CURRENT AFFAIRS | 26 JUNE 2026
The Union Government has appointed Mahesh Dixit, a 1993-batch IPS officer, as the next Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) — India’s internal-security and domestic-intelligence agency. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment, which carries a fixed tenure. For CLAT aspirants, this is a high-value “who’s who” + polity fact that also tests the difference between India’s internal and external intelligence agencies.
The officer and the agency
Dixit, of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, brings over 26 years in the IB, including two stints in Jammu & Kashmir and experience countering hybrid terrorism; he earlier served as SP of Visakhapatnam district. The IB works under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is among the world’s oldest intelligence agencies, tracing its origins to 1887.
A common CLAT trap is confusing the IB with R&AW. The IB handles internal/domestic intelligence; the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), created in 1968, handles external intelligence.
Bodies & Distinctions to Know
- Intelligence Bureau (IB) — internal intelligence, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- R&AW — external intelligence, created in 1968.
- Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) — chaired by the PM; decides top appointments.
- IPS — the all-India service to which Mahesh Dixit belongs (1993 batch).
Why This Matters for CLAT
A classic defence/security + polity item. Examiners love the IB-vs-R&AW internal/external distinction, the role of the ACC, and the static fact that the IB is one of the world’s oldest agencies (1887). Lock in the name Mahesh Dixit as the incoming IB Director.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Appointee | Mahesh Dixit (1993-batch IPS) |
| Post | Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB) |
| Cadre | Andhra Pradesh |
| Approved by | Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) |
| IB type | Internal/domestic intelligence, under MHA |
| IB origins | Traces to 1887 (one of world’s oldest) |
| R&AW | External intelligence; created 1968 |
| Experience | 26+ years in IB; two J&K stints; counter-hybrid-terror |
Memory Hook (Mnemonic)
IB = Internal (under MHA) · R&AW = Reach Abroad (external). Dixit → next IB chief.
Test Yourself: 10 CLAT-Style MCQs
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Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
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