The IB ACIO Exam is a national-level examination organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to select eligible candidates for the position of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II/Executive in the Intelligence Bureau (IB). This year, MHA has announced 3717 vacancies for the post of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade-II/Executive (Group 'C') through IB ACIO Recruitment 2025.

Interested candidates can check all details related to the Intelligence Bureau ACIO exam, including notification pdf, Exam Dates, Vacancies, Important Dates, Eligibility, and Selection Process, Exam Pattern, and SYllabus here in this blog article.

IB ACIO 2025 Notification Out 

The detailed IB ACIO notification 2025 has been officially released at www.mha.gov.in for the recruitment of 3717 candidates for ACIO Grade-II/ Executive posts, which contains complete information about the exam. This post falls under the General Central Service, Group ‘C’ (Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial) category and carries a pay scale of Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) as per the 7th Central Pay Commission, along with other admissible Central Government allowances.

Indian candidates with having graduation degree can apply for the IB ACIO Recruitment 2025 exam for 3717 ACIO Grade II Executive vacancies from 19 July to 10th August 2025. Candidates interested in the post can download the IB ACIO Exam 2025 Official Notification PDF by clicking on the link given below.

Download IB ACIO 2025 Official Notification PDF

IB ACIO 2025 Exam Summary

IB ACIO stands for Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer. The selection process for the ACIO Grade II/Executive position includes Tier 1, Tier 2, and an interview. Candidates who are selected will receive a salary ranging from Rs. 44900 to Rs. 142400. For a summarised overview of the IB ACIO Recruitment 2025, refer to the table below.

IB ACIO 2025 Key Higlights
OrganisationIntelligence Bureau (IB)
Conducting BodyMinistry of Home Affairs (MHA)
Exam NameIB ACIO Grade-II/ Executive Examination 2025
Post NameACIO Grade 2/ Executive
Vacancies3717
Registration Dates19th July to 10th August 2025
Education QualificationGraduation or equivalent from recognised organisation
Age Limit18 to 27 years (as on 10.08.2025)
Selection ProcessWritten Test (Tier 1 & Tier 2)- Interview
SalaryRs. 44900/- to Rs. 142400/-
Official Websitewww.mha.gov.in

IB ACIO Grade 2/Executive Vacancy 2025

The IB ACIO vacancies released for FY 2025-26 are 3717, which is then subdivided into various categories (UR, SC, ST, OBC, and EWS). Check the vacancy breakdown from the table below, as mentioned in the notification. 

IB ACIO Vacancies 2024
General (UR)1537
Scheduled Caste (SC)556
Schedules Tribe (ST)226
Other Backward Castes (OBC-NCL)946
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)442
Total3717
ib-acio-vacancy-category-wise

IB ACIO 2025 Important Dates

Candidates have to submit their applications within the duration as notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). As per the schedule, the registration started on 19th July 2025, and the last date to apply online is 10th August 2025 (11:59 pm). 

EventsDates
Notification Date18th July 2025
Registration Start Date19th July 2025
Last Date to Apply Online10th August 2025 (11:59 pm)
Last Date to pay the application fee online10th August 2025
Last Date to pay the application fee offline through the SBI challan12th August 2025
IB ACIO Tier 1 Exam DateSeptember 2025 (expected)

IB ACIO 2025 Exam Dates

As per the previous year's trend and observation, the tier 1 exam is generally conducted after 1 month of the completion of the application process. So, it is expected that the IB ACIO 2025 Tier 1 Exam can be held in September 2025. However, there is no official announcement regarding this and the exact dates will be announced soon by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 

Also Check- IB Security Assistant Recruitment 2025 Notification Out for 4987 Vacancies

IB ACIO 2025 Eligibility

Candidates must check the IB ACIO Eligibility Criteria for ACIO Grade-II/ Executive Exam before applying for the vacancies. 

Nationality

The candidates must be citizens of India to be eligible for the Intelligence Bureau Recruitment 2025. They must have relevant document proof in support of their claim, being citizens of India

Education Qualification

The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree/Graduation Degree from a recognised University to be eligible to apply for the IB ACIO 2025 Exam.

Age Limit (as on 10/08/2025)

The candidate's minimum age should not be less than 18 years, and the maximum age should not be more than 27 years to be eligible to apply online for the IB ACIO Vacancy 2025.

  • Minimum Age: 18 years
  • Maximum Age: 27 years
  • Age Cut-Off Date: 10 August 2025

 

IB ACIO Age Relaxation
CategoryUpper Age Limit
OBC3 years
SC/ST5 years
Departmental candidatesup to 40 years of age who have rendered 3 years of regular and continuous service
Meritorious sportspersons specified in Para 1 (a) of DoP&AR O.M. No. 14015/1/76-Estt.(D), dated 4.8.1980.5 years
Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from their
husbands and not remarried.
UR- 35 years
SC/ST- 40 years

IB ACIO 2025 Application Fee

The application is different for male candidates belonging to the General, EWS, and OBC categories and is different for all other candidates. The application fee is described below. 

FeeAll CandidatesGeneral, EWS, OBC (Male)
Recruitment Processing FeeRs. 550/-Rs. 550/-
Application FeeNilRs. 100/-
Total FeesRs. 550/-Rs. 650/-

IB ACIO 2025 Online Application Form

The Intelligence Bureau (IB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, invites online applications from Indian nationals for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade-II/Executive (ACIO-II/Exe). The application process has already started on 19th July 2025 at the official website of the Ministry of Home Affairs website www.mha.gov.in and the NCS Portal, www.ncs.gov.in. 

MHA is accepting applications from eligible graduate candidates, and the last date to apply is 10th August 2025 (11:59 pm). Prior last date, no application will be accepted. 

IB ACIO Apply Online 2025 Link- Click to Apply

IB ACIO 2025 Selection Process

The candidates have to qualify in three stages to get shortlisted for IB ACIO Grade II/ Executive posts. Based on their performance & normalisation of marks in the Tier-I exam, candidates would be shortlisted for the Tier-II exam. Based on their combined performance in Tier-I and Tier-II, the candidates would be shortlisted for the Tier-III/Interview.

Stage 1/Tier 1- Objective Type

  • 100 MCQs to be solved in 1 hour.
  • 1/4 negative marking
  • Minimum Qualifying Marks: UR- 35, OBC- 34, SC/ST- 33, EWS- 35

Stage 2/Tier 2- Descriptive Type

  • Essay Writing and English comprehension & précis writing

Stage 3/Tier 3- Interview

  • Personality Title and Viva-Voce
  • 100 marks

IB ACIO 2025 Exam Pattern 

The IB ACIO exam pattern involves three stages: Tier I (objective), Tier II (descriptive), and Tier III (interview). Tier I is a 100-mark objective exam with five sections. Tier II is a 50-mark descriptive paper that emphasises essay writing and comprehension. Candidates who pass both Tier I and Tier II are invited for a personality test or interview (Tier III)

IB ACIO Tier-1 Objective Type
SubjectsNo. of QuestionsTotal MarksTime Duration
Current Affairs20201 hour
General Studies2020
Numerical Aptitude2020
Reasoning and Logical Aptitude2020
English Language2020
Total100100
IB ACIO Tier-2 Descriptive
Essay Writing201 hour


 
English comprehension10
Long answer type questions
(2 questions of 10 marks each on Current Affairs, Economics, Socio-political issues etc)
20
Total 50
IB ACIO Tier-3 Interview
 
Personality Test100

IB ACIO Exam 2025 Minimum Qualifying Marks

To qualify for the IB ACIO Tier 1 exam, candidates have to score a minimum marks as set by the exam authority. Check category-wise minimum qualifying marks from here.

CategoryMinimum Qualifying Marks
UR (General)/OBC/EWS35
OBC34
SC/ ST33

IB ACIO 2025 Syllabus

Candidates preparing for SSC Exams like CGL, CHSL, MTS can also prepare for IB ACIO as the exam pattern and subjects are somewhat similar. Tier 1 is an objective (MCQ) exam covering Current Affairs, General Studies, Numerical Aptitude, Reasoning and Logical Aptitude, and English Language. Tier 2 is a descriptive exam focusing on Essay writing, English Comprehension, and Long Answer Questions on current affairs, economics, and socio-political issues. Click on the below link for detailed IB ACIO Syllabus for both tier 1 and tier 2.

IB ACIO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025- Click to Check

IB ACIO Previous Year Question Paper- Click to Check

IB ACIO 2025 Cut Off

Based on the difficulty level of the exam and the number of applicants appearing for the exam, the IB ACIO Cut Off 2025 will be released along with the results. Last time, the exam was held in 2017, and the cut-off marks for both tiers can be checked from here to have an idea of what level could be expected this year.

CategoryTier 1 (Out of 100)Tier 2 (Out of 50)
UR6530
OBC6025
SC5020
ST5020

IB ACIO Cut Off [Previous Year]- Click to Check

IB ACIO 2025 Salary Structure

The candidates shortlisted for Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Grade-II/ Executive posts will be offered a pay matrix of level 7. The pay scale for IB ACIO Grade 2 officers is Rs. 44,900/- to Rs. 1,42,400/-. The basic pay of the initially appointed IB ACIO Grade 2/Executive is Rs. 44,900, which increases after a year of service. For the detailed IB ACIO Salary, click on the link provided below.

  • Pay Scale- Rs. 44,900/- to Rs. 1,42,400/-
  • Pay Level- 7
  • Grade Pay- Rs. 4600
  • Dearness Allowance- 46% of basic pay
  • HRA- 9 to 27% of basic pay
  • Special Security Allowance- 20% of basic pay
  • In hand Salary- Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 90,000 per month, depending on the posting location (X, Y, or Z cities).

IB ACIO Salary Structure- Click to Check

IB ACIO 2025 Preparation Tips

The first and foremost thing is to understand the latest exam pattern, marking scheme, subjects included and syllabus for IB ACIO Exam. Candidates must focus on balancing their preparation altogether for all subjects and tiers instead of focusing solely on one subject. These can provide structure, guidance, and motivation. Adda247 offers online live classes, batches and IB ACIO Mock Tests, including full-length, chapter-wise, and subject-wise tests for IB ACIO preparation. Candidates are also advised to make notes of what they are studying as for last minute revision. 

Section-wise IB ACIO Preparation tips

  1. General Awareness and Current Affairs: Make habit of reading newspapers and editorials daily to stay updated with national and international events happening around. Make notes on government schemes, major organizations, awards, etc. 
  2. Quantitative Aptitude: Candidates must focus on core concepts instead of cramming the solutions and practice regularly to improve speed and accuracy. Use tricks and shortcuts to solve problems faster.
  3. Reasoning and Logical Aptitude: Candidates must focus on practising a wide range of questions to develop your analytical and problem-solving skills.
  4. English Language: Candidates must strengthen their English grammar and vocabulary part. Practice reading comprehension and cloze tests at least 3 to 4 per week.
  5. Descriptive Paper (Tier 2): Practice writing essays on trending security and political topics. Focus on structuring your arguments well and using clear, concise language. Improve your reading comprehension and summarization skills for precis writing.

IB ACIO 2025 Exam Centre List

While filling in the online application form, the applicant has to make his/her choice of exam city and state. The candidate has to choose five (5) options as Exam city for online/Tier-I Exam. Candidates must note that city, once opted, will not be changed under any circumstances.

States/UTExam Centres
A&N IslandPort Blair
Andhra PradeshAnantapur, Guntur, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijaywada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram
Arunachal PradeshNaharlagun
AssamDibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur
BiharArrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea
ChandigarhChandigarh/Mohali
ChhattisgarhBhilai Nagar/Durg, Bilaspur CG, Raipur
DelhiDelhi/NCR
GoaPanaji
GujaratAhmedabad/Gandhinagar, Anand, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara
HaryanaAmbala, Hisar
Himachal PradeshBilaspur HP, Baddi, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla
Jammu & KashmirJammu, Samba, Srinagar
JharkhandDhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
KarnatakaBelagavi (Belgaum), Hubbali (Hubli), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi
KaralaErnakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
LadakhLeh
Madhya PradeshBhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Satna, Ujjain
MaharashtraAmravati, Chattrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Sangali, Satara, Solapur
ManipurImphal
MeghalayaShillong, Ri-Bhoi, Tura
MizoramAizawl
NagalandDimapur, Kohima
OdishaBalasore, Berhampur-Ganjam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur
PunjabAmritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala
RajasthanAjmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur
SikkimGangtok
Tamil NaduChennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore
TelanganaHyderabad/Secunderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Warangal
TripuraAgartala
Uttar PradeshAgra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj, Varanasi
UttarakhandDehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
West BengalAsansol, Burdwan, Durgapur, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri
FAQs

IB ACIO Exam is conducted for the position of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II/Executive within the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Candidates who have completed Graduation or equivalent from recognised organisation are eligible to apply for IB ACIO Exam.

Yes, the IB ACIO (Assistant Central Intelligence Officer) position is a permanent central government job.

The in-hand salary of IB ACIO Executive ranges between Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 90,000 per month, depending on the posting location (X, Y, or Z cities).