SEBI Grade A Exam Notification 2026 Complete Information

SEBI Grade A 2026 Highlights

The exact notification release date, vacancy count, and Phase 1/Phase 2 exam dates for the 2026 cycle are covered in the sections below, since SEBI has not released the official notification yet.

What Is SEBI Grade A?

• SEBI stands for Securities and Exchange Board of India, the regulatory body for the securities and capital markets in India.
• Grade A refers to the entry-level post of Assistant Manager at SEBI.
• SEBI Grade A officers help shape the framework of India's capital markets by framing new investment regulations, reviewing IPO filings, monitoring market fraud, and conducting policy analysis.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Officer Exam?

The SEBI Grade A Exam is conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to recruit Assistant Managers across various streams like General, Legal, IT, Research, Official Language, and Engineering (Electrical).

It is a national-level exam and one of the most sought-after government exams in the finance and regulatory domain. The exam is conducted in 3 stages: Phase 1 (Online, Objective), Phase 2 (Online, Objective + Descriptive), and Phase 3 (Interview, in person). Clearing this exam means earning a handsome salary of around ₹1.8 lakh per month, along with a decent work-life balance.

When Was SEBI Established, and What Are Its Functions?

• 1988: SEBI was established as a non-statutory body to bring some control over the Indian securities market.
• 30 January 1992: SEBI became a statutory and autonomous organization through the SEBI Act passed by the Indian Parliament.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, with regional offices in New Delhi (northern region), Kolkata (eastern region), Chennai (southern region), and Ahmedabad (western region), plus a local office in Indore.

As per the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, SEBI is responsible for "protecting the interests of investors, promoting the development of, and regulating the securities market, for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto." To ensure the effective operation of the securities market, SEBI is charged with the following functions:

• Inspecting the books of accounts of financial intermediaries.
• Approving and amending the by-laws of securities exchanges.
• Ensuring registration of brokers and sub-brokers.
• Inspecting accounts and calling for periodical returns from recognized securities exchanges.
• Preventing unfair trade practices and malpractices in the securities market.
• Protecting investor interests and promoting fair market practices.

An interesting fact: SEBI, as a regulatory body, is quasi-legislative, quasi-executive, and quasi-judicial, meaning it has the power to exercise legislative, executive, and judicial functions, which makes it a uniquely powerful organization among Indian regulatory bodies.

SEBI Grade A 2025 Notification – Latest Updates

For those wanting to know the exact SEBI Grade A exam updates and timeline at a glance, here are the latest updates regarding the 2025 recruitment cycle:

• 30 October 2025: The short notification (advertisement) calling out details for SEBI Grade A 2025 recruitment was released.
• 30 October 2025: The complete SEBI Grade A 2025 exam notification was released for 135 vacancies across various streams. The application process opened from 30 October 2025 to 28 November 2025.
• 10 January 2026: Phase 1 of the SEBI Grade A Exam was conducted.
• 21 February 2026: Phase 2 of the SEBI Grade A Exam was conducted.
• 6 May 2026 to 4 June 2026: Interviews (Phase 3) were conducted.
• 23 June 2026: The final result for SEBI Grade A 2025 was released, ending the 2025 exam cycle.

What Happened in the SEBI Grade A 2024 Recruitment Cycle?

• June 2024: The short notice for SEBI Grade A 2024 recruitment was declared.
• 10 June 2024: The SEBI Grade A 2024 exam notification was released with 97 vacancies.
• 20 July 2024: The Phase 1 admit card was released.
• 7 August 2024: The Phase 1 result was declared, and qualified candidates cleared for Phase 2.
• 19 August 2024: The Phase 2 admit card was released.
• 31 August 2024: Phase 2 was conducted (Paper 2 of the Information Technology stream was held separately on 14 September 2024).
• 10 October 2024: The Phase 2 result was declared, and qualified candidates cleared for the interview stage.
• 23 October 2024: The interview call letter was announced.
• 3 January 2025: The final result for SEBI Grade A 2024 was released, ending the 2024 exam cycle.

When Will the SEBI Grade A 2026 Notification Be Released?

The SEBI Grade A 2025 recruitment cycle is still concluding (interviews are ongoing as of this update), and SEBI is likely to shift its focus to the 2026 cycle once it wraps up. There is no official confirmation yet, but based on past trends, here's what's expected:

Treat these as estimates rather than confirmed dates. SEBI will announce the actual schedule only with the official notification. Aspirants are strongly advised not to wait for the notification to begin preparing, since the gap between notification and Phase 1 has historically been too short to build strong conceptual clarity from scratch.

What Streams Does SEBI Grade A Recruit For?

SEBI Grade A recruitment typically covers the following streams, each with its own eligibility criteria and, in Phase 2, its own Paper 2:

• General Stream
• Legal Stream
• Information Technology Stream
• Research Stream
• Official Language (Rajbhasha) Stream
• Engineering (Electrical) Stream
• Engineering (Civil) Stream (included in some recruitment cycles)

How Many Vacancies Are There for SEBI Grade A?

SEBI hasn't announced the SEBI Grade A 2026 vacancies yet. The last completed cycle (2025) had a total of 132 vacancies distributed across streams, as per the table below:

These positions are distributed among candidates from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, based on each stream's specific requirements. The exact number of vacancies for the 2026 cycle will be confirmed only in the official notification.

Who Is Eligible for the SEBI Grade A Exam?

To apply for the SEBI Grade A Exam, you must meet the age, educational qualification, and nationality criteria.

• Age: Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on the cut-off date specified in the notification. Age relaxation is available for candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-servicemen) as per Government of India norms.
• Nationality: Only Indian citizens are eligible to apply.
• Number of Attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear for the exam as many times as they remain eligible under the age criteria.

Educational Qualification

The educational qualification varies by stream, as shown below:

A master's degree/PG diploma is considered equivalent to a master's degree in that discipline if recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.

Final-year students are also eligible to appear, though the final offer to join SEBI is subject to producing documents evidencing successful completion of the qualification.

How to Download the SEBI Grade A Notification PDF?

Follow these steps to download the official notification from SEBI's website once released:

• Visit the official SEBI website.
• Hover over the "About" menu and click on "Careers."
• On the Careers page, click on "Vacancies."
• Look for the link titled "Recruitment of Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager)."
• Click on it to open the notification PDF, review all details, and click Download to save it.

How to Apply Online for SEBI Grade A?

Once the complete SEBI Grade A notification is released, interested candidates can apply online through the official SEBI website. Offline applications are not accepted. Follow these steps:

• Visit the official SEBI website and open the "Careers" link, then click "Apply Online."
• Select "Click Here for New Registration" and enter your name, contact details, email ID, and address. A provisional registration number and password will be generated for future reference.
• If you can't complete the form in one sitting, save your progress using "Save and Next."
• Upload your scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and handwritten declaration as per the specifications below.
• Fill in your educational qualifications, work experience, and other required details.
• Click "Save and Next," verify your details, and pay the application fee online.
• Preview your application before clicking "Final Submit". No changes are possible after this point.
• Download and print your final application form for future reference.

What Are the Photograph and Signature Upload Specifications?

Photograph

• Must be a recent, passport-size colour photograph.
• Dimensions: 200 × 230 pixels (preferred).
• File size: 20 KB – 50 KB.

Signature, Left Thumb Impression, and Handwritten Declaration

• Signature: 140 × 60 pixels (preferred), file size 10 KB – 20 KB, written on white paper with a black ink pen.
• Left Thumb Impression: Made on white paper with black or blue ink.
• Neither the signature nor the handwritten declaration will be accepted in capital letters.
• Handwritten Declaration: Written in English on white paper with a black ink pen, file size 20 KB – 50 KB.
• Declaration text: "I, _______ (Name of the candidate), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required."

What Is the Application Fee for SEBI Grade A?

Fees must be paid only through online mode. Candidates should carefully complete the application process and pay the correct fee amount based on their category. Any discrepancy in fee payment can lead to rejection.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Selection Procedure?

The SEBI Grade A selection process consists of three stages:

• Phase 1: Two objective-type papers.
• Phase 2: Two papers combining objective and descriptive questions.
• Interview: The final stage, conducted in person to assess the candidate's personality.

Phase 1 is purely qualifying in nature. Marks scored here do not count towards the final selection. The final selection is based on Phase 2 (85% weightage) and the Interview (15% weightage).

For the Legal and Engineering (Electrical) streams specifically, additional weightage of up to 3.75 marks (3.75% of the total 100 marks) may be given to candidates during the interview stage.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern?

What Is the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Exam Pattern?

Phase 1 is qualifying in nature and conducted online in objective format, consisting of two papers of 100 marks each (200 marks total), with an overall duration of 100 minutes.

A negative marking of 0.25 marks is deducted for every wrong answer in both papers.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern?

Phase 2 marks are counted in the final selection and are conducted online, consisting of two papers of 100 marks each (200 marks total), with an overall duration of 100 minutes.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Interview Pattern?

• Mode: In-person.
• Language: English or Hindi.
• Panel: Typically five professionals who assess candidates through personal, educational, general, decision-making, and situation-based questions.
• Weightage: 15% of the final selection (with additional weightage of up to 3.75 marks for Legal and Engineering Electrical stream candidates specifically).

What Is the SEBI Grade A Syllabus?

What Are the Details of the Phase 1 Syllabus?

Paper 1 covers Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General Awareness:

• Reasoning: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism, Input-Output.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, Data Interpretation, Ratio, Percentage, Time & Work, Speed & Distance.
• English: Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Para-jumbles, Cloze Test, Vocabulary.
• General Awareness: Financial & economic news, RBI/SEBI updates, reports, government schemes, Static GK.

Paper 2 covers Commerce & Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, and Economics.

What Are the Details of the Phase 2 Syllabus?

Paper 1 (Descriptive English) covers Essay Writing, Precis Writing, and Reading Comprehension.

Paper 2 covers the same key areas as Phase 1 Paper 2, Commerce & Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, and Economics, but with a mix of objective and descriptive questions.

Around 40–50% of the SEBI Grade A syllabus overlaps with the RBI Grade B syllabus, which can be an advantage for aspirants preparing for both exams. The interview has no official syllabus, but it tests personality, communication skills, general awareness, and SEBI-specific knowledge.

How to Download the SEBI Grade A Admit Card?

Your admit card carries crucial details like your exam date, venue, and reporting time. Here's how to download it:

• Visit the official SEBI website.
• Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click on "Career."
• Click on "Human Resources Department (HRD)."
• Click on the "SEBI Grade A Recruitment – Download of Call Letter" link.
• Click on "Call Letter (Click here to download Call Letter)."
• Enter your login credentials, registration number, date of birth, etc., along with the captcha code, and log in.
• Download your admit card.

Follow the same procedure separately for Phase 2. Admit cards are typically released 1–2 weeks before each exam date. Candidates who don't bring their admit card and valid photo ID to the exam centre may not be allowed to appear.

Where Can You Download SEBI Grade A Previous Year Papers?

Solving previous year papers (2020, 2022, 2024) is one of the best ways to identify recurring topics and understand the actual difficulty level of the exam, rather than relying on hearsay about how hard it is. A good approach:

• Solve a previous year paper early on to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• Build a study plan that strengthens your weak points while sharpening your strong ones.
• After a round of focused practice, attempt another previous year paper to measure progress.
• Repeat this cycle until your weak areas are minimized.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Exam Analysis (2024)?

Phase 1 (2024)

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult.
• Reasoning: Difficult (heavy on puzzles and seating arrangements).
• Quantitative Aptitude: Difficult (Data Interpretation/Caselets and higher-level arithmetic).
• English: Moderate.
• General Awareness: Moderate to Difficult, with a strong focus on finance and markets.
• Paper 2: Overall Moderate.

Phase 2 (2024)

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate.
• Paper 1 (Descriptive English): Moderate.
• Paper 2 (Finance, Costing, Management, Companies Act, Economics): Moderate.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Salary?

The SEBI Grade A basic pay was recently revised from ₹44,500 to ₹62,500 per month, following the pay scale ₹62,500 – 3,600(4) – 76,900 – 4,050(7) – 1,05,250 – EB – 4,050(4) – 1,21,450 – 4,650(1) – 1,26,100 (17 years).

The monthly gross salary works out to approximately ₹1,84,000 (without SEBI accommodation), with an in-hand salary of around ₹1,70,000 and an annual CTC in the ₹22–27 lakh range (estimates vary slightly across sources).

This includes allowances such as Dearness Allowance, Grade Allowance, Family Allowance, Local Allowance, Special Allowance, City Compensatory Allowance, Special Pay, Special Functional Pay, Learning Allowance, Personal Fixed Allowance, and NPS contributions along with perks like Leave Fare Concession, Medical & Eye Reimbursement, House Cleaning & Furnishing Allowance, Briefcase & Computer Purchase Reimbursement, Subsidized Lunch, and interest-free loans for furniture, computer, and car purchases (as per rules).

For the complete salary breakdown, including gross vs. in-hand vs. CTC, itemized allowance amounts, increment growth over the years, post-retirement benefits, and a comparison with other top government exams, check out our detailed SEBI Grade A Salary page.

What Is the SEBI Grade A Career Growth and Promotion Path?

You start as an Assistant Manager and, with time, performance, and internal assessments, can rise all the way up to Chief General Manager, with the very top positions filled through Government of India appointment rather than internal promotion.

What Is the Job Profile of a SEBI Grade A Officer?

After clearing all stages of the exam, you join SEBI as an Assistant Manager. Regardless of the stream you applied under, you can be posted in any department as postings are generally related to market regulation, investigations, legal affairs, surveillance, corporate finance, and investor protection.

Core responsibilities include:

• Drafting and reviewing financial regulations and circulars.
• Examining filings like IPOs, M&As, and mutual fund documents.
• Approving and amending stock exchange by-laws.
• Inspecting the accounts of stock exchanges and other market participants.
• Identifying and investigating malpractices within the securities markets.
• Conducting inspections and ensuring market intermediaries follow the law.
• Handling investor complaints and ensuring market fairness.
• Contributing to policy and research in finance and economics.

Work Timing: Generally 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though this can vary by department.

Work-Life Balance: A 5-day work week, a professional and structured environment, and work that is mostly analytical and desk-based with minimal fieldwork.

Where Are SEBI Grade A Officers Posted?

Apart from its head office in Mumbai, SEBI operates regional offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, plus a local office in Indore.

In the coming years, SEBI plans to open new local offices in Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru to improve regulatory outreach, which is one reason a fresh Grade A recruitment cycle is expected in 2026.

Do SEBI Grade A Officers Undergo Training?

Yes, newly recruited officers undergo training at the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), Patalganga, Maharashtra, and receive full salary during this training period.

What Are the SEBI Grade A Exam Centres?

SEBI conducts Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams across multiple cities to ensure nationwide access. You can select up to 3 city choices for Phase 1 and 1 city choice for Phase 2. Choose carefully, since centres cannot be changed later.

When Is the SEBI Grade A Result Declared?

SEBI Grade A 2025 Results

SEBI Grade A 2024 Results

What Is the SEBI Grade A Cut Off?

Phase 1 has fixed qualifying cut-offs, a minimum of 30 marks in Paper 1, 40 marks in Paper 2, and an aggregate of 80 marks to qualify for Phase 2. Below are the Phase 2 and Final cut-off marks for recent cycles.

SEBI Grade A Mains (Phase 2) Cut Off 2024–25, by Stream

SEBI Grade A Final Cut Off – General Stream (Multi-Year Trend)

Cut-offs vary each year based on the difficulty of the exam, the number of vacant seats, and overall candidate performance. Reviewing this history gives you a realistic benchmark to target rather than a fixed number and should be paired with practicing previous year papers to gauge your own readiness.

How to Prepare for the SEBI Grade A Exam?

Preparing for the SEBI Grade A exam needs a good mix of clear understanding, regular practice, and focused revision:

• Understand the Pattern and Syllabus First: Give special attention to how marks are distributed across General Awareness (with a financial-sector focus), English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and the subject-specific Phase 2 papers.
• Master the Phase 2 Descriptive Paper: Practice essays, precis writing, and reading comprehension regularly to write clearly, quickly, and in an organized way.
• Focus on SEBI-Specific Content: Study SEBI's role, how the Indian financial system works, and key laws like the SEBI Act, Companies Act, and SCRA, essential for Phase 2 Paper 2.
• Analyze Previous Year Papers: Go through the 2020, 2022, and 2024 papers to spot recurring topics, especially in Commerce, Finance, and Costing.
• Fix Your Study Hours: 3–4 hours daily if working; 6–8 hours if preparing full-time, split between Paper 1 (Aptitude + GA) and Paper 2 (Core Subjects).
• Use Mock Tests Consistently: Attempt at least one full mock weekly from around the fourth week of preparation, and maintain a revision log of every mistake.
• Stay Updated on Current Affairs: Spend around 30 minutes daily reading financial news, SEBI circulars, RBI notifications, Union Budget, and Economic Survey, ideally only after covering 50% of your core syllabus.
• Descriptive English Practice: Write 2 essays and 1 precis weekly, focusing on financial and economic themes.

A well-rounded strategy, covering both overall time management and section-wise focus, will boost your chances significantly, whether you're a commerce graduate or coming from a completely different academic background.

Is SEBI Grade A a Government Job?

Yes. SEBI Grade A is considered a prestigious government-sector job. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is a statutory body established under the SEBI Act, 1992, enacted by the Parliament of India. Although SEBI functions as an autonomous regulatory authority, it operates under the administrative control of the Government of India and offers excellent job security, attractive salary, career growth, and a transparent, merit-based recruitment process.