IB ACIO 2026 Notification & Exam Date: Official Status, 2025 Final Result, Syllabus

IB ACIO 2026: Current Official Status & Complete Guide

The Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Grade-II/Executive (ACIO-II/Exe) recruitment is conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) / Intelligence Bureau. As of October 1, 2026, MHA has not announced a fresh 2026 ACIO-II/Executive recruitment cycle.

Current status — October 1, 2026: The latest verified MHA update is the Final Result of ACIO-II/Exe Exam-2025 dated June 3, 2026. A fresh 2026 notification, form date, vacancy count or Tier-I exam date is not announced. Check live official status on our IB ACIO 2026 Exam Page.

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What is IB ACIO?

The Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) is a prestigious Group 'C' / Executive post in the Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. IB ACIOs work in intelligence gathering, analysis, and counter-intelligence operations across India.

Post Details at a Glance:

Detail	Information
Organisation	Intelligence Bureau (IB), MHA
Post Name	Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II/Executive
Previous Official Pay Reference	Level-7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) + 20% Special Security Allowance
Current 2026 Status	Fresh notification not announced
Previous Official Selection Mode	Tier-1 → Tier-2 → Tier-III/Interview
Official Website	mha.gov.in

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IB ACIO 2026 Notification & Exam Date — Current Official Status

For high-impression searches such as “ib acio exam date 2026,” “ib acio notification 2026,” “ib acio form date 2026” and “ib recruitment 2026,” the current official answer is:

Event	Status as of October 1, 2026
Fresh ACIO-II/Exe 2026 notification	Not announced
2026 online application	Not announced
2026 application last date	Not announced
2026 Tier-I exam date	Not announced
2026 Tier-II exam date	Not announced
2026 Interview / final result	Not announced

Latest Verified Previous Cycle

• 2025 application window: July 19 to August 10, 2025.
• Tier-I result: November 21, 2025.
• Tier-II result: March 5, 2026.
• Final result: June 3, 2026.

Do not treat an “expected October notification” or “December exam” as an MHA date unless a new official notice appears.

IB ACIO Vacancy Details — Previous Official 2025 Cycle

A fresh 2026 vacancy count is not announced. The previous official ACIO-II/Executive advertisement notified 3,717 vacancies:

Category	Vacancies
UR	1,537
EWS	442
OBC	946
SC	566
ST	226
Total	3,717

This is a verified historical benchmark, not a 2026 vacancy forecast.

IB ACIO Eligibility — Previous Official 2025 Reference

Age Limit — Previous 2025 Cycle

• Age: 18–27 years as on August 10, 2025.
• OBC: +3 years.
• SC/ST: +5 years.
• Departmental Central Government civilian employees: relaxation up to age 40 after 3 years' regular and continuous service, subject to the notification.
• Ex-Servicemen / other relaxations: as specified in the 2025 advertisement.
• PwBD: the 2025 advertisement stated the post was not identified as suitable for any PwBD category.

Educational Qualification — Previous 2025 Cycle

• Essential: Graduation or equivalent from a recognized university.
• Desirable: Knowledge of computers.
• A fresh 2026 qualification cut-off/date has not been announced.

Nationality

• Must be a citizen of India
• No exceptions for OCI or PIO candidates

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IB ACIO Exam Pattern — Previous Official 2025 Scheme

The IB ACIO selection process is a three-tier process:

Tier-1: Objective Type (100 marks, 60 minutes)

Subject	Questions	Marks
Current Affairs	20	20
General Studies	20	20
Numerical Aptitude	20	20
Reasoning / Logical Aptitude	20	20
English	20	20
Total	100	100

• Negative Marking: -1/4 for each wrong answer
• Qualifying in Tier-1 is mandatory to appear for Tier-2

Tier-2: Descriptive Type (50 marks, 60 minutes)

• Essay: 20 marks.
• English Comprehension: 10 marks.
• Long-answer questions: 2 × 10 marks on Current Affairs, Economics, Socio-political issues, etc.
• Minimum qualifying condition in the 2025 advertisement: 33% (17/50) for Tier-II shortlisting to Tier-III.

Tier-3: Interview/Personality Test (100 marks)

• Conducted by IB for candidates who qualify Tier-1 and Tier-2
• Tier-III/Interview carried 100 marks in the 2025 scheme.
• Final merit was based on combined Tier-I + Tier-II + Tier-III/Interview performance, followed by character/antecedent verification and medical examination.

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IB ACIO 2026 Syllabus — Detailed Topic-Wise

General Awareness

• Current events (national & international)
• Indian History, Culture, Geography
• Indian Polity & Constitution
• Economic & Social Development
• Science & Technology
• Awards, Sports, Books & Authors
• Schemes & Policies of the Government

Quantitative Aptitude

• Number System, HCF & LCM
• Percentages, Ratio & Proportion
• Simple & Compound Interest
• Profit, Loss, Discount
• Time & Work; Time, Speed & Distance
• Data Interpretation (Tables, Charts)
• Mensuration (2D & 3D figures)

Logical/Analytical Ability

• Analogies, Blood Relations
• Coding-Decoding, Series
• Syllogisms, Direction Sense
• Statement & Conclusions
• Puzzles, Seating Arrangement
• Non-Verbal Reasoning

English Language

• Reading Comprehension
• Cloze Test
• Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement
• Fill in the Blanks
• Error Detection / Correction
• Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms)

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How to Apply — Previous Official 2025 Reference

The 2025 application window is closed. It ran from July 19 to August 10, 2025 through the application portal linked by MHA.

1. Start from mha.gov.in or the official MHA-linked application page.
2. Complete mobile/email verification and registration.
3. Fill personal, education and category details exactly as required.
4. Upload the photograph and signature in the file specifications shown by the portal.
5. Review the application before final submission.
6. Pay the notified fee through the available online/offline modes.
7. Save the submitted form and payment acknowledgement.

Previous Official 2025 Application Fee

Candidate Type	Processing Charge	Exam Fee	Total
All candidates	₹550	—	₹550 base
Male UR / EWS / OBC	₹550	₹100	₹650
SC / ST / Female / eligible Ex-Servicemen	₹550	Exempt	₹550

A fresh 2026 application process or fee has not been announced.

IB ACIO 2026: Selection Process Summary

Tier-1 (Online Objective Test)
         ↓
Tier-2 (Descriptive Exam)
         ↓
Tier-3 (Interview/Viva Voce)
         ↓
Document Verification → Medical Examination → Final Appointment

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Common Mistakes to Avoid in IB ACIO 2026

1. Underpreparation for Tier-2 (Descriptive): Most candidates focus entirely on Tier-1 (objective) and do not practice essay writing or précis writing. Tier-2 is an elimination round — not just a formality.
2. Ignoring national security topics in General Awareness: IB ACIO GA specifically emphasizes intelligence agencies (RAW, IB, NIA, NTRO), cybersecurity, border security, and internal security. This differentiates it from SSC GK.
3. Attempting all Tier-1 questions without strategy: Negative marking of 0.25 applies. Blind guessing on uncertain GK questions can cost more than leaving them blank.
4. Weak English in Tier-2: Essay and précis writing require a strong command of written English. Candidates who haven't practiced structured writing fail to score well, even if knowledgeable.
5. Not practicing précis writing: Précis (condensing passage to 1/3rd length) is a skill that requires regular practice. Starting 2 weeks before the exam is too late.
6. Interview under-preparation: Tier-3 (Interview) is 100 marks — equal to the entire Tier-1. Candidates who don't prepare for the intelligence-specific interview after Tier-2 miss out on top merit ranks.
7. Incorrect exam category: IB ACIO Grade-II/Executive is a specific post. Don't confuse it with other IB posts like MTS or Assistant. Check the official notification carefully.

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IB ACIO — Previous Official Cycle Analysis

Verified 2025 Recruitment Snapshot

Item	Official 2025 Reference
Vacancies	3,717
Application window	July 19 – August 10, 2025
Tier-I	100 MCQs / 100 marks / 1 hour
Tier-I minimum qualifying marks	UR 35, OBC 34, SC/ST 33, EWS 35
Tier-I shortlist for Tier-II	Up to 10× vacancies, subject to cut-off
Tier-II	50 marks / 1 hour
Tier-II qualifying condition	33% / 17 out of 50
Tier-III shortlist	Up to 5× vacancies, subject to criteria
Final result	June 3, 2026

Cut-off Guidance

The official advertisement specifies minimum Tier-I qualifying marks, but the actual category-wise shortlist cut-off can go higher depending on candidate scores and vacancies.

Category	Official Minimum Tier-I Qualifying Mark (2025)
UR	35/100
OBC	34/100
SC / ST	33/100
EWS	35/100

This page does not publish coaching-style “expected cut-off” ranges as official data.

IB ACIO Preparation Strategy — 3-Month Plan

Month 1 — Foundation Building

• General Awareness: NCERT History + Geography (Class 9–12), Polity basics, current affairs capsule (last 6 months)
• Quant: RS Aggarwal arithmetic — percentage, ratio, profit/loss, time-work, DI
• Reasoning: Verbal reasoning: analogy, classification, syllogisms, blood relations
• English: Practice 2 RC passages daily; start vocabulary building (15 words/day)

Month 2 — Intensive Preparation

• GA: Focus on intelligence agencies, defence, national security — read about IB, RAW, NIA, NTRO
• Tier-2 Prep: Practice 3 essays/week and 3 précis exercises/week — aim for 250–300 words for essays
• Reasoning: Puzzles and seating arrangement — 2 complex puzzles daily
• Mock Tests: 2 full-length Tier-1 mocks per week; analyze error patterns

Month 3 — Revision + Advanced Tier-2 + Interview Prep

• Current Affairs: Finalize last 12 months' news — focus on major national/international events
• Tier-2: 5 essays + 5 précis practice per week; time yourself to 60-minute completion
• Tier-1 Mocks: 3 per week; target 70+ out of 100
• Interview Prep (if qualified): Research IB's history, recent intelligence cases, India's security landscape

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IB ACIO Preparation Strategy

Tier-1 Preparation Tips

• General Awareness: Read newspapers daily (The Hindu / Indian Express), follow UPSC/SSC GK content. Focus on last 6 months of current affairs.
• English: Practice comprehension passages and vocabulary exercises. Aim for accuracy over speed.
• Quant: NCERT Maths (Class 6–10) + SSC-level practice. Don't skip Data Interpretation.
• Reasoning: Practice puzzles and seating arrangement — usually the most time-consuming section.

Tier-2 Preparation Tips

• Practice essay writing on topics like economic policy, technology, social issues
• Work on précis writing — condense a passage into 1/3rd of its original length
• Time your writing to ensure you finish within 60 minutes

Books Recommended for IB ACIO Preparation

Subject	Recommended Book
GK	Lucent's General Knowledge
English	Wren & Martin + Norman Lewis
Quant	R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
Previous Papers	Arihant IB ACIO Previous Year Papers

Daily Study Routine for IB ACIO Preparation

Time Slot	Activity
6:00 – 7:30 AM	General Awareness — NCERT + national security / intelligence topics
8:00 – 9:00 AM	Quantitative Aptitude — 20 questions (arithmetic) + 1 DI set
9:00 – 10:00 AM	Logical/Analytical Ability — 25 questions (puzzles, analogy, syllogisms)
4:00 – 5:00 PM	English — RC passage (2 passages) + vocabulary (15 words)
5:30 – 6:30 PM	Tier-1 mock test section (25 questions per subject timed)
7:30 – 9:00 PM	Tier-2 writing practice — 1 essay OR 1 précis exercise
9:00 – 9:30 PM	Current affairs recap (last 30 days)

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IB ACIO Tier-III Interview Preparation — Previous Scheme Reference

The personality test/interview carries 100 marks. Key areas assessed:

• General Knowledge — especially current affairs and national security topics
• Communication Skills — fluency, clarity, confidence
• Logical Reasoning — ability to analyze situations
• Personality Traits — teamwork, integrity, adaptability

Candidates who qualify Tier-2 should start preparing for the interview by:

• Reading about Intelligence Bureau, RAW, NTRO, NIA
• Understanding border security challenges, cybercrime, and national security
• Practicing mock interviews

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — IB ACIO 2026

Q1. Has the IB ACIO 2026 notification been released? No fresh ACIO-II/Executive 2026 notification is announced in the current MHA material reviewed as of October 1, 2026.

Q2. Is there a negative marking in IB ACIO Tier-1? Yes, there is a negative marking of 1/4 mark (0.25) for each incorrect answer in Tier-1.

Q3. What is the work location for IB ACIO? IB ACIOs are posted across India — in metros, state capitals, and also in sensitive border areas. Transfer is part of the job profile.

Q4. Can engineering graduates apply for IB ACIO 2026? Yes. The minimum qualification is any bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Engineering graduates are eligible.

Q5. What is the salary reference for IB ACIO? The previous official 2025 advertisement placed ACIO-II/Executive at Level-7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400) plus admissible allowances and 20% Special Security Allowance. Actual take-home depends on posting, allowances and deductions.

Q6. Is IB ACIO 2026 exam conducted online or offline? The Tier-1 exam is conducted in an online (Computer Based Test) mode. Tier-2 is an offline (pen-and-paper) descriptive test.

Q7. How many attempts are allowed for IB ACIO? As long as the candidate satisfies the age limit and other criteria, there is no limit on the number of attempts.

Q8. Will there be a fresh IB ACIO exam in 2026? MHA has not announced a fresh ACIO-II/Executive 2026 recruitment cycle as of October 1, 2026. A future exam should be treated as confirmed only after an official MHA notification.

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Stay Updated: IB ACIO 2026 Important Links

When the notification is released, all official links will be available on:

• Official MHA Website: https://mha.gov.in
• IB Recruitment Page: Check examdetail.in/exams/ib-acio-2026 for live updates

Bookmark this page and our IB ACIO 2026 exam page for instant updates on the notification, admit card, result, and cut-off lists.

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Last Updated: October 1, 2026 | Current status verified against the Ministry of Home Affairs Whats New/current vacancy material; previous-cycle details use the official 2025 ACIO-II/Executive advertisement linked by MHA.

Official Source Verification Map

• Current status / final result: MHA Whats New archive.
• Previous 2025 application portal: MHA official application-link PDF dated July 18, 2025.
• Previous detailed eligibility, vacancy, fee and scheme: ACIO-II/Executive Examination-2025 advertisement linked through the MHA application portal.
• Fresh 2026 facts: add only after a new ACIO-II/Executive notice appears on MHA.

Editorial note: books, study schedules and preparation tips are ExamDetail recommendations, not MHA endorsements.