IB ACIO 2025 Notification Out: Full Details on Vacancies, Exam Pattern, Salary & More.

IB ACIO Grade II Executive Recruitment 2025: Everything You Need to Know

The Intelligence Bureau (IB), one of India’s top internal intelligence agencies, has announced a massive recruitment drive for the post of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II/Executive. This is a highly respected and sought-after post under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

This article explains the exam pattern, eligibility, selection process, vacancy details, and salary structure, along with essential information and expert insights shared in the video.

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📢 Why This Job is Special

The position of ACIO in the Intelligence Bureau holds significant national importance. It is not just a government job; it’s a mission-driven role involving secret intelligence gathering, internal surveillance, and national security. IB officers often work undercover, and their identity remains classified—even among family members.

This job is different from traditional government roles like Income Tax Inspector or GST Officer. Though those positions are also respected and fall under Level 7 Pay Matrix, the IB ACIO post stands out due to the nature of the work and extra allowances attached to it.

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🧭 Parent Organization and Background

• Agency: Intelligence Bureau (IB)

• Under: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

• Post Name: Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade-II/Executive

• Type: Group ‘C’, Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial

• Level: Level-7 in the pay matrix

• Recruitment Mode: Direct recruitment by IB (not via SSC anymore)

Previously, these posts were recruited through SSC CGL, but since 2017, IB has conducted independent recruitments. This ensures confidentiality, as SSC’s data circulation was considered a risk for such sensitive postings.

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🧮 Total Number of Vacancies: 3717

This is one of the highest numbers of vacancies IB has ever released for a single recruitment cycle:

This makes it an unprecedented opportunity, especially for SSC aspirants who usually don’t see this scale of openings in any single post like Income Tax Inspector or CBI Sub-Inspector.

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📅 Important Dates

• Application Start: 19th July 2025

• Last Date to Apply: 10th August 2025

• Fee Payment Last Date: 10th August (online), 12th August (offline challan)

Candidates are advised to apply early, as the window is less than a month, and delays may prevent application due to high traffic near deadlines.

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💰 Application Fee

• General / OBC / EWS: ₹650

• SC / ST / PwD: ₹550

• Fee to be paid online only.

Although some may find the fee slightly high, for a prestigious Level 7 job with high allowances, it’s a justifiable investment.

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🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification:

• Essential: A graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

Age Limit:

• Standard: 18 to 27 years (as of 10th August 2025)

• Age Relaxation:

  • SC/ST: 5 years

  • OBC: 3 years

  • Departmental Candidates: up to 40 years (plus applicable category relaxation)

  • Special relaxation also exists for divorced or widowed women.

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🧪 Selection Process: Three Tiers

The selection process involves three stages:

1. Tier-I (Written Exam – Objective Type)

• Total Marks: 100

• Time: 1 hour

• Subjects:

  • General Awareness (Current Affairs-heavy)

  • General Studies

  • Quantitative Aptitude (Maths)

  • Logical Reasoning

  • English Language

• Each subject: 20 questions

• Negative Marking: 1/4 mark per wrong answer

This paper is similar to SSC CGL in structure and difficulty, so regular SSC aspirants should find it manageable.

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2. Tier-II (Descriptive Exam)

• Total Marks: 50

• Duration: ~1 hour

• Sections:

  • Essay Writing (20 marks)

  • English Comprehension (10 marks)

  • Precis Writing (20 marks)

• Qualifying Marks: Minimum 17 out of 50 needed to pass

This paper is descriptive, not multiple choice. Candidates must develop writing skills and practice essays and summaries regularly.

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3. Interview (Tier-III)

• Total Marks: 100

• Panel-style personality assessment

• Focus: Presence of mind, awareness, reasoning ability, and suitability for intelligence work

Unlike typical interviews, this one evaluates not only your knowledge but also your attitude, confidentiality, discretion, and national commitment.

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📊 Shortlisting Criteria

Due to the huge number of applications, IB uses tier-wise filtering:

• Tier-II Call: Top 10 times the number of vacancies will be shortlisted
  → 3717 × 10 = 37,170 candidates

• Interview Call (Tier-III): Top 5 times the number of vacancies
  → 3717 × 5 = 18,585 candidates

• Final Selection: Based on total marks out of 250 (100 + 50 + 100)

Only candidates who clear each stage and have a competitive combined score will find a place in the final merit list.

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💼 Salary Structure and Perks

• Basic Pay (Level 7): ₹44,900

• DA, HRA, TA: As per government norms

• Special Allowances:

  • 20% Security Allowance

  • Other field-related incentives

• Total Salary: Often crosses ₹90,000/month
  (Can increase significantly with field postings and deputations)

This is one of the highest-paying roles at the graduate level in government jobs.

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🧠 Work Profile of IB ACIO

• Intelligence gathering and surveillance

• Monitoring of internal threats

• Subtle, non-uniformed, undercover assignments

• No arrests or law enforcement powers—only reporting

• Often integrated with local populations under disguises

• Complete anonymity maintained—even family may not know the full scope of your job

This job is not for everyone. It suits those who are discreet, observant, sharp-minded, and want to serve the country silently.

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📝 Final Thoughts

If you’re a serious SSC aspirant, this recruitment is tailor-made for you. The exam difficulty is similar to CGL, and the benefits are much better. Additionally, the honor, secrecy, and national pride associated with IB ACIO make it a dream job for many.

✅ Who should apply?

• Graduates with SSC-level preparation

• Aspirants looking for meaningful and secure government careers

• Those interested in intelligence, reporting, and national security

❗ Don’t apply if:

• You’re uncomfortable with anonymity and undercover work

• You expect a traditional 9-to-5 desk job

• You’re not prepared for dynamic work schedules or locations

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📌 Pro Tip:

Start preparing for descriptive writing and general awareness right away. These two sections will be crucial in crossing the merit barrier.