IB ACIO 2026: Eligibility, Pattern, Exam Dates & Complete Selection Process

IB ACIO is one of the most sought-after Group C government jobs in India. It offers central government employment, intelligence work, and a salary package that crosses Rs. 1 lakh per month. The 2025 recruitment brought 3,717 vacancies. The 2026 notification is expected around October-end, with potentially close to or more vacancies.

This article covers everything about the IB ACIO exam: full form, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, salary, selection process, and what to expect in the upcoming 2026 notification.

What is IB ACIO? What is the Full Form of IB ACIO?

• IB ACIO full form is Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Grade II/Executive.
• IB stands for the Intelligence Bureau.
• ACIO stands for Assistant Central Intelligence Officer
• It is a Group C post under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India
• Post classification: General Central Service, Group C, Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial

The Intelligence Bureau is India’s domestic intelligence agency. ACIO officers work in areas such as counterintelligence, internal security, surveillance, and data analysis.

IB ACIO is not an administrative posting. It is operational work that directly contributes to national security.

What are the Expected Exam Dates of IB ACIO 2026?

The IB ACIO 2026 notification has not been released yet. Here are the expected dates:

The IB ACIO notification PDF will be available on the Ministry of Home Affairs website.

What are the Expected Vacancies of IB ACIO 2026?

The IB ACIO 2026 recruitment is expected to bring:

• 3,000+ vacancies confirmed based on internal process activity.
• The 2025 record of 3,717 vacancies may even be broken in 2026.
• The final category-wise split will be known only after the official IB ACIO notification.

This is a high-vacancy recruitment. Competition exists, but the number of seats is substantial.

IB ACIO 2025 Vacancies

In 2025, IB ACIO recruitment announced 3,717 vacancies, one of the highest in recent years.

Read the full IB ACIO Notification article here

What is the IB ACIO Eligibility Criteria 2026?

Before applying, make sure you meet every eligibility condition. The IB ACIO eligibility is determined as of the application closing date.

What is the IB ACIO Educational Qualification?

• Essential: Graduation or equivalent from a recognised university.
• Desirable: Knowledge of computers (not compulsory)

Note: Final year students who have not received their results by the closing date are not eligible.

What is the IB ACIO Age Limit 2026?

Who Cannot Apply for IB ACIO 2026?

• PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities). The post is not identified suitable for PwBDs
• Non-Indian nationals (only Indian citizens can apply)

Other IB ACIO Eligibility Conditions

• Must be willing to serve anywhere in India
• All India Transfer liability applies to this post

Read the full IB ACIO Eligibility Criteria article here

What is the IB ACIO Exam Pattern 2026?

The IB ACIO selection process has three stages.

IB ACIO Tier 1 Exam Pattern

Marking Scheme:

• 1 mark per correct answer.
• 1/4 negative marking per wrong answer.
• No marks for unattempted questions.
• Questions marked “Mark for Review” are not evaluated.

IB ACIO Tier 2 Exam Pattern

• Minimum 33% (17 out of 50) required in Tier 2 to qualify for Tier 3.

IB ACIO Tier 3 Interview Pattern

• 100 marks
• Personality test conducted by a board
• If you perform well without creating a negative impression, good marks are typically awarded

The Final Merit List for ACIO-II/Executive is prepared strictly on the basis of the combined total performance across all three stages:

Final Score= Tier 1 Marks (100 Marks) + Tier 2 Marks (50 Marks) + Tier 3 Marks (100 Marks)= 250 Marks

Final appointment is provisional and subject to successful completion of the following administrative stages:

• Character & Antecedent Verification: Comprehensive background checks conducted by police and administrative agencies.
• Medical Examination: A medical assessment to confirm fitness for service.
• Document Verification: Verification of essential original documents (Graduation degree proof, Matriculation certificate for DoB, Caste/Category certificates, NOC for government employees, etc.).

If two or more candidates obtain the exact same combined score out of 250, the tie is resolved by applying the following rules in order until resolved:

1. Higher Marks in Tier-III (Interview)
2. Higher Marks in Tier-II (Descriptive)
3. Higher Normalized Marks in Tier-I
4. Date of Birth (Older candidate placed higher)
5. Alphabetical order of first names

Is There a Sectional Cut-Off in IB ACIO Tier 1?

No sectional cut-off. Only the overall cut-off applies in Tier 1:

While scoring these minimum marks is mandatory to qualify, the actual shortlisting cut-off for Tier-2 may go higher depending on the overall performance of candidates and the number of vacancies (since candidates are shortlisted for Tier-2 at 10 times the number of vacancies).

What is the IB ACIO Shortlisting Criteria?

• Tier 2: Candidates shortlisted at 10 times the number of vacancies from Tier 1
• Tier 3: Candidates shortlisted at 5 times the number of vacancies from Tier 2

Read the full IB ACIO Exam Pattern article here

What is the IB ACIO Syllabus 2026?

IB ACIO Tier 1 Syllabus

Current Affairs (20 marks)

• National events: MoUs, summits, major national developments
• International events: Conferences, treaties, global bodies
• Defence: Military exercises, defence acquisitions, updates
• Financial and Economic news
• Government schemes and policy launches
• Reports: Economic Survey, World Bank, IMF reports
• Sports: Major tournaments and winners
• Awards and honours
• Science, Technology, Space
• Persons in news: Appointments, obituaries
• Important days and their themes

This is the most important section in Tier 1. Candidates who are weak in current affairs cannot clear IB ACIO regardless of performance in other sections.

General Studies (20 marks)

• History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern India
• Geography: Physical and political geography of India and world
• Polity: Constitution, Parliament, Fundamental Rights
• Economics: Basic concepts, Indian economy
• Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology at 10th-12th level
• Environment and Ecology

Numerical Aptitude (20 marks)

• Percentage, Profit and Loss, Discount
• Ratio and Proportion
• Number System
• Time and Work, Pipes and Cistern
• Time, Speed, and Distance
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Data Interpretation

Reasoning / Logical Aptitude (20 marks)

• Coding and Decoding
• Blood Relations
• Seating Arrangement
• Puzzles
• Analogies
• Series
• Syllogism
• Direction Sense
• Ranking

English (20 marks)

• Grammar: Error Detection, Sentence Improvement
• Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Phrasal Verbs
• Reading Comprehension
• Close Test

IB ACIO Tier 2 Syllabus

Essay (20 marks):

• Current national and international topics
• Socio-economic issues
• Topics related to defence, governance, technology

English Comprehension (10 marks):

• Unseen passage followed by questions

Long Answer Questions (20 marks):

• Current Affairs
• Economics: Growth, inflation, policy
• Socio-political issues: Governance, welfare, rights

Read the detailed IB ACIO Syllabus article here

How Should You Prepare for IB ACIO 2026?

When the IB ACIO notification comes, typically only 2 months are available before Tier 1.

That is why you should start now, before the notification. Those who prepare in advance are the ones who actually clear the exam.

IB ACIO 4 Month Preparation Strategy

Section-Wise Preparation Tips

Current Affairs:

• Most critical section. Missing here makes clearing impossible.
• Read The Hindu or Indian Express daily
• Focus on: defence, government schemes, economic news, international events, appointments

General Studies:

• NCERTs for History (Class 6-12), Geography (Class 6-10), Polity (Class 9-10)
• Science: NCERT Class 9-10

Numerical Aptitude:

• Focus on speed and accuracy
• Topics: Percentage, Profit-Loss, Ratio, Number System, Time-Work, DI

Reasoning:

• Practice daily with varied question types
• Puzzles and seating arrangements need the most practice

English:

• Read English newspapers daily
• Practice error detection and vocabulary from previous papers

For Tier 2:

• Write practice essays twice a week on current topics
• Practice long answer format with 150-200 word answers

Best Books for IB ACIO Preparation

Read the full IB ACIO Preparation Strategy article here

What is the Powers and Duties of IB ACIO ?

As an IB ACIO officer, the power and duties are:

• Counter Intelligence: Identifying and neutralising foreign intelligence operations within India.
• Internal Security: Monitoring activities that threaten national integrity.
• Surveillance: Field and technical surveillance operations.
• Data Analysis: Processing intelligence inputs and preparing threat assessment reports.

This is not a desk job. It is operational work that directly serves national security. Officers are deployed based on transfer requirements across India.

Important note: All India Transfer liability is a condition of service. Candidates must be willing to serve anywhere in India.

Read the full IB ACIO Job Profile article here

What is the Promotion Path of IB ACIO?

As an IB ACIO officer, the career progression path within the Intelligence Bureau is as follows:

Promotions are based on performance, seniority, and departmental requirements. The Intelligence Bureau has internal promotion channels that reward consistent performers.

What is the IB ACIO Salary 2026? In-Hand Pay, Allowances, & Perks

IB ACIO Gross Salary Breakdown (Approximate)

HRA varies by city class: X cities (27%), Y cities (18%), Z cities (9%). Gross salary is higher in metro postings.

IB ACIO In-Hand Salary

After standard deductions (NPS contribution 10% of basic + DA, CGHS, and other deductions):

The in-hand figure varies based on city class (X, Y, Z), HRA eligibility, and individual deductions.

IB ACIO Additional Perks and Benefits

• Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) coverage
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• NPS-based pension
• Cash compensation for duty on holidays (up to 30 days ceiling)
• Central government accommodation (where available)

Read the full IB ACIO Salary article

What is Life Like as an IB ACIO Officer?

Work Environment

• Work involves field operations and intelligence gathering
• Different from a typical government desk job
• Involves a mix of field work, report writing, and analysis

Postings and Transfers

• Officers are posted across India based on operational requirements
• All India Transfer liability applies
• Transfers occur based on departmental needs, not on a fixed schedule

Work Culture

• Work is mission-driven and operationally significant
• The organisation functions under MHA with a security-oriented culture

What are the IB ACIO Exam Centres?

In the 2025 notification, IB offered 148 examination cities across all states and union territories.

Major cities included:

Important rules:

• Candidates choose 5 city preferences at registration.
• City once opted cannot be changed under any circumstances.
• Final centre allotment is at IB’s discretion.

How to Register for IB ACIO Exam: Step-by-Step Application Guide

Applications for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO-II/Executive) exam are accepted strictly online through the Ministry of Home Affairs official portal or the National Career Service (NCS) portal. No offline or hard-copy application forms are accepted.

Follow this detailed guide to ensure your registration is submitted without errors.

Documents & Details to Keep Ready

Before starting the online application form, ensure you have the following documents and details ready:

1. Active Email ID & Mobile Number must remain active throughout the recruitment process. Application Sequence Number (ASN) and official alerts will be sent here.
2. Passport Size Photograph

• Format: JPG / JPEG
• File Size: 100 KB to 200 KB
• Dimensions: 35mm width x 45mm height
• Recency: Not older than 12 weeks. Coloured photo with a light gray or white background. Face must cover 70-80% of the photograph.

3. Scanned Signature

• Format: JPG / JPEG
• File Size: 80 KB to 150 KB
• Requirement: Signed on plain white paper with a Black Ink Pen.

4. Valid Photo ID Proof: Government-issued photo ID proof, such as Voter ID, Driving License, Passport, PAN Card, or College ID.
5. Educational Certificates: Class X, Class XII, and Graduation / Post-Graduation marksheets and passing certificates.
6. Category / Reservation Proof: SC, ST, OBC (Central List), EWS, Ex-Servicemen, or Meritorious Sportsperson certificate if applicable.

Step-by-Step Online Registration Process

The application process is divided into two distinct steps:

Step-I: Basic Registration & Credential Generation

1. Visit Official Portal: Go to the official MHA website or NCS Portal and click on the registration link for ACIO-II/Exe Recruitment.
2. Read Instructions & Agree: Read the general instructions carefully. Select the “I Agree” checkbox and click on the “Registration/Sign-up” button.
3. Fill Personal Details: Enter your basic details correctly including Full Name (as per Class 10 certificate), Date of Birth, Gender, Mobile Number, and Email ID.
4. Submit & Receive ASN: Submit Step-I. Once submitted, an automated Application Sequence Number (ASN) and Password will be sent to your registered mobile number and email ID.
5. Log Out: Log out of the application system after receiving your registration credentials.

Step-II: Form Completion, Document Upload & Fee Payment

1. Re-login: Log in again using your Application Sequence Number (ASN) and Password.
2. Fill Category & Preferences:

• Select your Category (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, Ex-Serviceman). Note that the category once submitted cannot be changed under any circumstances.
• Select five preferred examination cities in vertical preference order.
• Fill in educational qualification details for Class X, XII, and Graduation.

3. Upload Photo & Signature:

• Upload the scanned copy of your recent coloured photograph (100-200 KB in JPG/JPEG).
• Upload your scanned signature signed in black ink (80-150 KB in JPG/JPEG).

4. Preview Application: Review the complete application preview carefully to ensure there are no spelling mistakes, hazy images, or incorrect inputs. Information cannot be modified after final submission.
   
5. Fee Payment: You will be automatically redirected to the SBI ePay Lite gateway to deposit the fee:

6. Print Confirmation Page: After successful payment, download and print the final confirmation page and fee receipt for future reference.

Important Guidelines & Mistakes to Avoid

• Single Application Policy: Submit only one application. Submitting multiple applications will result in the cancellation of all submissions.
• No Editing Post-Submission: You can edit details only before final submission of Step-I and Step-II. Once submitted, no details can be altered.
• Photo Consistency: Keep extra physical prints of the exact same photograph uploaded during registration. Carrying a different photograph to subsequent exam stages may result in cancellation.
• Preserve Credentials: Store your Application Sequence Number (ASN) safely. If you lose access to both your registered mobile number and email ID, retrieving your ASN will not be possible.
• Helpdesk Support: In case of technical queries during online application filling, use the Helpdesk Tab in the portal or call 022-61087513 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Saturday).

What is the IB ACIO Application Fee?

Processing charges are paid by all candidates regardless of category.

Payment modes: Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, SBI Challan (offline)

Read the full IB ACIO Registration step-by-step guide here

IB ACIO Result: How to Check?

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) declare the Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO-II/Executive) results in multiple phases: Tier-1 (Objective), Tier-2 (Descriptive), and Tier-3 (Interview).

The results are published online on MHA’s official portals as a merit list PDF containing the roll numbers of shortlisted candidates.

IB ACIO 2025-2026 Recruitment Result Status

For the IB ACIO Grade-II / Executive 2025 recruitment cycle (3,717 vacancies):

• Tier-1 Result Date: November 21, 2025
• Tier-2 Result Date: March 5, 2026
• Final Result Date (Tier-1 + Tier-2 + Tier-3): June 3, 2026

Candidates clearing Tier-1 are shortlisted for Tier-2 at 10 times the number of vacancies. The final selection is based on the combined performance across all three stages out of a total of 250 marks.

Step-by-Step Process to Check IB ACIO Result

Follow these steps to check and download the IB ACIO result from the official portal:

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the official Ministry of Home Affairs portal or the NCS portal.
2. Navigate to Recruitment Section: Click on the “What’s New” or “Recruitment / Results” tab on the homepage.
3. Click the Result Link: Look for the link titled “Result of ACIO-II/Executive Examination” (Tier-1, Tier-2, or Final Result) and click on it.
4. Download the Result PDF: The link opens the official selection list PDF file containing the roll numbers of qualified candidates. Download and save the file.
5. Search Your Roll Number: Press Ctrl + F on your keyboard (or use the search tool on mobile) and type your Roll Number to check your qualification status.

Details Mentioned on the IB ACIO Result PDF

The official result PDF includes the following key information:

• Name of the Examination (IB ACIO Grade-II / Executive Examination).
• Roll Numbers of Provisionally Shortlisted Candidates.
• Schedule and instructions for the next selection stage (Tier-2 Descriptive, Tier-3 Interview, or Document Verification).
• Instructions regarding provisional candidates (marked with ‘P’) who have document verifications pending.