The IB ACIO exam stands for Intelligence Bureau – Assistant Central Intelligence Officer.
It’s a recruitment exam conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India to hire candidates for Group ‘C’ (Non-gazetted, Non-ministerial) posts in the Intelligence Bureau.

Here’s a breakdown of important details:

1. Post Details

• Post Name: Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade-II/Executive

• Type: Permanent, Central Government job

• Pay Scale: Level-7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) + allowances (DA, HRA, TA, Special Security Allowances, etc.)

• Location: All over India (IB offices & field units)

2. Eligibility

• Nationality: Indian

• Age Limit: 18–27 years (Relaxations: OBC – 3 years, SC/ST – 5 years, other as per rules)

• Educational Qualification: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university

• Basic Skills: Computer knowledge is desirable

3. Selection Process

The IB ACIO selection process generally has three stages:

1. Tier I (Objective Test) – 100 marks, 1 hour

   • General Awareness: 20 marks

   • Quantitative Aptitude: 20 marks

   • Logical/Analytical Ability: 20 marks

   • English Language: 20 marks

   • General Studies: 20 marks
     (Negative marking: 1/4th marks)

2. Tier II (Descriptive Test) – 50 marks, 1 hour

   • Essay (30 marks)

   • English comprehension & précis writing (20 marks)

3. Tier III (Interview/Personality Test) – 100 marks

4. Final Merit

• Based on Tier I + Tier II + Interview performance.

• Medical fitness and police verification are mandatory before appointment.

5. Preparation Tips

• Follow NCERTs for General Studies basics.

• Read current affairs daily (last 6–8 months before exam).

• Practice reasoning and quantitative aptitude from standard books.

• For Tier II, practice essay & précis writing regularly.

• Stay updated on internal security & intelligence-related topics.

IB ACIO Previous Year Questions