Most of you already know that Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued notification inviting application for the post of ACIO (Assistant Central Intelligence Officer) 2014. This year the total number of post is 750 (UR-201; OBC-301; SC- 180, ST- 62). Check out the official notification of the recruitment drive.
Essential qualification to appear for this exam is Graduation or Equivalent from a recognized University. The Knowledge of computers is desirable.
After the process of application now the question is what is the syllabus and how to go about with the preparation for the exam. Here we have tried to give you an idea about the syllabus and the questions that are generally asked.
Let us dig deep into the Intelligence Bureau ACIO Exam Paper Pattern.
The IB paper contains 2 parts: MCQ (Paper I) and Descriptive part (Paper II). The paper is of 150 marks and time is 1 hour 40mins. You will have to write both parts in the same sitting there will be no break.
In the MCQ part questions will be asked to test your reasoning and analytical knowledge, GK, Quantitative aptitude and general English. This part consists of 100 marks.
In the Reasoning questions you can expect simple reasoning, coding-decoding, alphabet series, relations, sitting arrangements etc.
In the Quantitative aptitude questions, questions are asked from algebra, number line, LCM-HCF, Arithmetic progression, probability, permutation-combination, age questions, time and work, pipe-cistern, time-distance and speed, basic geometry, Interest (simple and compound). Still now DI questions have not been asked but it would be safe if you would practice a few.
For the English section practice Synonym-antonyms, sentence corrections, spell check, pick the odd, short passage.
The GK section of the IB paper is relatively vast. Questions are asked from History, geography, economics, polity, world affairs, science and environmental issues, current affairs and other misc. GK.
For the History part– Questions from Buddhism and Jainism, sculptures and monuments built by which kings, important books and their authors, Delhi sultanate, the Mughals, The Marathas, visitors and philosophers to the King’s court, important battles and treaties-battle of tarai, battle of panipat, anglo-maratha war, Anglo-French war, Anglo-Sikh war, Treaty of Srirangapatnam and Tipu Sultan, Governor-generals of the east India Company, Viceroys of the Crown, a rough chronology of the important events that unfolded during the freedom struggle- Policy of annexation, revolts- peasant revolt, tribal revolt, Sanyasi rebellion etc., Reformers and societies formed, the Congress- the early and later leaders, Pacts made e.g. Pune pact, Lucknow Pact, Gandhi-Irwin pact, round table conference etc., Jalinanwala bagh tragedy, Acts under the Crown – Rowlett Act, Vernacular Press act, Communal award, Simon commission etc., Partition of Bengal, Act of 1947 etc.
In ACIO paper, questions from World History as well are asked. Emphasis is on Medieval and Modern world history. Know about Renaissance, Ottoman Empire, Revolutions- American, French, Bolshevik, American civil war, Unification of Italy, Napoleon etc.
More recent topics would include Industrial revolution, World War I & II, birth of UNO, Cold War etc. Know about personalities as Hitler, Garibaldi, Mussolini, Marx, Lenin etc.
In Geography: Topics related to Indian, world and in general physical geography are asked. We have compiled almost all the important tallest-biggest-longest-highest, hills and rivers and deltas etc in our geography section. Refer to those and consult NCERT books.
Economic questions: questions are mostly asked from current topics as current mergers and acquisitions, CEO-MD head of companies etc, FDI limits, Limits of deposition or savings in PF or cash transfer through RTGS etc. current financial and market world etc. Following current year budget and economic survey, daily newspaper will be helpful to you.
For the Polity questions you should refer to Indian Constitution. Basic topics would include preamble, fundamental rights, DPSP, Lok Sabha-Rajya sabha, Governor, Eligibility and tenure, which feature of constitution borrowed from which constitution, Constitutional / non-constitutional bodies, Commissions e.g. planning commissions, their chairman, tenure etc,
Other than the specified areas Misc. GK questions are asked that covers almost all other sectors- sports current awards, books etc. Major world affairs – uprisings, conflicts e.g Ukraine- Russia conflict, ISIS, SAARC, ASEAN, G20, Climate summit, UN meetings etc.
Get yourself updated with the current topics. ACIO asks GK and not GS type questions so you need not expect questions like those asked in the civil services. What I mean is that the probability of asking “How much is the current Repo rate” is much more than asking “what is Repo rate”.
Lastly, the Descriptive paper is of 50 marks and you would be asked to write an essay on any one of the given topics. Usually 3 topics are given and the topics are related to current socio-economic topics. For example, last year there was the topic “India Vs Bharat” year before that there was “diversity of India” etc. For this paper you should keep yourself aware of the happenings in India and world. Reading editorials of the news papers (preferably The Hindu) and magazines as The Frontline, India Today etc will help. You can also follow essays given in essay books published by major publishers.
Find out how you should prepare for ACIO exam, Click here.
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