Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.
Official Overview & Examination Scope
Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact
SEBI Grade A recruits elite regulatory officers into the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI, headquartered at BKC Mumbai). Officers regulate stock exchanges (NSE, BSE), monitor algorithmic trading, inspect mutual funds and foreign portfolio investors, enforce insider trading prohibitions, and regulate corporate IPOs and takeovers.
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
Total: Phase-II (85% Weightage) + Interview (15% Weightage)| Section / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase-I Paper 1: General Awareness, English, Quant, Reasoning | 80 MCQs | 100 Marks (Need 30% = 30 M) | 60 Minutes |
| Phase-I Paper 2: Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics | 50 MCQs | 100 Marks (Need 40% = 40 M) | 40 Minutes |
| Phase-II Paper 1: English Descriptive Test | 3 Questions (Essay, Précis, Reading Comprehension) | 100 Marks (1/3rd Weightage) | 60 Minutes |
| Phase-II Paper 2: Specialized Commerce, Finance, Corporate Law | 50 MCQs (General Stream) | 100 Marks (2/3rd Weightage) | 40 Minutes |
| Personality Test (Interview) | Executive Board Interview at SEBI Bhavan BKC | 15% Weightage | 30 Minutes |
Negative marking of 1/4th marks assigned to question on objective papers. Phase-II score (Paper 1: 1/3 weight + Paper 2: 2/3 weight) carries 85% final weightage + Interview carries 15% weightage.
Negative Marking Rule: 0.25 of marks assigned to question deducted as penalty
Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy
Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark
Phase-I has fixed cutoffs (30% Paper 1, 40% Paper 2, 40% aggregate = 80/200). Phase-II cutoffs for General stream typically range around 68-74 out of 100.
Recruited Posts, Services & Cadres
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifying cutoffs in SEBI Grade A Phase-I?
Phase-I has fixed qualifying cutoffs: minimum 30% in Paper 1, minimum 40% in Paper 2, and minimum 40% aggregate (80 marks out of 200). All candidates who achieve this cutoff qualify for Phase-II.
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