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SEBI Grade A General Exam 2026: Complete Guide to Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation
SEBI Grade A General recruits Assistant Managers for securities market regulation through two online phases plus interview. Eligible postgraduates and professionals up to age 30 can apply on sebi.gov.in.
Reading time: about 10 minutes. Verify dates, vacancies and post-wise rules in the official notification before applying.
What this guide covers
SEBI Grade A General exam overview
SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager - General stream) recruits officers for the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the regulator for securities markets. The General stream suits commerce, economics, finance and management backgrounds and tests securities-market awareness from Phase 1 itself. Trust only sebi.gov.in for the advertisement, syllabus and dates.
| Stage | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Two online papers (general + subject) | Screening for Phase 2 |
| Phase 2 | English descriptive + subject paper | Merit stage |
| Interview | Personality test | Final merit |
Marks, cut-offs and timings change between cycles. Recent advertisements prescribe separate qualifying cut-offs per paper, so confirm them in your cycle.
Eligibility criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | Not above 30 years as on the cut-off date, with relaxation for reserved categories |
| Education (General) | Master's degree in any discipline, or bachelor's in Law or Engineering, or professional qualifications such as CA, CFA, CS or Cost Accountant, as detailed in the advertisement |
| Percentage | Advertisements specify minimum marks or class. Verify the exact requirement for your qualification route |
Exam pattern
Phase 1
Paper 1 (general): General Awareness including securities-market and financial-sector awareness, English, Quantitative Aptitude and Test of Reasoning. Paper 2 (subject): commerce, accountancy, management, finance, costing and economics for the General stream. Both papers are objective with negative marking and separate cut-offs.
Phase 2
Paper 1 - English (descriptive): essay, precis and comprehension. Paper 2 - subject: advanced questions on the General-stream syllabus. Shortlisting for interview follows Phase 2 merit subject to minimum marks.
Syllabus, subject by subject
Securities market: SEBI functions, primary and secondary markets, mutual funds, depositories, recent regulations and master circulars. Finance and accounts: financial statements, ratios, costing, time value, derivatives basics. Management: theories, motivation, leadership, communication. General: economy current affairs, reasoning puzzles, arithmetic and English comprehension. Read SEBI annual reports and master circulars alongside textbooks.
Important dates and how to apply
SEBI advertises Grade A on sebi.gov.in with stream-wise vacancies and the full schedule. This guide carries no dates. Select the General stream only if your qualification matches, since stream changes after applying are not permitted.
Selection process
- Phase 1: two-paper online screening with per-paper cut-offs.
- Phase 2: descriptive English plus subject paper.
- Interview, then document verification and medical.
How to prepare
Build securities-market knowledge from SEBI study material and master circulars from week one rather than treating it as current affairs. Practise accountancy and finance numerically, write one descriptive English set weekly, and take Phase 1 mocks with strict per-paper cut-off targets instead of overall-score targets.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Preparing general aptitude while postponing securities-market content.
- Ignoring SEBI master circulars and annual reports.
- Choosing the wrong stream for your degree.
- Skipping descriptive English practice.
- Missing a per-paper cut-off while chasing the total.
- Reading finance theory without numerical practice.
Career opportunities
Assistant Managers work in SEBI departments covering market regulation, supervision, enforcement and policy, with postings in Mumbai and regional offices. The grade structure progresses toward Manager and higher grades with deputation possibilities. Check pay scales in the advertisement.
Practise with Pratiyogita Kosh
Use Pratiyogita Kosh the way toppers use any test series: take a timed mock for SEBI Grade A General, review every error within 48 hours, then build a custom practice set around your weakest topics and re-test. Your dashboard tracks accuracy by subject and topic so each session targets real gaps.
Pratiyogita Kosh is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with any exam body. Archived papers credit their source on the paper page.
Frequently asked questions
What is SEBI Grade A General?
The Assistant Manager recruitment for the General stream of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
Who conducts SEBI Grade A?
SEBI itself, with advertisements on sebi.gov.in.
What is the age limit for SEBI Grade A?
Not above 30 years as on the cut-off date, with relaxation for reserved categories.
What qualification is needed for SEBI Grade A General?
A master degree in any discipline, or a bachelor degree in Law or Engineering, or CA, CFA, CS or Cost Accountant qualification.
What is the SEBI Grade A exam pattern?
Phase 1 has a general paper and a subject paper. Phase 2 has descriptive English and an advanced subject paper, followed by interview.
Are there separate cut-offs in SEBI Grade A?
Recent advertisements prescribe minimum marks per paper, so confirm the cut-off scheme in your cycle.
How to prepare securities market awareness?
From SEBI study material, master circulars, annual reports and financial dailies, revised as notes.
Where can I practise SEBI Grade A mocks?
On Pratiyogita Kosh: timed mocks and custom sets for reasoning, quant, English, finance and current affairs with tracking.