Key Highlights
- Notification Release Date: 14 July 2025
- Total Vacancies: 3,717 (UR: 1,537 | OBC: 946 | EWS: 442 | SC: 566 | ST: 226)
- Application Window: 19 July – 10 August 2025
- Posts: Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Grade‑II/Executive
- Pay Scale: ₹44,900–₹1,42,400 (Level 7)
Eligibility Criteria
- Educational Qualification:
Graduation (any stream) from a recognized university; basic computer knowledge desirable - Age Limit:
18–27 years as on 10 Aug 2025; relaxation applicable for SC/ST, OBC, ex‑servicemen, etc.
Application Fee
- General/OBC/EWS (male): ₹550 (₹450 processing + ₹100 recruitment fee)
- SC/ST/Female/Ex‑Servicemen: ₹450
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
- Tier I: Objective — 100 MCQs in 60 minutes
- Sections: Current Affairs, General Studies, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English (20 questions each)
- Negative marking: 1/4th for each wrong answer
- Tier II: Descriptive (50 marks; 1 hour)
- Essay, English comprehension & précis writing
- Tier III: Interview (Personality Test)
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 14 July 2025 |
| Online Application Opens | 19 July 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 10 Aug 2025 (23:59 hrs) |
Preparation Tips
Focus on strengthening:
- General Awareness (static + current affairs)
- Reasoning & Aptitude
- English Language
- Descriptive writing
Practice previous years’ papers, full-length mocks, and stay updated on government policy/events.
OUR SOCIAL HANDLE
https://youtube.com/@upscuniverse360
for upsc self study @https://upscuniverse360.com/
What is the Intelligence Bureau (IB)?
- India’s internal intelligence and counter-intelligence agency, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) .
- Established on 23 December 1887 as the Central Special Branch, making it the world’s oldest intelligence organization .
- Before 1968, it handled both external and internal intelligence; post-1968, the newly formed R&AW took on foreign intelligence, leaving IB focused internally .
🤔 Key Facts at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Motto | Jāgṛtaṃ Aharniśaṃ (“Always Alert”) |
| Annual Budget | ₹3,893 crore (2025–26) |
| Director (DIB) | Tapan Deka, an IPS officer appointed July 2022; term extended till June 2026 |
🎯 Core Functions & Roles
- Internal Security & Counter-Terrorism
- Monitors terrorist activities, extremist networks, and threats across India .
- Counter-Intelligence
- Identifies and neutralizes espionage attempts from foreign agencies .
- Border Intelligence
- Gathers intelligence in sensitive border regions per early “Himmat Singh Committee” recommendations .
- Liaison & Support
- Shares intel with police, R&AW, NIA, CBI, etc., through networks like Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) .
- Security Clearances
- Handles vetting and clearances for diplomats, judges, and often conducts covert surveillance (e.g., wiretapping) within legal limits .
⚙️ Organizational Structure
- Staffed largely by IPS, IRS, and military officers.
- Hierarchical structure includes Group C (Security Assistants, Junior Intelligence Officers), Group B (Assistant Central Intelligence Officers), and Group A (senior gazetted officers up to Director) .
- Operates through State Special Bureaus (SSBs) and national field units, reporting to Central Intelligence Officers and the DIB .
🛡️ Intelligence Coordination Mechanisms
- Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) – A 24×7 node in Delhi with satellite offices across states, coordinating intelligence across agencies since 2001 .
- NATGRID – A secure data-sharing platform linking IB with other agencies like R&AW and NIA .
🧾 Historical Milestones
- 1887: Created by British as Central Special Branch to monitor political unrest .
- 1947: Post-independence, renamed IB and placed under MHA
- 1968: R&AW spun off for foreign intelligence following notable intelligence failures
- 2001: Establishment of MAC under IB post-Kargil conflict .
🧪 Challenges & Limitations
- Functions through executive orders and ministry powers, not a specific legislation—has faced legal scrutiny, yet Supreme Court upholds its constitutional operation .
- Highly secretive, limited public disclosures; even family members of operatives may not know their roles A.
📈 Career & Recruitment
- Offers roles across Group C & B, including Security Assistants, Junior Intelligence Officers, and Assistant Central Intelligence Officers (ACIO-II/Exe).
- Recruitment processes like the IB ACIO exams feature:
- Tier I: Objective test
- Tier II: Descriptive writing
- Tier III: Interview .
- Notable drive: 2025 ACIO recruitment with 3,717 vacancies, registration from 19 July to 10 August 2025, salary band of ₹44,900–1,42,400
🏁 In Summary
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) stands as India’s primary internal intelligence pillar, safeguarding national security through a wide range of covert operations—from counter-terrorism to internal stability. With deep historical roots and evolving strategies, it remains crucial in shaping domestic security landscape.