If you want to be a part of the Indian intelligence community, there are various security and intelligence agencies under the Indian government where you can work as a credible officer for the protection of the country.
These agencies are part of the Indian government or autonomous bodies working for the government. They specialize in different aspects of security that include national security, military operations and crisis management. Such agencies include RAW, IB, DIA and CBI.
Major Indian Intelligence Agencies & Their Recruitment Process:
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
Research and Analysis Wing also known as RAW is the country’s premier intelligence agency that involves foreign operations. RAW works directly under the Prime Minister of India. It keeps an eye on the developments of the foreign countries which can pose a threat to the security of the country.
RAW does not hold an open recruitment process for its positions. IAS officers, IPS officers, other intelligence agencies and army officers are deputed into RAW through lateral entry tests.
Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Intelligence Bureau or IB is the Central Intelligence Agency of India. It works under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Selections to the intelligence bureau as an inspector are made through competitive exams of IB- ACIO (Assistant Central Intelligence Officer) conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
However, selection for senior positions is made through lateral positions of IPS or Army officers.
Examination Pattern of IB- ACIO:
Paper – I –100 Marks (Objective Type Questions)
- Syllabus: General Awareness, General Knowledge, Reasoning Ability, Comprehension, Mathematical Ability
Paper – II – 50 Marks (Descriptive Type Questions)
- Syllabus: English writing skills and analytical ability.
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Examination Pattern of IPS Officer:
UPSC conducts Indian Civil Services Examination for various posts including IPS officers. The examination for IPS officers is held in 4 stages:
- The preliminary exam consists of 2 objective-type questions of 400 marks.
- The main exam consists of traditional descriptive-type questions in any one of the chosen subjects of 1800 marks.
- The personality test consists of 275 marks. Only those candidates who pass the main exam are eligible for this test.
- Physical and medical standards test.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
The Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI is the primary face of Indian intelligence. It works under the ambit of the Government of India. The Director of CBI is an IPS officer who has held rank either as the Director General of Police or as the Commissioner of Police (State).
Selection for CBI officers is made through the Combined Graduate Level Examination of Staff Selection Commission which is conducted by the Government of India.The examination takes place in 2 stages:
- Written Test – 400 Marks
- Personal Interview/ Personality Test – 100 Marks
Pattern of the Written Test:
Paper – I – General Test – 200 Marks
- General Intelligence and Reasoning – 50 Questions
- General Awareness – 75 Questions
- Numerical Ability – 75 Questions
- Total time: 2 hours
Paper – II – English Language – 200 Marks
- Language Comprehension
- Communication/Writing Ability Test
- Total time: 2 hours
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
The Defense Intelligence Agency or DIA is an intelligence agency under the ambit of the Union Ministry of Defense for the three wings of the defense forces, the Army, Navy and Air Force. The DIA collaborates with the IB and RAW to investigate intelligence information.
The recruitment is done through a lateral entry process from the Armed forces where one can join the specialized intelligence wing of DIA.
You can get more information about the vacancies on the respective websites.
Also Read: Top Intelligence Agency in the World – RAW, ISI, CIA, KGB, MOSAAD
