IB ACIO Recruitment 2026 Notification, Eligibility Criteria, Selection Process
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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 will soon release a notification announcing the number of vacancies for the post of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade-II/Executive (Group 'C') along with the registartion schedule. The online application process will begin after the release of the notification at www.mha.gov.in.
IB ACIO Notification 2026
The detailed Notification will be released soon at www.mha.gov.in for the recruitment of candidates for ACIO Grade-II/ Executive posts, which will contain 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.
Download IB ACIO (Previous Year) Official Notification PDF
IB ACIO Recruitment 2026- Summary
Candidates with a graduation degree are eligible to apply for the IB ACIO exam for ACIO Grade II Executive vacancies. IB ACIO stands for Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer. It is a General Central Service, Group 'C' post with a Level 7 pay scale, i.e., Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400. The IB ACIO selection process includes Tier 1, Tier 2, and an interview. Check the summarised overview below.
| IB ACIO Recruitment 2026 Overview | |
| Organisation | Intelligence Bureau (IB) |
| Conducting Body | Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) |
| Exam Name | IB ACIO Grade-II/ Executive Examination 2026 |
| Post Name | ACIO Grade 2/ Executive |
| Vacancies | To be Announced |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Dates | To be Notified |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree/Graduation Degree from a recognised University |
| Age Limit | 18 Years to 27 Years |
| Selection Process | Written Test (Tier 1 & Tier 2)- Interview |
| Salary | Rs. 44900/- to Rs. 142400/- |
| Official Website | www.mha.gov.in |
IB ACIO Exam 2026- Important Dates
The detailed notification for the IB ACIO Exam 2026 will be released soon, along with the complete registration schedule. Once the notification is released by the officials, we will also provide all the important dates below.
| Events | Dates |
| Notification Date | Will be Released Soon |
| Registration Start Date | -- |
| Last Date to Apply Online | -- |
| Last Date to pay the application fee online | -- |
| Last Date to pay the application fee offline through the SBI challan | -- |
| IB ACIO Exam Date 2026 | -- |
IB ACIO Grade 2/Executive Vacancy 2026
The IB ACIO vacancies for FY 2026-27 will be released along with the notification. Till the notification is released, candidates can refer to the vacancies released last year.
| IB ACIO Vacancies (Previous Year) | |
| Category | Vacancies |
| General (UR) | 1537 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 556 |
| Schedules Tribe (ST) | 226 |
| Other Backward Castes (OBC-NCL) | 946 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 442 |
| Total | 3717 |
IB ACIO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
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 IB ACIO exam. 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 2026 Exam.
Age Limit
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 2026.
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Maximum Age: 27 years
| IB ACIO Age Relaxation | |
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| Departmental candidates | up 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 2026 Online Application Form
The Intelligence Bureau (IB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, will start the online application process for Indian nationals for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade-II/Executive (ACIO-II/Exe) after the release of the notification. The application process will be conducted at the official website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, www.mha.gov.in and the NCS Portal, www.ncs.gov.in.
IB ACIO 2026 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.
| Fee | All Candidates | General, EWS, OBC (Male) |
| Processing Fee | Rs. 550/- | Rs. 550/- |
| Application Fee | Nil | Rs. 100/- |
| Total Fees | Rs. 550/- | Rs. 650/- |
IB ACIO 2026 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 2026 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 | |||
| Subjects | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time Duration |
| Current Affairs | 20 | 20 | 1 hour |
| General Studies | 20 | 20 | |
| Numerical Aptitude | 20 | 20 | |
| Reasoning and Logical Aptitude | 20 | 20 | |
| English Language | 20 | 20 | |
| Toatk | 100 | 100 | |
| IB ACIO Tier-2 Descriptive | |||
| Essay Writing | 20 | 1 hour | |
| English comprehension | 10 | ||
| 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 Test | 100 | ||
IB ACIO Exam 2026 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.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| UR (General)/OBC/EWS | 35 |
| OBC | 34 |
| SC/ ST | 33 |
IB ACIO 2026 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 link below for the detailed IB ACIO Syllabus for both tier 1 and tier 2.
IB ACIO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026- Click to Check
IB ACIO Previous Year Question Paper- Click to Check
IB ACIO 2026 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 2026 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 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 Test, 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
- General Awareness and Current Affairs: Make a 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.
- 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.
- Reasoning and Logical Aptitude: Candidates must focus on practising a wide range of questions to develop your analytical and problem-solving skills.
- English Language: Candidates must strengthen their English grammar and vocabulary part. Practice reading comprehension and cloze tests at least 3 to 4 per week.
- 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 2026 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/UT | Exam Centres |
| A&N Island | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Guntur, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijaywada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
| Bihar | Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh/Mohali |
| Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar/Durg, Bilaspur CG, Raipur |
| Delhi | Delhi/NCR |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Anand, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara |
| Haryana | Ambala, Hisar |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur HP, Baddi, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Samba, Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Belagavi (Belgaum), Hubbali (Hubli), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi |
| Karala | Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Satna, Ujjain |
| Maharashtra | Amravati, Chattrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Sangali, Satara, Solapur |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong, Ri-Bhoi, Tura |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Dimapur, Kohima |
| Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur-Ganjam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad/Secunderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Warangal |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj, Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
| West Bengal | Asansol, Burdwan, Durgapur, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri |
IB ACIO Past Year Cut Off
Based on the difficulty level of the exam and the number of applicants appearing for the exam, the IB ACIO Cut Off 2026 will be released along with the results. Last time cut-off marks for both tiers can be checked from here to have an idea of what level could be expected this year.
| Category | Tier 1 (Out of 100) | Tier 2 (Out of 50) |
| UR | 65 | 30 |
| OBC | 60 | 25 |
| SC | 50 | 20 |
| ST | 50 | 20 |