IB ACIO Answer Key 2025 Released – How to Download and Check Your Score

Key Details of the IB ACIO Answer Key 2025

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) rolled out the IB ACIO answer key on September 22, 2025, just a few days after the three‑day Tier 1 exam that took place on September 16, 17 and 18. The release is part of the official transparency drive for the Intelligence Bureau’s massive recruitment drive, which targets 3,717 Grade 2 Executive positions.

All the essential information that candidates need is bundled into a PDF that lists each question ID alongside the correct option ID. This format lets aspirants cross‑check every answer they marked, match it against the official key, and work out a provisional score. The marking scheme is straightforward: +1 for every right answer and a -0.25 penalty for each wrong one, mirroring the standard negative‑marking approach used in most government exams.

To access the key, candidates simply log in to the MHA portal (mha.gov.in) using the User ID and Password they created when registering for the exam. Once logged in, the answer key and an individualized response sheet become available for download. The response sheet shows the exact options each candidate selected, making it easy to spot any mismatches.

• Exam dates: September 16‑18, 2025
• Answer key release: September 22, 2025
• Official source: mha.gov.in
• Marking scheme: +1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect
• Access method: User ID & Password login

Downloading the Answer Key and Raising Objections

The download process is a walk‑through that takes less than five minutes. First, head to the MHA website and click on the "Latest Notifications" tab. Look for the link titled "IB ACIO Answer Key 2025" and hit it. A sign‑in prompt will appear; enter the credentials you used during the application phase, hit submit, and the PDF will start downloading automatically.

1. Visit mha.gov.in
2. Navigate to the "Latest Notifications" section
3. Click on the "IB ACIO Answer Key 2025" link
4. Enter your User ID and Password
5. Download the answer key PDF and your personal response sheet

If you spot a discrepancy—say, an answer that you strongly believe is correct but the key marks otherwise—you have the right to submit an objection. The objection window opens as soon as the key is posted and remains active for a limited period (usually five working days). To lodge a challenge, log back into the portal, find the "Objection Form" under the same notification, fill in the question ID, your proposed correction, and any supporting argument or reference, then submit.

All objections are vetted by a panel of senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau and the MHA. Should any objection be upheld, the scoring sheet is revised accordingly before the final merit list is compiled.

Once candidates have settled on their provisional scores, the next phase is the interview round. The interview panel will evaluate candidates on analytical abilities, current affairs knowledge, and situational judgment, aligning with the IB’s operational requirements. Final selections will be announced after the objection process concludes and interview scores are integrated.