The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has released its Junior Intelligence Officer (JIO) Grade-II / Technical recruitment notification for 2025, with 394 vacancies.
As the exam process unfolds—Tier I (written), Skill Test (Tier II), and Interview (Tier III)—candidates eagerly await the category-wise cut-offs. While the official cut-offs will be declared after each stage, experts and exam analysts have projected expected ranges to help aspirants set target scores.
In this blog, we review the exam pattern, influencing factors, expected cut-offs by category, and frequently asked questions to guide your preparation strategy.
Table of Contents
Exam Pattern & Qualifying Marks (2025)
Before discussing cut-offs, let’s recap the structure and marking scheme of the IB JIO exam.
Tier I (Written / CBT)
The written test is 100 marks, with 100 MCQs.
Subjects:
• General Mental Ability (25 MCQs / 25 marks)
• Technical / Discipline-based questions (remainder) based on candidates’ essential qualifications (Electronics / IT / Computer / Communication etc.)Negative marking applies: –0.25 mark for each wrong answer.
Tier II (Skill Test) & Tier III (Interview)
The Skill Test (practical / hands-on) is intended to test technical ability in a trade or domain. It typically carries 30 marks.
Interview / Personality Test is the final round, valued at 20 marks.
The final merit is based on the performance in Tier I (written) and Interview, provided candidates qualify in the Skill Test.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
In addition to the cut-off, there is a minimum score threshold that candidates must cross to be eligible. For example, in past years:
UR (General) candidates often need 35 out of 100 in Tier I.
OBC/EWS: around 34, SC/ST: 33 (or slightly lower) in some cases.
Meeting minimum qualifying marks does not guarantee selection: you must also clear the cut-off relative to other candidates.
Expected Cut-off 2025: Category-Wise Projections
Based on analysis of past trends, competition, vacancy distribution, and exam difficulty, here are the expected cut-off ranges for Tier I (out of 100):
| Category | Expected Cut-off Range |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 68 – 72 |
| OBC | 60 – 65 |
| SC | 50 – 55 |
| ST | 42 – 47 |
| EWS | 65 – 70 (some analysts project this in between UR/OBC) |
Keep in mind:
These are expected ranges, not official values.
The actual cut-off may vary depending on exam difficulty, candidate performance, normalization, etc.
In high competition years, the upper range might push slightly higher; in tougher exam years, lower.
Also, for Tier II (Skill Test), cut-offs may be qualifying in nature (i.e. you need to cross a threshold, not compete on marks).
Factors Influencing the Cut-off
The final cutoff will be shaped by several dynamic factors:
Number of Applicants / Candidates Appearing
If the exam attracts more strong candidates, the curve rises.Vacancy Count
With 394 vacancies (UR 157, OBC 117, SC 60, ST 28, EWS 32) , the cutoff will adjust to maintain that selection ratio.Difficulty Level of the Exam
A tougher paper may cause a drop in cut-offs; an easier one may push them up.Sectional / Domain Variation
If technical questions are very hard, many might lose marks there — affecting cut-off.Normalization or Scaling
If there are multiple shifts, normalization might be applied, which will influence the effective cut-off.Reserved Category Rules / Relaxations
Reservation policies, tie break norms, and official relaxations can adjust final cut-offs.
How to Use These Projections for Your Strategy
Set target scores above the upper bound (for your category) to be safe (e.g. aim for 75+ if UR).
Focus more on technical / domain questions because even small mistakes cost with negative marking.
Simulate exam conditions and see what scores students around you are getting.
Track cut-offs of other competitive IB posts (like ACIO) to understand trends.
Use the projections to judge which sections to push harder in the last phase of preparation.
FAQs — IB JIO 2025 Cut-off & Marks
Q1. When will the official cut-off for IB JIO 2025 be released?
A. The category-wise cut-off for each stage (Tier I, Tier II, final) will be released along with the result by the Intelligence Bureau / MHA.
Q2. Are these projections reliable?
A. They are informed estimates based on past trends and exam analysis — useful for target setting but not binding.
Q3. Do I need to cross minimum qualifying marks and the cut-off both?
A. Yes. Typically, you must cross the minimum qualifying mark for your category and fall above the competitive cut-off to proceed.
Q4. Will Tier II (Skill Test) have a marks-based cut-off?
A. It is expected to be qualifying in nature (i.e. you must get a minimum to clear), rather than competitive.
Q5. If two candidates have the same score, how is tie broken?
A. Tie-break rules may be applied (e.g. older age, marks in technical section, etc). These rules will be specified in the official notification.
Q6. Can I still qualify if I score slightly less than the expected range?
A. It’s possible, especially if the exam is difficult or there’s lower turnout. But the safer approach is to surpass the higher side of expected range.
Q7. Do zeros or negative marks greatly affect cutoff?
A. Yes — because of negative marking, random guessing or careless errors can drag your score beneath cut-off levels.
