The IB ACIO Exam is a prestigious national-level recruitment process conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to select candidates for the Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II/Executive role within the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The MHA will soon release the official notification detailing the total vacancies and the registration schedule for this Group 'C' post. Once notified, the online application portal will open at www.mha.gov.in.
IB ACIO Notification 2026
The forthcoming detailed notification at www.mha.gov.in will provide critical information regarding the ACIO Grade-II/Executive recruitment process. This position is classified under General Central Service, Group 'C' (Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial) and offers a competitive pay scale of Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) under the 7th Central Pay Commission, supplemented by standard Central Government allowances.
Download IB ACIO (Previous Year) Official Notification PDF
IB ACIO Recruitment 2026- Summary
Graduates are eligible to apply for the Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II Executive position. As a Level 7, Group 'C' government role, the selection process is rigorous, comprising a Tier 1 (Objective), Tier 2 (Descriptive), and a final Tier 3 (Interview) stage. Refer to the overview below for a summary of the recruitment cycle.
| 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 official IB ACIO 2026 examination notification and the complete registration roadmap will be published shortly. We will provide all critical exam dates and schedule updates on this page as soon as they are officially announced.
| 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
Vacancy details for the 2026-27 fiscal year will be officially disclosed alongside the recruitment notification. In the meantime, candidates are encouraged to review the previous year's vacancy trends to gauge expected hiring numbers.
| 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
Before submitting an application, all aspirants must carefully review the IB ACIO Eligibility Criteria for the Grade-II/Executive post to ensure they meet the mandatory standards.
Nationality
Candidates must be Indian citizens to be eligible for the IB ACIO examination. Applicants should ensure they possess valid documentation to verify their citizenship status upon request.
Education Qualification
To qualify for the IB ACIO 2026 selection process, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent graduation qualification from a recognized university or institution.
Age Limit
The age limit for the IB ACIO 2026 vacancy requires candidates to be at least 18 years of age, with an upper age limit of 27 years as of the specified notification cutoff date.
- 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
Upon release of the notification, the Intelligence Bureau (MHA) will initiate the online application process for Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO-II/Exe) posts. Eligible candidates can submit their applications via the official MHA website (www.mha.gov.in) or the NCS Portal (www.ncs.gov.in).
IB ACIO 2026 Application Fee
Application fees vary based on the applicant's category, with distinct structures for male candidates under General, EWS, and OBC categories compared to other applicant groups. The specific fee details are outlined 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
Selection for the IB ACIO Grade-II/Executive role is a three-stage process. Performance and normalization in the Tier-I exam determine eligibility for Tier-II. Subsequently, performance across both Tier-I and Tier-II is used to shortlist candidates for the final Tier-III interview round.
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 examination pattern consists of a 100-mark Tier I objective test, a 50-mark Tier II descriptive paper focusing on essay and comprehension skills, and a Tier III personality test/interview for qualified candidates.
| 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 progress past the Tier 1 examination, candidates must meet the minimum qualifying marks established by the authorities. Review the category-specific cutoff requirements below.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| UR (General)/OBC/EWS | 35 |
| OBC | 34 |
| SC/ ST | 33 |
IB ACIO 2026 Syllabus
Candidates preparing for SSC CGL, CHSL, or MTS will find the IB ACIO curriculum familiar. Tier 1 covers General Studies, Current Affairs, Numerical Aptitude, Reasoning, and English, while Tier 2 evaluates essay writing, English comprehension, and socio-economic awareness. Click the link below for the complete IB ACIO Syllabus.
IB ACIO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026- Click to Check
IB ACIO Previous Year Question Paper- Click to Check
IB ACIO 2026 Salary Structure
Selected ACIO Grade-II/Executive officers receive a Level 7 pay scale (Rs. 44,900 – Rs. 1,42,400), with a starting basic salary of Rs. 44,900, which is subject to annual increments. For comprehensive details on the compensation structure, check the IB ACIO Salary breakdown 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
To succeed, candidates should master the exam pattern and maintain a balanced preparation strategy across all subjects. Utilizing high-quality resources like online live classes and IB ACIO Mock Test series (full-length and chapter-wise) can significantly enhance your speed and accuracy. Always maintain organized notes for efficient 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
When applying, candidates must select five preferred exam city options for the Tier-I exam. Please note that once the exam city is finalized during the application process, it cannot 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
The IB ACIO Cut Off for 2026 will be released following the exam results, reflecting the difficulty level and competition. Reviewing previous years' cut-offs is a highly effective way to set realistic target scores for your preparation.
| Category | Tier 1 (Out of 100) | Tier 2 (Out of 50) |
| UR | 65 | 30 |
| OBC | 60 | 25 |
| SC | 50 | 20 |
| ST | 50 | 20 |
IB ACIO Cut Off [Previous Year]- Click to Check
FAQs
The official IB ACIO Recruitment 2026 notification will be released soon on the Ministry of Home Affairs website, www.mha.gov.in.
Candidates who possess a graduation degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognized university are eligible to apply for the IB ACIO exam.
Yes, the Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) position is a permanent, secure role within the Central Government of India.