IB ACIO

Shaping Intelligence for National Security and Professional Excellence

Overview

The Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (IB ACIO) exam is a competitive examination conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, for the recruitment of Assistant Central Intelligence Officers in the Intelligence Bureau. The role of an ACIO involves gathering and analyzing intelligence for national security. The recruitment is open to Indian nationals with a Bachelor's degree, aged between 18 to 27 years. The selection process consists of three tiers - Tier 1 is an objective-type exam testing knowledge in current affairs, general studies, numerical aptitude, reasoning, and English language; Tier 2 is a descriptive exam involving essay writing and English comprehension; and Tier 3 is the interview phase evaluating personality and communication skills. Successful candidates who clear all stages are eligible for final selection to the prestigious position of IB ACIO Grade II/Executive, contributing significantly to India's domestic intelligence operations. The exam pattern includes both objective and descriptive tests, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of candidates' knowledge, analytical skills, and communication abilities.

Exam Highlights

Exam Conducting Body

Intelligence Bureau (IB)

Exam Name

Assistant Central Intelligence Officer-Grade-II/Executive Examination 2024

Total Vacancies

995 (UR-377, OBC-222, SC-134, ST-133, EWS-129)

Post

Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade II/Executive

Selection Process

Written Examination and Interview

Educational Qualification

Graduation

Application Mode

Online

Exam Pattern

Tier 1 [100 Objective Type MCQs, 1-hour duration, Negative Marking-¼ for each incorrect answer]

 

Tier 2 [Descriptive Type, Essay Writing (30 marks) and English comprehension & writing (20 marks), 1-hour duration

Tier 3 [Interview (Personality Test and Viva-Voce)]

Official Website

https://www.mha.gov.in

Notification Release Date

25 November 2023

Eligibility

Meeting the eligibility criteria of IB ACIO exam 2024 is essential for candidates interested in participating in the recruitment process. It is advisable for aspirants to thoroughly check and meet the following conditions before applying for the exam:

  • Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India, and they are required to provide relevant document proof confirming their Indian citizenship.
  • Educational Qualification: Aspiring candidates should hold a Bachelor’s Degree/Graduation Degree from a recognized University.
  • Age Limit (as on 15/12/2023): The age of candidates should be between 18 to 27 years as of 15th December 2023.

Exam Pattern

The IB ACIO (Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer) exam follows a two-tier pattern, consisting of Tier I and Tier II, followed by an interview process. Here is an overview of the IB ACIO Exam Pattern:

Tier I Exam Pattern:

  • Sections: General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Ability, English Language, General Studies.
  • Total Questions: 100 questions (20 questions in each section).
  • Total Marks: 100 marks (each question carries one mark).
  • Time: 60 minutes.
  • Marking Scheme: Each correct answer is awarded one mark. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

Tier I Section-wise Distribution:

Tier I

Total Sections

5 (General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Ability, English Language, General Studies)

Duration

60 Minutes

Total Questions

100 questions (20 questions in each section)

Total Marks

100 marks (each question carries one mark)

Marking Scheme

  • Each correct answer is awarded one mark.
  • There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

Tier II

Sections

Essay Writing, Comprehension and Precis Writing

Total Marks

50 (30 in Essay Writing and 20 in Comprehension and Precis Writing)

Duration

1 Hour 

Tier III (Interview)

Total Marks

100

The overall selection is based on the cumulative performance in Tier I, Tier II, and the interview. Successful candidates who pass the required scores in both Tier I and Tier II proceed to the interview phase. The exam assesses candidates on a range of subjects, including general awareness, analytical skills, language proficiency, and writing abilities.

Important Dates

The IB ACIO Exam 2024 is scheduled to take place on 17th and 18th January 2024 in four shifts each day across different cities in India. The IB ACIO selection process involves three stages: 

  1. Tier 1 (Objective type)
  2. Tier 2 (Descriptive)
  3. Tier 3 (Interview) 

Candidates have received emails regarding the IB ACIO Tier 1 City Intimation, providing details such as shift timings, exam timing, and exam venue. The Tier 1 Exam for 995 vacancies will be conducted online, featuring 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed within a 1-hour duration. 

Events

Dates

IB ACIO Recruitment 2024 Notification

25th November 2023

IB ACIO Apply Online Starts

25th November 2023

IB ACIO Application Process Ends

15th December 2023

IB ACIO Exam Date 2024 

17-18 January 2024

Official Notification

The Intelligence Bureau has officially released the much-anticipated IB ACIO Notification 2024 on 25th November 2023. This notification aims to fill 995 vacancies for the prestigious post of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II Executive. Interested candidates can actively participate in the application process, which commenced on 25th November 2023 and will conclude on 15th December 2023.

For comprehensive details on eligibility, vacancies, age limits, fees, and other essential information, candidates are encouraged to download the official notification PDF. The IB ACIO Notification 2024 PDF is available on the official website and provides a thorough overview of the recruitment process for Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Grade-II/Executive positions.

IB ACIO Official Notification

Application Procedure

To initiate the IB ACIO Apply Online process for the year 2024, follow the steps provided below on the official Ministry of Home Affairs website, either at www.mha.gov.in or www.ncs.gov.in:

  1. Visit Official Website: Go to the Ministry of Home Affairs website at www.mha.gov.in or www.ncs.gov.in.
  2. Find Application Link: Look for the link related to the IB Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II Executive-2024 application.
  3. Registration: Click on "To Register" to commence the application process. Enter your details and submit to receive a unique ID and Password upon registration.
  4. Application Form Submission: Fill in the application form, complete the payment of the application fee, and upload the required documents.
  5. Review and Submission: Carefully review all entered information before submitting your application.
  6. Print Application: After submission, ensure to print a copy of the application form for your records.

For uploading photographs and signatures, adhere to the specified guidelines:

  1. Photograph Image:

Size: 50-100kb in jpg/jpeg format

Dimensions: 35mm (width) x 45mm (height)

Black & white photograph with a light background; face covering 70-80% of the photo; avoid uniforms matching the background.

  1. Signature Image:

Size: 50-100kb in jpg/jpeg format

Signature on white paper with a Black ink pen; scan the signature area only, not the entire page; must be signed by the applicant only, not by any other person.

Syllabus

The IB ACIO Exam 2024, conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, assesses candidates for the role of Assistant Central Intelligence Officers, Grade II/Executive. The multi-tiered examination evaluates quantitative aptitude, general awareness, English language skills, and numerical ability & reasoning. The syllabus encompasses diverse topics, including advanced arithmetic, current affairs, grammar, and reasoning concepts. Aspirants are advised to devise a comprehensive study plan, practicing regularly to excel in this competitive examination and secure a position in the Intelligence Bureau.

Subject

Topics

Quantitative Aptitude

Advance Arithmetic, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Height and Distance, Triangle, Circle, Polygon, Tangent, Ratio and Proportion, Mixture and Allegation, Missing Numbers, Age, Time and Work, Boat and Stream, Volume, LCM and HCF, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Time and Distance, Average, Fractions, Series Completion

General Awareness

General Studies, Current Affairs, Polity and Indian Constitution, Indian History, Science and Technology, Geography, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Finance, Computer Science, National News, International News, New Schemes, Eminent Personalities, Financial Schemes, Nobel Prize Winners, Awards

English

Grammar Part, Idioms and Phrases, One-word substitution, Comprehension Passage, Detecting misspelled words, Verbs, Adjectives, Fill in the blanks, Spellings, Synonyms/Antonyms, Spot the error, Sentence Structure, Vocabulary, Clauses, Improvement

Numerical Ability & Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning (Mirror and Water Image, Paper Cutting and Folding, Cubes and Dices, Embedded Figures, Matrix-based questions, Image-based questions) Verbal Reasoning (Analogy, Classification, Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Word Formation, Direction Sense, Ranking and Arrangements, Arrangement of Words, Alphabet Series)

Admit Card

Candidates who have applied for the Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) post under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) can expect the release of the admit card on January 14, 2024, in preparation for the scheduled exam on January 17 and 18, 2024. To download the IB ACIO Admit Card 2024, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the official Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) website at www.mha.gov.in.
  2. Navigate to the "What’s New" section on the homepage.
  3. Look for the link titled "Admit Card for IB ACIO (Grade 2 / Executive) 2024 Exam" and click on it.
  4. Enter your User ID and Password, which serve as your login credentials.
  5. Click the "Submit" button to access and download your admit card.

Ensure adherence to the provided step-by-step instructions to successfully obtain your admit card, a crucial document for appearing in the IB ACIO Exam