The job profile of a SEBI Grade A officer depends on the department in which you are posted. Here are the major departments in SEBI and their work in brief:

Corporate Finance Department (Mergers and Takeovers)

This department oversees the regulatory and supervisory aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers in the financial markets.

Department of Economic and Policy Analysis (Research Work)

This department is responsible for conducting in-depth research and analysis for the formulation of policies and regulations. 

Department of Debt and Hybrid Securities

It supervises and regulates the debt and hybrid (debt-equity mix) segments of the capital markets.

Enforcement Department (Enforcement, Prosecution, Penalty)

This department ensures the enforcement of regulatory guidelines and takes action against those in violation, including prosecution and imposition of penalties.

Recovery and Fund Department

In cases where SEBI imposes fines on individuals or organisations, and they fail to pay, this department is responsible for recovering the fines.

General Services Department (Accounts, Security, Facility Management)

This department manages internal accounts and ensures the security of SEBI premises. It also oversees the maintenance and functionality of facilities, including air conditioning and cafeteria services.

IT Department

The IT department is responsible for managing IT-related services, including the SEBI website, computer systems, servers, and other technology infrastructure.

Legal Affairs Department

The Legal Affairs Department provides legal counsel to SEBI and its various units. It assists with legislative drafting, policy matters related to securities laws, and legal opinions.

Market Intermediaries Regulation and Supervision Department

This department supervises and regulates various market intermediaries such as brokers, merchant bankers, investment banks, and custodians.

Vigilance Department

It plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, integrity, and ethical conduct within the organisation. Its primary functions and responsibilities include preventing corruption, investigations, taking disciplinary actions, etc. 

The eligibility criteria outlines essential information such as academic qualifications and age restrictions that applicants must meet to be considered for the SEBI Grade A exam. 

Eligibility: Age

For the SEBI Grade A exam, there is no minimum age requirement. However, the maximum age is 30 for the General Category based on the cut-off date as per the notification year.

Age Relaxations

SEBI provides age relaxations for various categories as listed below:

  • 5 years for SC/ST
  • 3 years for OBC
  • 10 years for Person with Benchmark Disability [PwBD (UR)]
  • 13 years for PwBD (OBC)
  • 15 years for PwBD (SC/ST)
  • 5 years for Ex-servicemen (served at least 5 years of continuous military service)
Eligibility: Educational Qualification

Applicants need a Master’s Degree in any discipline, (OR) a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, (OR) a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from a recognized university. 

Additionally, candidates who have cleared all levels of CA / CFA / CS / CWA are also eligible.

The SEBI Grade A exam is a 3-phase selection process. Each phase is designed to assess the different skills and knowledge required for the role.

  1. Phase 1 (Pre)
  2. Phase 2 (Mains)
  3. Phase 3 (Interview)

 

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Exam Pattern

The SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam is an objective-type test that evaluates the candidate’s fundamental knowledge and understanding of various subjects. It is qualifying in nature and serves as a screening test to shortlist candidates for the next rounds of the examination. Phase 1 consists of 2 papers.

Phase 1 Paper 1

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Paper 1 comprises 80 multiple-choice questions with a total of 100 marks and is to be completed within a 60-minute time frame. These questions are spread across four subjects (20 questions per subject), which include:

  1. General Awareness (Incorporating questions of easy to moderate difficulty level, particularly pertaining to the Financial Sector)
  2. English Language
  3. Quantitative Aptitude
  4. Test of Reasoning

For your easy understanding, we have provided the above-mentioned information in a table form below.

SEBI Grade A Paper 1 (Phase 1)
SNo. Section  No of Questions Max Marks
1 General Awareness 20 25
2 English Language 20 25
3 Quantitative Aptitude 20 25
4 Reasoning 20 25

 

Phase 1 Paper 2

The SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Paper 2 for the general stream comprises 100 marks and 40 minutes are given to complete the paper. It includes 50 multiple-choice questions (2 marks each) covering a range of subjects, such as:

  1. Commerce
  2. Accountancy
  3. Management
  4. Finance
  5. Costing
  6. Companies Act
  7. Economics

For your easy understanding, we have provided the above-mentioned information in a table form below.

SEBI Grade A Paper 2 (Phase 1)
SNo. Section  No of Questions Max Marks
1 Commerce 50 questions covering these 7 sections 
2 Accountancy
3 Management
4 Finance
5 Costing
6 Companies Act
7 Economics
Total 50 100

 

Negative Marking 

One-fourth of the marks are deducted for each wrong answer, which applies to both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam. No marks are deducted if a candidate leaves a question blank on the OMR sheet.

Phase 1 Nature

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam is designed as a qualifying round, where the marks obtained are exclusively used for shortlisting candidates for Phase 2. These Phase 1 marks do not contribute to the final selection of candidates.

Cut-Off

Since SEBI Grade A Phase 1 is of a qualifying nature, fixed cut-offs are set for both Paper 1 and Paper 2. The cut-off for Paper 1 is a minimum of 30% i.e. 30 marks out of 100, while for Paper 2, it is a minimum of 40% i.e. 40 marks out of 100..

Candidates need to secure separate cut-offs in each paper as mentioned above as well as aggregate cut-off marks of 40% i.e. 80 marks out of 200 in the Phase 1 exam to be shortlisted for Phase 2. 

For the SEBI Grade A phase 1 exam, no separate merit list is prepared according to the number of vacancies advertised and calling ratio. All you have to do is score atleast 30 marks in Paper 1, 40 marks in Paper 2, and a total of 80 or more marks in Paper 1+2 to be shortlisted for the Phase 2 exam. 

Paper Language

Question papers for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are available in both Hindi and English, except for the English language test. This bilingual approach ensures that candidates are comfortable with the language in which they are most proficient, promoting equal opportunity for all.

For your easy understanding, we have provided the detailed SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam pattern information in a table form below.

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Exam Pattern
SNo. Paper Stream/Subjects Maximum Marks Duration Cut Off
1 Paper 1 All Streams: Multiple choice questions on the subjects viz. General Awareness (including some questions related to the Financial Sector of easy to moderate difficulty level), English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Test of Reasoning. 100 60 Minutes 30%
2 Paper 2 General Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act & Economics. 100 40 Minutes 40%
Legal, Information Technology & Official Language stream: Multiple choice questions on Specialized subjects related to the stream. 100 40 Minutes 40%
Research Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Finance and Commerce.
Aggregate Cut-Off 40%

 

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 is the second stage of the selection process. Candidates shortlisted for Phase 2 receive new hall tickets specifically for this stage. For candidates who have applied in multiple streams, Paper 2 is conducted in various shifts, the timings of which are intimated in the hall ticket. Similar to the Phase 1 exam, the Phase 2 exam also consists of 2 papers.

Phase 2 Paper 1

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Paper 1 comprises descriptive English questions with a total of 100 marks and is to be completed within a 60-minute time frame. It comprises three topics i.e., essay, precis, and reading comprehension. 

For your easy understanding, we have provided the above-mentioned information in a table form below.

SEBI Grade A Paper 1 (Phase 2)
SNo. Section  Topic No of Questions Max Marks
1 Descriptive English  Essay You need to attempt 1 out of 4 questions 100
Precis 1
Reading Comprehension 4-5

 

Phase 2 Paper 2

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Paper 2 for the general stream comprises 100 marks and 40 minutes are given to complete the paper. It includes 50 multiple-choice questions (2 marks each) covering a range of subjects, such as

  1. Commerce
  2. Accountancy
  3. Management
  4. Finance
  5. Costing
  6. Companies Act
  7. Economics
SEBI Grade A Paper 2 (Phase 2)
SNo. Section  No of Questions Max Marks
1 Commerce 50 questions covering these 7 sections 
2 Accountancy
3 Management
4 Finance
5 Costing
6 Companies Act
7 Economics
Total 50 100

 

Negative Marking 

One-fourth of the marks are deducted for each wrong answer, which applies to both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam. No marks are deducted if a candidate leaves a question blank on the OMR sheet.

Cut-off 

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam has specific minimum cut-off criteria. Candidates must score a minimum of 30% in Paper 1 i.e.30 marks out of 100 and a minimum of 40% i.e. 40 marks out of 100 in Paper 2. Furthermore, candidates need to secure aggregate cut-off marks of 50% i.e. 100 marks out of 200 in the Phase 2 exam to be shortlisted for Phase 3. The aggregate marks are calculated with the weightage of 1/3rd for Paper 1 and 2/3rd for Paper 2. 

For e.g., if a candidate has appeared for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam and scored 90 and 60 marks, respectively. To calculate the aggregate marks:

For Paper 1, you take 1/3rd of the marks, which is (1/3) * 90 = 30 marks.

For Paper 2, you take 2/3rd of the marks, which is (2/3) * 60 = 40 marks.

Now, add these weighted marks to get aggregate marks:

1/3rd marks of Paper 1 + 2/3rd marks of Paper 2, i.e. 70 marks out of 100.

This is how the aggregate marks are calculated by assigning different weightages to Paper 1 and Paper 2, with Paper 2 carrying more weight in the final score.

 

Paper Language

Question papers for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are available in both Hindi and English, except for the English language test.

For your easy understanding, we have provided the detailed SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern information in a table form below.

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Pattern
SNo. Paper Stream/Subjects Maximum Marks Duration Cut Off Weightage
1 Paper 1 All Streams: English (Descriptive Test) to test the drafting skills 100 60 Minutes 30% 1/3rd
2

 

 Paper 2

 

 General Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act and economics. 100 40 Minutes 40% 2/3rd
Legal, Information Technology & Official Language stream: Multiple choice questions on Specialized subjects related to the stream. 100 40 Minutes 40% 2/3rd
Research Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Finance and Commerce.
Information Technology Stream: Coding Test (Languages: C++/ JAVA/Python) 100 180 Minutes 40% 2/3rd
Aggregate Cut-Off – – 50% –

 

Important Note:

Candidates who meet the specified criteria are shortlisted for Phase 3, which is the Interview round. Typically, the number of candidates shortlisted for Phase 3 is approximately three times the number of available vacancies. These candidates are shortlisted in order of merit.

SEBI Grade A Phase 3 (Interview) Pattern

The SEBI Grade A interview is the final stage of the selection process for candidates who have successfully cleared the Phase 1 and 2 examinations. Here is the SEBI Grade A Phase 3 pattern:

  • Candidates are shortlisted for interview based on their Phase 2 marks only (aggregated sum of 2 papers)
  • Candidates can opt for an interview either in Hindi or English.
  • The weightage of marks obtained in Phase 2 is 85%, while marks obtained in the interview are given a weightage of 15%.

The final selection is based on the aggregate marks obtained in Phase 2 (Papers 1 and 2) and the interview.

To calculate the final aggregate marks, let’s take the same example of a student who has scored 70 marks out of 100 in SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Paper 2. Now, apply the Paper 2 Phase 2 weightage of 85% to this score, which is 85% of 70 equals 59.5 marks. 

In addition to Paper 2 Phase 2, let’s assume the student scores 6 marks during the interview, bringing the total to 59.5 + 6 = 65.5 marks. 

So, the final aggregate marks for the students are 65.5. 

Understanding the SEBI Grade A exam syllabus significantly impacts the preparation strategy and success in the examination. Below is the detailed syllabus of SEBI Grade A Phases 1 and 2.

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Syllabus

Here’s an overview of the syllabus for Phase 1 of the SEBI Grade A Examination.

Paper 1

Below, we have explained the Paper 1 syllabus of the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam:

  • General Awareness (GA)

GA is divided into 2 parts, static and current affairs. As per our analysis of previous year question papers, 2-3 questions are asked from the static part and 17-18 questions are from the current affairs part of GA. The following topics are most frequently asked from the general awareness section:

Current GA Syllabus 
  • National News: MoUs, summits and major events related to India.
  • International: Summits and conferences held abroad.
  • Financial & Economics News
  • Financial Awareness: RBI and SEBI Notification and Regulations
  • Defence: Military exercises, drills and major updates related to the defence sector of India
  • Days in News: Major events or days, along with its date and theme
  • Persons in News: Obituaries, appointments, retirements
  • Sports: Major tournaments and its winners
  • Science, Technology and Space
  • Awards and honours
  • Environment
  • Banking, Economy related news
  • Reports and Government Schemes
  • Books and Authors

Static GA Syllabus 
  • Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers
  • National Parks and Sanctuaries
  • Airport Locations, Stadiums
  • Organisations’ Headquarters
  • Banks’ Headquarters and Taglines
  • Power Plants in India
  • Indian Dance Forms
  • Countries Capitals and their Currencies
  • Important Days

 

  • English Language

Here is the English Language syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam:

  • Grammar
  • Error Spotting
  • Sentence Improvement
  • Comprehension Ability 
  • Comprehension passage
  • Cloze test
  • Rearrangement
  • Para jumbles
  • Double Fillers
  • Vocabulary – Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Phrasal Verbs

 

  • Quantitative Aptitude

Here is the Quantitative Aptitude syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Percentage
  • Profit and Loss
  • Simple and Compound Interest
  • Questions on Average and Age
  • Time and Work
  • Pipes and Cistern
  • Time and Distance
  • Mixture and Alligation
  • Questions on Series and Quadratic equation
  • Mathematical Inequalities
  • Number Series
  • Data Interpretation
  • Simplification/Approximation
  • Quantity Comparisons
  • Data Sufficiency 
  • Partnership 

 

  •  Reasoning Ability

Here is the Reasoning Ability syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Alphanumeric series
  • Coding and Decoding
  • Syllogism
  • Direction Sense
  • Inequality
  • Ranking and Order
  • Blood Relation
  • Puzzles and Seating arrangement
  • Input-Output
  • Critical Reasoning 
  • Questions Based on Data Sufficiency

 

Paper 2

Below, we have explained the Paper 2 syllabus of the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam:

  • Commerce and Accountancy

Here is the Commerce and Accountancy syllabus for SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Accounting as a financial information system.
  • Accounting Standards with specific reference to Accounting for Depreciation, Inventories, Revenue Recognition, Fixed Assets, Foreign Exchange Transactions, Investments.
  • Cash Flow Statement, Fund flow statement, Financial statement analysis; Ratio analysis.
  • Accounting for Share Capital Transactions including Bonus Shares and right Shares.
  • Employees Stock Option and BuyBack of Securities.
  • Preparation and Presentation of Company Final Accounts.

 

Important Note: 

There are some Commerce and Accountancy topics that are not explicitly mentioned in the SEBI Grade A syllabus but are important from the exam point of view. These topics are:

 

  • Introduction to Accountancy
  • Theory Base of Accounting
  • Recording Transaction Part 1
  • Recording Transaction Part 2
  • Trial Balance and Bills of Exchange

 

  • Management

Here is the Management syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Management: Its nature and scope; The Management Processes. Planning, Organization, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling.
  • The Role of a Manager in an Organization. Leadership: The Tasks of a Leader.
  • Leadership Styles: Leadership Theories; A successful Leader versus an effective Leader.
  • Human Resource Development: Concept of HRD; Goals of HRD
  • Motivation, Morale, and Incentives: Theories of Motivation; How Managers Motivate; Concept of Morale; Factors determining Morale; Role of Incentives in Building up Morale.
  • Communication: Steps in the Communication Process; Communication Channels; Oral versus Written Communication; Verbal versus non-verbal Communication; upward, downward and lateral communication; Barriers to Communication, Role of Information Technology.

 

  • Finance

Here is the Finance syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Financial System: Role and Functions of Regulatory bodies in the Financial Sector.
  • Financial Markets: Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity, etc.), functions, instruments, and recent developments.
  • General Topics
    • Basics of Derivatives: Forward, Futures, and Swap
    • Recent Developments in the Financial Sector
    • Financial Inclusion- use of technology
    • Alternate source of finance, private and social cost-benefit, Public-Private Partnership
    • Direct and Indirect taxes;-Non-tax sources of Revenue, GST, Finance Commission, Fiscal Policy, Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act(FRBM),
    • Inflation:-Definition, trends, estimates, consequences, and remedies (control): WPI, CPI-components, and trends

 

  • Costing

Here is the Costing syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Overview of Cost and Management Accounting: Introduction to Cost and Management Accounting, Objectives and Scope of Cost and Management Accounting.
  • Methods of Costing: Single Output/ Unit Costing, Job Costing, Batch Costing, Contract Costing, Process/ Operation Costing, and Costing of Service Sectors.
  • Basics of Cost Control and Analysis- (a) Standard Costing, (b) Marginal Costing, (c) Budget, and Budgetary Control.
  • Lean System and Innovation – Introduction to Lean System, Just-in-Time (JIT), Kaizen Costing, 5 Ss, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Cellular Manufacturing/ One-Piece Flow Production Systems, Six Sigma (SS), Introduction to Process Innovation and Business Process Re-engineering(BPR)

 

  • Companies Act

Here is the Companies Act syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • The Companies Act, 2013- Specific reference to Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter VIII, Chapter X, Chapter XI, Chapter XII, and Chapter XXVII.

 

Important Note: 

 

There are some Companies Act topics that are not explicitly mentioned in the SEBI Grade A syllabus but are important from the exam point of view. These topics are:

  • Chapter IX Companies Act: Accounts of Company
  • Chapter XIII Companies Act: Remuneration of Managerial Personnel
  • Chapter I of Companies Act: Basics of Companies Act

 

  • Economics

Here is the Economics syllabus for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1:

  • Demand and Supply, Market Structures, National Income: Concepts and Measurement, Classical Vs Keynesian Approach Determination of output and employment, Consumption Function, Investment Function, Multiplier and Accelerator, Demand and Supply for Money, IS-LM, Inflation and Phillips Curve, Business Cycles
  • Balance of Payments, Foreign Exchange Markets, Inflation, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Non-banking Financial Institutions.

 

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Syllabus

Here’s an overview of the syllabus for Phase 2 of the SEBI Grade A examination:

Paper 1

Below, we have explained the Paper 1 syllabus of the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam:

  • English 

The English paper is designed to evaluate writing skills, assessing the ability to express ideas and comprehend topics effectively. It includes precis writing, essay writing, and reading comprehension.

The essay topics encompass diverse areas such as Economy/Finance, Technology/Internet, Abstract concepts, and Social Issues. Additionally, precis passages are derived from prominent newspapers, and reading comprehension questions are based on provided paragraphs.

Paper 2

Below, we have explained the Paper 2 syllabus of the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam:

The syllabus of Paper 2 is the same for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. However, it is important to know that the difficulty level of Paper 2 is higher in Phase 2. 

SEBI Grade A 2022 Phase 2 Cut-off
Stream SC ST OBC

(NCL)

 EWS UR PwBD 

(ID& MD)

 PwBD

(VI)

 PwBD

(HI)

 PwBD

(LD)
General 55.67 53.00 58.00 59.33 62.34 56.00* 55.00 52.33* 57.00

 

SEBI Grade A 2020 Phase 2 Cut-off
Stream SC ST OBC

(NCL)

 EWS UR PwBD 

(AU)

 PwBD

(VI)

 PwBD

(HI)
General 57.66 51.67 60.00 57.17 66.00 49.00* 57.17 47.83*

Develop a preparation strategy for the SEBI Grade A phase 1 exam by following the steps below. They will help you effectively target the syllabus as a beginner. 

SEBI Grade A Phase 1: Preparation Strategy

Step 1: Lay a Strong Foundation

  • Begin by thoroughly understanding the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Paper 1 syllabus.
  • Delve into previous year’s questions (PYQs) from the past two years (2020 and 2022) to gain insights into exam pattern and asked topics.
Step 2: Grasp the Exam Structure
  • Familiarise yourself with the SEBI Grade A exam pattern.
  • Remember that Phase 1 is a qualifying exam only.
Step 3: Draft a Strategic Approach
  • Develop an effective study plan to cover the entire syllabus.
  • Utilize a variety of study resources, including mock tests and available courses, to effectively tackle Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.
  • Enhance your English language proficiency by expanding your vocabulary and strengthening your grammar skills.
  • Prioritize the latest three months of Current Affairs, supplementing your preparation with compilations rather than newspaper reading.
  • Prioritize the subjects of Management, Company Law, and Finance due to their Factual foundation and relative ease of preparation.
  • Gradually transition to Costing, Economics, Commerce, and Accounts.
Step 4: Develop Specific Skills
  • Integrate numerical questions into your study routine to balance factual concepts with practical applications.
  • Remember, application is key. Focus on understanding and applying concepts rather than cramming the syllabus.
SEBI Grade A Phase 2: Preparation Strategy

When developing an effective preparation strategy for Phase 2 of the SEBI Grade A exam, the most important question is where to start. Here are a few points you need to remember when developing your preparation strategy for the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam.

  • Even though the Paper 2 syllabus is the same, the types of questions asked in Phase 2 are different from Phase 1.
  • Phase 2 will have numerical questions from subjects like Commerce, Accountancy, and Costing.
  • The SEBI Grade A exam questions are application-based, requiring you to apply concepts learned in subjects like Economics and Accounts.
  • For subjects like Companies Act and Management, focus on consistently revising the factual information.

Now that you are clear with the base of your strategy, let’s look at the two key focus areas that will help you score high marks in Phase 2.

Descriptive English
  1. Learn the technicalities of writing an essay, precis, and comprehension.
  2. Read editorials from any one financial and non-financial newspaper.
  3. Practice typing the editorials in your own words in Notepad (application).
  4. Follow a time limit to enhance speed.
  5. Essay: 20-25 minutes for 250-300 words
  6. Precis: 20 minutes for about 170 words
  7. Remember to use Grammarly for grammatical checks.

 

Numerical Questions
  1. Finance: Derivative and Bonds
  2. Costing: Process Costing, Marginal Costing, Standard Costing, Budget
  3. Commerce & Accounts: Ratios, Cash Flow, Accounting Standards/Accounting

SEBI Grade A phase 2 preparation is essential for achieving a high score and securing a place in the SEBI Grade A interview process. How to prepare for SEBI Grade A phase 2 effectively involves utilising the best sources, such as high-quality study materials, practice questions, and mock tests.

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