EXAM SYLLABUS

The IB ACIO exam has two stages: Tier 1 (Prelims) and Tier 2 (Mains), followed by an Interview. Tier 1 is objective and tests general awareness, quantitative aptitude, logical/analytical ability, and English language. Tier 2 is descriptive, focusing on essay writing, precis, comprehension, and grammar. The interview assesses personality, intelligence, communication skills, and awareness of current affairs. Tier 1 has negative marking, and Tier 2 evaluates writing and analytical ability.

The exam is conducted in two stages: Tier 1 (Preliminary) and Tier 2 (Mains), followed by an Interview.

Tier 2 – Mains Exam (Descriptive Type)

IB ACIO Tier-2 Syllabus 2025-26 (For Exam on 11 January 2026)

1. Essay Writing (20 marks)

Candidates choose 1 topic out of 4–5 options and write 300–400 words. Key Areas/Expected Topics (based on previous cycles & current relevance):

National Security & Internal Security Challenges

Terrorism, Naxalism, Border Issues, North-East Insurgency

Cyber Security & Data Privacy

Role of Technology/AI in Intelligence & Governance

India’s Foreign Policy (Neighbourhood First, Act East, Indo-Pacific)

Socio-Economic Issues: Poverty, Unemployment, Farmer Distress, Women Safety

Environmental Issues: Climate Change, Disaster Management

Governance & Reforms: Digital India, Good Governance, Corruption

Current Affairs-based: Any major event from 2024–2025 (e.g., G20 outcomes, new criminal laws, Agnipath scheme, etc.)

2. English Comprehension (10 marks)

One unseen passage (250–350 words)

Questions typically include:

Direct factual questions

Inference-based questions

Vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms from passage)

Short summary or title suggestion

Focus: Reading speed, grasping central idea, precise answers

3. Long Answer Type Questions (20 marks – 2 questions × 10 marks each)

Compulsory analytical/descriptive questions (150–200 words each) from:

Current Affairs (National & International)

Economy & Development (Budget highlights, schemes, GDP, inflation)

Science & Technology (Recent developments, ISRO, DRDO, AI, 5G/6G)

Internal & External Security Scenarios

Socio-Political Issues (Federalism, Judiciary, Election reforms)

Intelligence-related themes (Role of IB, challenges in modern intelligence)

Overall Focus Areas for Tier-2

Last 18–24 months Current Affairs (Jan 2024 – Jan 2026)

Government Schemes & Policies

Security & Defence-related topics (highest weightage)

Basic Economics & Social Issues

Strong command of structured English writing

EXAM PATTERN

The IB ACIO Exam Pattern for Tier II is detailed here. Candidates should carefully review the subject-wise marks distribution, total questions, negative marking, and minimum qualifying marks to devise a focused and effective preparation strategy.

IB ACIO Tier II Exam

Mode: Offline (Pen-and-Paper / Descriptive writing)

Total Marks: 50

Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)

Question Type: Descriptive (handwritten answers required)

Medium: English only

Negative Marking: None

Qualifying Marks: Minimum 33% (approximately 17 out of 50) in Tier II (as per standard rule; candidates must secure this to qualify for Interview)

Purpose: Tests clarity of thought, analytical skills, expression, grammar, structure, and awareness of contemporary issues (especially relevant to national security, intelligence, and socio-economic topics)

Weightage in Final Merit: Tier II marks are added to Tier I and Interview for final selection.???????

ELIGIBILIY CRITERIA

Only candidates who qualify in Tier I will be eligible to appear for the Tier II exam. Candidates applying for the IB ACIO exam must fulfill all the required eligibility conditions. If any candidate does not meet the criteria such as age limit, minimum educational qualification, or other required conditions, their candidature will be rejected by the concerned authority. The eligibility criteria for IB ACIO are decided by the exam conducting authority.

The candidate’s eligibility for IB ACIO Examination is based on the fulfillment of the following conditions:-

1. Nationality
2. Age Limit & Relaxations
3. Educational Qualifications
4. Medical Standards

Nationality

Only Indian Candidates are eligible to apply for IB ACIO Examination.

Age Limit

The minimum age limit prescribed for the post of IB ACIO is 18 Years and maximum of 27 Years. Age relaxation is applicable as per the various categories:- 

Age Relaxation 

Education Qualification

To be eligible for IB ACIO following are the details : 

Medical Standards

1. For the post mentioned in here, only physically and mentally fit candidates are allowed.
2. The above-mentioned post is not identified suitable for any category of person with disabilities/pwd i.e. HH,OH,VH or Autism. Hence, they are advised not to apply.
3. Candidates need to keep this thing in mind that based on the combined performance in Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III/Interview, the candidates would be shortlisted for final selection subject to their Character and Antecedent verification followed by medical examination, etc.
4. Candidates appearing in interviews may be subject to a Psychometric/ Aptitude Test which will be a part of the interview.

IMPORTANT DATES

The IB ACIO 2025-26 recruitment for 3,717 vacancies has completed its major selection stages. The Tier-I examination was conducted from 16 to 18 September 2025, and the Tier-I result was declared on 21 November 2025. The Tier-II descriptive examination was conducted on 11 January 2026, and the Tier-II result was declared on 5 March 2026. Candidates shortlisted for the next stage appeared for the Tier-III interview/personality test, which was conducted from 1 to 30 April 2026. Subsequently, the final result was declared on 3 June 2026, marking the completion of the IB ACIO Grade-II/Executive 2025 recruitment process.

EXAM ANALYSIS

Here’s a detailed exam analysis for the upcoming IB ACIO Tier I Exam 2026, based on the previous year’s (2025) recruitment cycle, to help you understand the pattern, last exam dates, shift details, difficulty level, cut-offs and what to expect for the 2026 exam:

The IB ACIO Exam Analysis 2025-26 provides an overview of the difficulty level, section-wise performance, good attempts and important topics asked in the examination. The analysis is based on the Tier-I and Tier-II exam pattern and candidate feedback and helps candidates understand the overall level of the examination.

IB ACIO Tier-I Exam Date and Shift

The IB ACIO Tier-I Examination 2025 was conducted from 16 to 18 September 2025 in multiple shifts across various exam centres. The examination was conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, with candidates allotted their respective shifts and examination centres as mentioned on their admit cards.

IB ACIO Tier-I Exam Pattern

The Tier-I examination consisted of 100 questions carrying 100 marks, with 20 questions each from five sections: Current Affairs, General Studies, Numerical Aptitude, Reasoning/Logical Aptitude and English Language. Candidates were given 60 minutes, with a negative marking of ¼ mark for each incorrect answer.

IB ACIO Tier-I Section-Wise Analysis

Reasoning and Logical Aptitude

The Reasoning section was generally Easy and was considered one of the most scoring sections. Questions were asked from topics such as puzzles, seating arrangement, blood relations, coding-decoding, syllogism, inequality, direction sense and statement-based questions.

Numerical Aptitude

The Numerical Aptitude section was Easy to Moderate and required comparatively more calculation time. Questions were mainly based on Percentage, Ratio, Profit and Loss, Geometry, Simple and Compound Interest, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Age and Average.

English Language

The English section was generally Easy and scoring. Questions were asked from Reading Comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, sentence improvement, para jumbles, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, voice, narration and spelling.

Current Affairs

The Current Affairs section was Moderate and required good knowledge of recent events. Questions covered national and international events, government schemes, awards, appointments, defence, economy, sports, science and technology and important reports.

General Studies

The General Studies section was generally Moderate and included questions from both static and current topics. Major areas included Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science and Technology, Defence and Culture.

IB ACIO Tier-I Section-Wise Difficulty Level

The Reasoning and English sections were comparatively easier, while Numerical Aptitude was Easy to Moderate. Current Affairs and General Studies were comparatively Moderate and depended largely on candidates' preparation and knowledge of factual topics.

IB ACIO Tier-I Overall Difficulty Level

The overall difficulty level of the IB ACIO Tier-I Examination 2025 was Easy to Moderate. Candidates with good preparation could score well in Reasoning and English, while Current Affairs, General Studies and Numerical Aptitude required greater accuracy and time management.

IB ACIO Tier-I Good Attempts

The overall good attempts were estimated to be around 72–80 questions, depending on the shift and difficulty level. Candidates were expected to maintain high accuracy because of the ¼-mark negative marking for every incorrect answer.

IB ACIO Tier-I Overall Analysis

Overall, the Tier-I paper was Easy to Moderate. English and Reasoning were the most scoring sections, while Numerical Aptitude, Current Affairs and General Studies required comparatively more preparation, calculation or factual knowledge.

IB ACIO Tier-II Exam Analysis 2025-26

Tier-II Exam Date

The IB ACIO Tier-II descriptive examination was conducted on 11 January 2026 for candidates who qualified the Tier-I examination. The examination tested candidates' writing, comprehension and analytical abilities.

Tier-II Exam Pattern

The Tier-II examination was a descriptive paper carrying 50 marks. It included Essay Writing, English Comprehension and Long Answer Type Questions, requiring candidates to present their views clearly with appropriate language, structure and analysis.

Tier-II Section-Wise Analysis

Essay Writing

The Essay section tested candidates' ability to present ideas in a structured and analytical manner. Candidates were expected to demonstrate awareness of current issues, clarity of thought, logical presentation and effective writing skills.

English Comprehension

The English Comprehension section assessed candidates' ability to understand and interpret a given passage. Candidates needed to provide clear, relevant and grammatically appropriate answers based on the passage.

Long Answer Type Questions

The Long Answer section focused on candidates' analytical and descriptive writing skills. Questions generally required candidates to explain issues in detail and support their answers with relevant examples, arguments and facts.

Tier-II Difficulty Level

The overall difficulty level of the Tier-II examination was Moderate. Candidates with strong writing skills, good command of English and awareness of current affairs, national issues, governance, security and socio-economic topics were expected to perform better.

Tier-II Good Attempts

Since Tier-II was a descriptive examination, good attempts were judged more on content quality, relevance, structure, language, analytical approach and completion of all questions rather than simply the number of questions attempted. Candidates who addressed all components appropriately could be considered to have made a good attempt.

Tier-II Overall Analysis

The IB ACIO Tier-II examination provided candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their writing and analytical abilities. Overall, the paper was considered Moderate, and candidates needed to balance content, accuracy, time management and presentation to score well.

Final IB ACIO Exam Analysis

The IB ACIO 2025-26 examination required a combination of objective-test accuracy and descriptive-writing skills. The Tier-I examination was Easy to Moderate, while Tier-II was Moderate. The Tier-II result was declared on 5 March 2026, the Tier-III interviews were conducted from 1 to 30 April 2026, and the final result was declared on 3 June 2026.

STUDY TIPS

Focus on strong basics first. For Tier 1, practice General Awareness, Quant, Reasoning, and English daily, learn shortcuts, and revise current affairs. For Tier 2, write essays, practice precis, and improve reading comprehension. Take regular mock tests, analyze mistakes, and manage your time. Maintain notes for quick revision and stay consistent.

1. Understand the Exam Pattern:

Tier 1 (Prelims / Objective): General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English.

Tier 2 (Mains / Descriptive): Essay writing, precise writing, comprehension.

Interview / Tier 3: Personality, alertness, reasoning.

2. Create a Daily Routine:

Daily 3–4 hours for Tier 1 subjects.

Daily 1–2 hours for Tier 2 preparation.

Weekends can be used for mock tests and revision.

3. Tier 1 Preparation Tips:

General Awareness: Cover current affairs of last 6–12 months, basics of history, geography, polity, and science.

Quantitative & Reasoning: Practice 15–20 questions daily, focus on shortcuts and tricks.

English: Learn 10 new words daily, practice comprehension, and revise grammar basics.

4. Tier 2 Preparation Tips:

Practice essay writing daily (150–200 words).

Summarize short news articles for precise writing practice.

Reading comprehension exercises help improve speed and understanding.

5. Mock Tests & Revision:

Take a full-length mock test every 10–15 days.

Note your mistakes and revise them.

Focus on time management during practice.

6. Health & Routine:

Ensure 6–7 hours of sleep daily.

Do light exercise and maintain a proper diet for an alert mind.

1. Understand the Exam Pattern:

Tier 1 (Prelims / Objective): General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English.

Tier 2 (Mains / Descriptive): Essay writing, precise writing, comprehension.

Interview / Tier 3: Personality, alertness, reasoning.

2. Create a Daily Routine:

Daily 3–4 hours for Tier 1 subjects.

Daily 1–2 hours for Tier 2 preparation.

Weekends can be used for mock tests and revision.

3. Tier 1 Preparation Tips:

General Awareness: Cover current affairs of last 6–12 months, basics of history, geography, polity, and science.

Quantitative & Reasoning: Practice 15–20 questions daily, focus on shortcuts and tricks.

English: Learn 10 new words daily, practice comprehension, and revise grammar basics.

4. Tier 2 Preparation Tips:

Practice essay writing daily (150–200 words).

Summarize short news articles for precise writing practice.

Reading comprehension exercises help improve speed and understanding.

5. Mock Tests & Revision:

Take a full-length mock test every 10–15 days.

Note your mistakes and revise them.

Focus on time management during practice.

6. Health & Routine:

Ensure 6–7 hours of sleep daily.

Do light exercise and maintain a proper diet for an alert mind.

STUDY PLANS

1-Month Plan (Quick Preparation / Revision)

Goal: Cover all topics quickly, focus on speed and accuracy, start mocks.

Daily Routine (5–6 hours):

Tier 1:

General Awareness: 1.5 hours (current affairs + basics)

Quant & Reasoning: 1.5 hours (shortcuts + practice)

English: 1 hour (vocabulary + comprehension)

Tier 2:

Essay / Precise Writing: 1 hour (daily practice with current topics)

Weekly Plan:

Day 6: Full-length mock test (Tier 1) + analysis

Day 7: Revision of weak topics

Tips:

Focus on previous year questions

Use short notes for GA

Practice solving questions within time limits

3-Month Plan (Moderate Preparation)

Goal: Build strong basics, practice regularly, improve speed.

Daily Routine (4–5 hours):

Tier 1:

GA: 1 hour (current affairs, static GK)

Quant: 1 hour (daily problem-solving, shortcuts)

Reasoning: 1 hour (logical, puzzles, seating arrangements)

English: 30–45 min (vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar)

Tier 2:

Essay/Precise: 30–45 min daily

Reading comprehension: 15–20 min

Weekly Plan:

1–2 Full-length mock tests (analyze mistakes carefully)

Focus 1 day on weak topics

Revise current affairs weekly

Tips:

Maintain GA notes for revision

Track time per section for speed

Practice writing essays and precis regularly

6-Month Plan (Extended / Thorough Preparation)

Goal: Strong command over all sections, consistent practice, and regular mocks.

Daily Routine (3–4 hours initially, 5–6 closer to exam):

Tier 1:

GA: 1–1.5 hours (current affairs, history, geography, polity, science)

Quant: 1 hour (shortcuts, practice problems, previous year papers)

Reasoning: 45 min–1 hour (daily puzzles + logical reasoning)

English: 30–45 min (vocabulary, comprehension, grammar)

Tier 2:

Essay/Precise: 45 min daily

Reading comprehension: 15–20 min

STUDY TIPS

Focus on strong basics first. For Tier 1, practice General Awareness, Quant, Reasoning, and English daily, learn shortcuts, and revise current affairs. For Tier 2, write essays, practice precis, and improve reading comprehension. Take regular mock tests, analyze mistakes, and manage your time. Maintain notes for quick revision and stay consistent.

1. Understand the Exam Pattern:

Tier 1 (Prelims / Objective): General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English.

Tier 2 (Mains / Descriptive): Essay writing, precise writing, comprehension.

Interview / Tier 3: Personality, alertness, reasoning.

2. Create a Daily Routine:

Daily 3–4 hours for Tier 1 subjects.

Daily 1–2 hours for Tier 2 preparation.

Weekends can be used for mock tests and revision.

3. Tier 1 Preparation Tips:

General Awareness: Cover current affairs of last 6–12 months, basics of history, geography, polity, and science.

Quantitative & Reasoning: Practice 15–20 questions daily, focus on shortcuts and tricks.

English: Learn 10 new words daily, practice comprehension, and revise grammar basics.

4. Tier 2 Preparation Tips:

Practice essay writing daily (150–200 words).

Summarize short news articles for precise writing practice.

Reading comprehension exercises help improve speed and understanding.

5. Mock Tests & Revision:

Take a full-length mock test every 10–15 days.

Note your mistakes and revise them.

Focus on time management during practice.

6. Health & Routine:

Ensure 6–7 hours of sleep daily.

Do light exercise and maintain a proper diet for an alert mind.

1. Understand the Exam Pattern:

Tier 1 (Prelims / Objective): General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English.

Tier 2 (Mains / Descriptive): Essay writing, precise writing, comprehension.

Interview / Tier 3: Personality, alertness, reasoning.

2. Create a Daily Routine:

Daily 3–4 hours for Tier 1 subjects.

Daily 1–2 hours for Tier 2 preparation.

Weekends can be used for mock tests and revision.

3. Tier 1 Preparation Tips:

General Awareness: Cover current affairs of last 6–12 months, basics of history, geography, polity, and science.

Quantitative & Reasoning: Practice 15–20 questions daily, focus on shortcuts and tricks.

English: Learn 10 new words daily, practice comprehension, and revise grammar basics.

4. Tier 2 Preparation Tips:

Practice essay writing daily (150–200 words).

Summarize short news articles for precise writing practice.

Reading comprehension exercises help improve speed and understanding.

5. Mock Tests & Revision:

Take a full-length mock test every 10–15 days.

Note your mistakes and revise them.

Focus on time management during practice.

6. Health & Routine:

Ensure 6–7 hours of sleep daily.

Do light exercise and maintain a proper diet for an alert mind.

STUDY PLANS

1-Month Plan (Quick Preparation / Revision)

Goal: Cover all topics quickly, focus on speed and accuracy, start mocks.

Daily Routine (5–6 hours):

Tier 1:

General Awareness: 1.5 hours (current affairs + basics)

Quant & Reasoning: 1.5 hours (shortcuts + practice)

English: 1 hour (vocabulary + comprehension)

Tier 2:

Essay / Precise Writing: 1 hour (daily practice with current topics)

Weekly Plan:

Day 6: Full-length mock test (Tier 1) + analysis

Day 7: Revision of weak topics

Tips:

Focus on previous year questions

Use short notes for GA

Practice solving questions within time limits

3-Month Plan (Moderate Preparation)

Goal: Build strong basics, practice regularly, improve speed.

Daily Routine (4–5 hours):

Tier 1:

GA: 1 hour (current affairs, static GK)

Quant: 1 hour (daily problem-solving, shortcuts)

Reasoning: 1 hour (logical, puzzles, seating arrangements)

English: 30–45 min (vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar)

Tier 2:

Essay/Precise: 30–45 min daily

Reading comprehension: 15–20 min

Weekly Plan:

1–2 Full-length mock tests (analyze mistakes carefully)

Focus 1 day on weak topics

Revise current affairs weekly

Tips:

Maintain GA notes for revision

Track time per section for speed

Practice writing essays and precis regularly

6-Month Plan (Extended / Thorough Preparation)

Goal: Strong command over all sections, consistent practice, and regular mocks.

Daily Routine (3–4 hours initially, 5–6 closer to exam):

Tier 1:

GA: 1–1.5 hours (current affairs, history, geography, polity, science)

Quant: 1 hour (shortcuts, practice problems, previous year papers)

Reasoning: 45 min–1 hour (daily puzzles + logical reasoning)

English: 30–45 min (vocabulary, comprehension, grammar)

Tier 2:

Essay/Precise: 45 min daily

Reading comprehension: 15–20 min

Weekly Plan:

1–2 Mock tests + analysis

1 day for revision of weak sections

Monthly revision of GA + current affairs

Tips:

Keep a notebook for GA and current affairs

Solve previous 5–10 years’ papers

Practice speed + accuracy in Tier 1

Write at least 3–4 essays per week for Tier 2

OVERVIEW

The Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (IB ACIO) Examination 2025-26 is a national-level recruitment examination conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to select candidates for the post of ACIO Grade-II/Executive (Group ‘C’) in the Intelligence Bureau. The examination is conducted as per the requirement and is not held annually. For the 2025 recruitment cycle, a total of 3,717 vacancies were announced. The Tier-I examination was conducted from 16 to 18 September 2025, followed by the Tier-II descriptive examination on 11 January 2026. The Tier-II result was declared on 5 March 2026, and the Interviews/personality tests were conducted from 1 to 30 April 2026. The final result was declared on 3 June 2026, completing the selection process for the 2025 recruitment cycle. Candidates should visit the official MHA website (mha.gov.in) for any further notifications or updates.

SELECTION PROCESS

The IB ACIO Grade-II/Executive selection process consists of three stages: Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III (Interview). Candidates must qualify at each stage to proceed to the next stage.

1. Tier-I Examination: The Tier-I exam is an objective-type Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 100 questions for 100 marks. Candidates who qualify for Tier-I are shortlisted for Tier-II.

2. Tier-II Examination: Tier-II is a descriptive examination conducted for candidates shortlisted from Tier-I. It assesses candidates' writing and analytical abilities. Candidates who qualify Tier-II are called for the interview.

Interview: Candidates shortlisted after Tier-II appear for the interview/personality test, which assesses their personality, suitability and communication skills for the post.

Final Selection: The final selection is based on the candidates' performance in the Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III stages, subject to fulfilling the prescribed eligibility and other requirements. For the 2025 recruitment cycle, the final result was declared on 3 June 2026.