Andhra Cadre IPS Officer Mahesh Dixit Appointed as New IB Chief

In a significant reshuffle at the country's top intelligence establishment, the Centre on Thursday appointed Mahesh Dixit , a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre , as the next Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) . The appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Dixit, currently serving as Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau , will take charge on June 30 after the completion of incumbent Tapan Kumar Deka's tenure.

A doctor-turned-IPS officer , Dixit brings over three decades of policing and intelligence experience , including more than 26 years in the Intelligence Bureau , making him one of India's most seasoned intelligence professionals. His appointment comes at a time when the country is facing evolving security challenges ranging from cross-border terrorism and cyber threats to espionage and internal security concerns .

Dixit began his policing career in undivided Andhra Pradesh, serving as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Bellampalli and Nizamabad , Additional SP in Karimnagar , and later as Superintendent of Police, Visakhapatnam . His early assignments exposed him to intelligence gathering and anti-extremism operations before he moved to the Intelligence Bureau, where he spent the bulk of his career.

Within the IB, Dixit held several key operational positions, including multiple stints as head of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Srinagar , one of the agency's most sensitive field formations. He handled intelligence coordination in Jammu & Kashmir , Ladakh , and the Northeast , focusing on counter-terrorism , cross-border infiltration , radicalisation , and internal security .

One of the defining phases of his career came during the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 , when he was heading the SIB in Srinagar. He played a crucial role in coordinating intelligence inputs, monitoring security developments, assessing ground conditions, and supporting agencies in maintaining stability during the transition.

Known for his low-profile, field-oriented leadership , Dixit is regarded within security circles as an officer who prioritises operational intelligence and close coordination between the IB , Army , Central Armed Police Forces , and state police. Before his elevation, he served as the Special Director of the IB , effectively the agency's second-in-command.

Established in 1887 , the Intelligence Bureau is India's premier domestic intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs , responsible for counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and internal security . During his distinguished career, Dixit has been honoured with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service , the Police Medal for Meritorious Service , and the Police Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak .