Mr. Jain was to demit office on December 30 and Mr. Dhasmana a day earlier.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved six-month extension to Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) Secretary A.K Dhasmana.

The heads of country's internal and external intelligence wings had a fixed tenure of two-year each.

Mr. Jain was to demit office on December 30 and Mr. Dhasmana a day earlier.

The two officers will remain in office during the next year general election

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension in service of Rajiv Jain, Director, Intelligence Bureau for a period of 6 months beyond the present tenure i.e. 30.12.2018, in relaxation of Rule 16(1A) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rule, 1958 and FR 56," a Government Order said.

"Extension in service of A.K. Dhasmana, Secretary, Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) for a period of 6 months beyond the present tenure i.e. 29.12.2018, in relaxation of FR 56 and Rule 16(1A) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rule, 1958," the order said.

The ACC also redesignated IAS officer Anil Srivastava, Advisor, NITI Aayog as Principal Adviser in NITI Aayog.