SEBI Grade A.
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SEBI typically releases the Grade A notification between September and November, with Phase 1 conducted a couple of months later. Exact 2026 dates will be confirmed on sebi.gov.in once the notification is released.

Phase 1 has two papers of 100 marks each: Paper 1 (common to all streams) covers English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness including financial sector knowledge, in 60 minutes; Paper 2 is stream-specific MCQs, 40 minutes. Phase 1 is purely qualifying — marks don't count toward final merit. Phase 2 has Paper 1 (English Writing Skills, descriptive, 60 minutes) and Paper 2 (stream-specific, 100 objective MCQs, 90 minutes), each 100 marks.

Phase 1 has negative marking of 1/4th mark for every wrong answer in both Paper 1 and Paper 2, with separate sectional minimums (30% in Paper 1, 40% in Paper 2) plus a minimum aggregate cutoff of 40%. Phase 2 Paper 1 (English, descriptive) is evaluated for content, structure, and writing quality with no negative marking; Paper 2 (stream-specific, objective) carries the same 1/4th negative marking as Phase 1. Final merit is based on Phase 2 (85% weightage) combined with the Interview (15% weightage).

Eligibility varies by stream: a Bachelor's degree in Law or Engineering, a Master's degree in any discipline, or a professional qualification like CA/CFA/CS/Cost Accountant. Age limit is typically 30 years (with standard reservation-category relaxations), and final-year students can apply provisionally for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, subject to producing their final marksheet before the interview.

SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) starts with a basic pay of ₹62,500/month. Including DA, HRA, and other allowances, gross monthly compensation ranges from approximately ₹1,43,000 (with accommodation) to ₹1,84,000 (without accommodation) — among the highest entry-level packages of any Indian regulatory or banking exam.

SEBI notifies the application fee afresh in each cycle's official notification. As is standard across SEBI/RBI-pattern exams, General/OBC/EWS candidates typically pay an examination fee, while SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen candidates usually pay only a reduced intimation charge or are exempted. Since you can apply for up to 2 streams per cycle, fees are payable separately for each stream — always confirm exact amounts in the notification at sebi.gov.in before paying.

Physical calculators are not permitted inside the exam hall for SEBI Grade A. As with most SEBI/RBI-pattern computer-based tests, an on-screen virtual calculator is made available within the test interface for calculation-heavy questions in the Quantitative Aptitude section of Phase I Paper 1. Bringing your own calculator, phone, or any electronic device to the centre can lead to disqualification.

There's no fixed 'good score' since cutoffs shift a little every year with difficulty level and vacancies, but you can benchmark against the Cutoffs section on this page: Phase I only requires clearing the flat 40% aggregate (80/200) since it isn't merit-based, while the real competition is the Phase II + Interview score — the General category cutoff was 142.50/200 in 2024. Scoring comfortably above the previous year's General-category Phase II + Interview cutoff is a reasonable target for General stream aspirants.

No, SEBI Grade A has no cap on the number of attempts — you can apply every cycle as long as you meet the age limit (30 years, plus applicable category relaxation) and educational eligibility on the cutoff date specified in that year's notification. You can also apply for a maximum of 2 streams in the same cycle, each with its own separate application and fee.

The Interview is the final stage after Phase II and carries 15% weightage in the final merit (Phase II carries 85%). It's typically held in Mumbai, and candidates can choose to answer in Hindi or English. Along with a general and stream-related discussion, your original eligibility documents and certificates are verified at this stage — provisionally-admitted final-year students must produce their final marksheet or degree certificate here or risk disqualification.

Yes. The standard maximum age limit for SEBI Grade A is 30 years as of the cutoff date in the notification, with cumulative relaxations for reserved categories: +5 years for SC/ST, +3 years for OBC-NCL, +10 years for PwBD, and +5 years for Ex-Servicemen. There is no minimum age requirement.

SEBI Grade A recruits across specialized streams — General, Legal, IT, Engineering, and Research, among others. Phase I Paper 1 (English, Reasoning, Quant, General Awareness) and the overall exam structure are common to all streams, but Phase I Paper 2 and both Phase II papers test stream-specific domain knowledge — for example, Commerce/Finance/Management for General, company and securities law for Legal, and programming/systems concepts for IT. Always check the official notification for your specific stream's syllabus, since SEBI publishes it separately each cycle.