In a major shakeup in the executive cadre of the Intelligence Bureau, the Centre has abolished 2,000 posts in the rank of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer (ACIO) II and created a similar number of posts, mostly in the higher ranks.

The decision was among the reasons for an over 13 percent increase to an outlay of Rs 3,168.36 crore in the budget for the next fiscal, as against Rs 3,039.36 crore allocated in the ongoing financial year,  to augment the additional expenses, officials said.

The proposal was moved by the IB on July 2, 2020 and was approved by the Department of Expenditure, Union Finance Ministry on January 28 this year and the Integrated Finance Division of the Union Home Ministry on January 31, they said.

The expenditure arising due to the review in the executive cadre strength of the agency will be met from the sanctioned budget grant of IB under the relevant head of account for the current financial year 2021-22 and subsequent years.

“As many as 2,000 posts of ACIO-II out of a total sanctioned strength 7,898 (Level-7 pay scale) current posts have been abolished and the revised strength will be 5,898 posts in the rank,” an official said quoting from the order issued by the Internal Security Division of the Union Home Ministry on Monday.

Of the abolished 2,000 posts, as many as 1,110 posts will be added to the existing sanctioned 2,697 posts of ACIO-I posts in the higher Level-8 pay scale. Now, the total strength of the ACIO-I posts will be 3,807 posts.

As many as 358 posts in the Level-10 pay scale of Deputy Central Intelligence Officer (DCIO) have been sanctioned to the existing strength of 1,200, taking the tally to 1,558.

Likewise, 80 posts have been increased in the rank of Assistant Director (Pay Scale, Level-11), making the revised strength to 583 posts. Ten posts have also been increased in the rank of Joint Deputy Director (Level-12 Pay Scale).

A total of 442 posts have been added in the rank of Security Assistant (Level-3 Pay Scale), taking the tally of revised strength of the post to 4,290. This is the only revision in a post lower in pay scale than ACIO-II.

However, no changes have been made in the sanctioned posts of Junior Intelligence Officer I and II, Additional Deputy Director, Deputy Director and Joint Director.

After the revision, the combined strength of the agency will stand at a little over 20,000 posts in different ranks as earlier.

The move is aimed at streamlining the functioning of the covert agency engaged in internal intelligence gathering as also enhancing operational efficiency, officials added.