IB ACIO 2026 — Latest Update (8 August 2026)
IB ACIO Grade II / Executive is one of the most sought-after central government posts in India, conducted by the Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The post offers a Level 7 pay scale with job security and a challenging intelligence career. Given the 2021 and 2023 recruitment cycles, a 2026 notification is expected. This page will be updated immediately upon official release.
IB ACIO 2026 Recruitment Overview
| Post Name | Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) Grade II / Executive |
| Conducting Body | Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) |
| Department | Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Official Website | mha.gov.in |
| Notification Status | Not yet released TBA |
| Vacancy 2026 | To be announced TBA |
| Application Mode | Online (mha.gov.in) |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based) — Tier I; Descriptive — Tier II |
| Job Location | All India (as allotted by IB) |
| Pay Level | Level 7 (Rs. 44,900 – Rs. 1,42,400 as per 7th CPC) |
| Selection Process | Tier I (Objective) + Tier II (Descriptive) + Tier III (Interview) |
| Category | Central Government / Intelligence |
IB ACIO 2026 Notification Status
As of 8 August 2026, the IB ACIO 2026 official advertisement has not been published. The table below shows the current status of all key recruitment events:
| Event | Status / Date |
|---|---|
| IB ACIO 2026 Notification Release | Not yet released |
| Application Form Open | To be announced |
| Application Form Last Date | To be announced |
| Admit Card (Tier I) | To be announced |
| Tier I Exam Date (Objective) | To be announced |
| Tier I Result | To be announced |
| Tier II Exam Date (Descriptive) | To be announced |
| Tier III (Interview) | To be announced |
| Final Result | To be announced |
IB ACIO Application Form Date 2026
The IB ACIO 2026 application form date has not been announced. Based on the pattern from the 2023 recruitment cycle (notification released in 2023, form available for approximately 30 days), aspirants should be ready to apply within the window once the notification is out.
What to keep ready before the form opens
- Class 10 certificate (for date of birth proof)
- Graduation degree/provisional certificate from a recognised university
- Category certificate (OBC/SC/ST/EWS) — if applicable
- Passport-size photograph and signature in the specified format
- Valid email ID and mobile number for registration
- Debit card / credit card / net banking for fee payment (if applicable)
IB ACIO Exam Date 2026
The IB ACIO 2026 Tier I exam date has not been officially announced. There is no confirmed or even officially estimated exam schedule as of August 2026. The exam date will be published with or shortly after the official notification.
Previous IB ACIO exam cycle timeline (for reference only)
| Cycle | Notification | Last Date to Apply | Tier I Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cycle | October 2021 | November 2021 | February 2022 |
| 2023 Cycle | March 2023 | April 2023 | June 2023 |
| 2026 Cycle | Notification not yet released — dates not confirmed | ||
IB ACIO 2026 Vacancy
The total vacancy count for IB ACIO 2026 has not been announced. The Ministry of Home Affairs determines the number of posts based on operational requirements and will publish the category-wise breakup in the official notification.
Once the notification is released, this section will be updated with the full category-wise vacancy table including General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen breakdowns.
IB ACIO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Bachelor's degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognised university
- Candidates appearing in final year of graduation are generally not eligible — degree must be complete by cut-off date
Age Limit (as of cut-off date — verify from notification)
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 18 – 27 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 18 – 30 years (+3 years) |
| SC / ST | 18 – 32 years (+5 years) |
| PwBD (General) | 18 – 37 years (+10 years) |
| PwBD (OBC) | 18 – 40 years (+13 years) |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 18 – 42 years (+15 years) |
| Ex-Servicemen | Service period deducted from actual age; residual must not exceed 27 years |
Nationality
- Indian citizen
- Subject of Nepal or Bhutan (with Government of India certificate of eligibility)
- Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 (with GoI certificate)
- Person of Indian origin from certain specified countries
IB ACIO Selection Process 2026
IB ACIO selection is conducted in three tiers. All three must be cleared for final selection:
- 1Tier I — Objective Written Exam — OMR-based multiple-choice test of 100 questions for 100 marks, 1 hour. Covers General Studies, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical/Analytical Ability, and English. Qualifying cut-offs apply category-wise.
- 2Tier II — Descriptive English — A written paper (Essay, Precis, Comprehension, Translation) for 50 marks, 1 hour. Only Tier I qualifiers appear in Tier II.
- 3Tier III — Interview / Personality Test — Candidates shortlisted after Tier I + II combined merit appear for a 100-mark interview conducted at IB offices. The combined merit of Tier I + Tier II + Tier III determines the final merit list.
IB ACIO Exam Pattern 2026
Tier I — Objective Written Exam
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies / Current Affairs | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 |
| Logical / Analytical Ability | 20 | 20 |
| English Language | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 Questions | 100 Marks |
Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes) | Negative marking: -1/3 mark per wrong answer (based on previous cycle — verify from 2026 notification) | Mode: Offline, OMR-based
Tier II — Descriptive English
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay | 30 |
| Precis / Comprehension / Translation | 20 |
| Total | 50 Marks |
Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes) | Mode: Offline, handwritten
Tier III — Interview / Personality Test
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Interview / Personality Test | 100 |
| Grand Total (all 3 tiers) | 250 Marks |
IB ACIO Syllabus 2026 (Tier I)
The Tier I syllabus covers four broad areas. Preparation should be based on the previous cycle syllabus until the 2026 notification confirms any changes.
General Studies / Current Affairs
- Indian History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
- Indian Geography (physical, economic)
- Indian Polity and Constitution
- Indian Economy
- Science and Technology
- Current Affairs — national and international
- Awards, summits, sports
- Government schemes and policies
Quantitative Aptitude
- Number system and simplification
- Percentage, profit and loss
- Ratio, proportion, averages
- Time and work, time and distance
- Simple and compound interest
- Data interpretation (tables, charts)
- Mensuration — area and volume
Logical / Analytical Ability
- Series (number, letter)
- Coding-decoding
- Blood relations
- Direction and distance
- Syllogisms
- Statement and conclusions
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
- Analogy and classification
English Language
- Reading comprehension
- Error detection and spotting
- Fill in the blanks
- Sentence rearrangement
- Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms
- Idioms and phrases
- Cloze test
Tier II — English Descriptive Syllabus
- Essay writing (150–200 words on current affairs/social topic)
- Precis writing — condensing a given passage
- Reading comprehension and translation (if applicable)
IB ACIO 2026 Salary & Pay Scale
IB ACIO Grade II / Executive is a Group C gazetted post in the Central Government service. The pay scale is Level 7 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix.
Allowances include Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA based on city category), Transport Allowance (TA), and other Central Government perquisites. The actual gross salary varies by posting city. Verify from official notification — pay scale may be revised.
IB ACIO Application Fee 2026
| Category | Expected Fee (based on previous cycle) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 100 |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
| Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
Payment mode: Online (debit card / credit card / net banking / UPI) at the time of form submission on mha.gov.in. Fee once paid is not refundable.
How to Apply for IB ACIO 2026
Applications for IB ACIO 2026 will be accepted online only on the official MHA recruitment portal. The form link will be active only after the official notification is released. The steps below are based on the previous cycle process:
- 1Visit the official website — Go to mha.gov.in and navigate to the Recruitments / Notifications section.
- 2Click the IB ACIO 2026 Apply Online link — This link will be live only after the official notification is released.
- 3Register with email and mobile — Create your login credentials. An OTP will be sent to your mobile for verification.
- 4Fill the application form — Enter personal details, educational qualification, category, and posting preference accurately.
- 5Upload photograph and signature — As per the dimensions specified in the notification (typically JPG, under 50 KB).
- 6Pay the application fee — Online payment via debit / credit card or net banking. SC/ST/PwBD candidates are typically exempt.
- 7Submit and take a printout — Click Submit, then download and save the application confirmation for future reference.
IB ACIO 2026 Free Mock Tests
Practise with PrepResults IB ACIO mock tests modelled on the latest pattern. Includes AI-powered analysis with section-wise feedback and estimated rank.
IB ACIO Tier I Full Mock
100 questions · 60 min · All sections
General Studies Practice
40 questions · 30 min
Quant + Reasoning Mixed
40 questions · 30 min
English Language Practice
20 questions · 15 min
How to Prepare for IB ACIO 2026
IB ACIO Tier I is competitive — hundreds of thousands of candidates apply for a relatively small number of posts. A structured approach covering all four sections is essential:
- 1Start with General Studies — GS carries 40 marks in Tier I. Cover Indian History, Polity, Geography, Economy, and Science basics. Follow a current affairs source daily for at least 3 months before the exam.
- 2Build quant fundamentals early — Focus on arithmetic topics (percentage, ratio, interest, time-work). IB ACIO quant is moderate in difficulty; accuracy matters more than speed here.
- 3Practise Logical Ability section-wise — Coding-decoding, series, and syllogisms are high-yield. Set a daily target of 20 reasoning questions with accuracy tracking.
- 4Strengthen English for both Tier I and Tier II — English is tested in Tier I (MCQ) and Tier II (descriptive). Practise essay writing weekly; read quality newspapers for vocabulary and comprehension.
- 5Take timed full mock tests — Attempt at least 10 full Tier I mocks before the exam. Review every wrong answer; track accuracy trends across attempts.
- 6Manage negative marking — With -1/3 per wrong answer, do not guess randomly. Skip questions where you have no idea; attempt confidently where you can eliminate at least 2 options.