiltration attempts. By improving interagency cooperation and enhancing surveillance, he supported political steps such as restoring democratic institutions and holding assembly elections.

People in the intelligence community recognise his strong understanding of security issues in the Valley. His appointment comes as the IB faces new challenges like terrorism from Pakistan, radicalisation, and hybrid threats. Officials think Dixit’s experience and leadership in tough areas will make the agency stronger.
Tapan Deka, from the 1988 Himachal Pradesh IPS batch, became IB Director in July 2022. His term was extended twice to keep things steady during tough security times. Moving to Dixit is seen as a way to maintain stability while also bringing a new focus.

Sources say the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment. Dixit’s promotion should be officially announced soon. Security experts view this as a good choice because of his work in Jammu and Kashmir and his understanding of how the IB operates.