SEBI Grade A 2026 – Complete
Preparation Guide
SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) is one of India's highest-paying government jobs — ₹1,43,000–₹1,84,000/month gross. The 2025 cycle had 135 vacancies with 86,588 applicants. Next notification expected Oct–Nov 2026. 3-stage selection: Phase 1 → Phase 2 → Interview. Graduate degree required. Age ≤30 years.
What is SEBI Grade A 2026?
The SEBI Grade A Officer exam (also known as the Assistant Manager exam) is conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) — India's apex capital markets regulator. Established under the SEBI Act, 1992, SEBI oversees stock exchanges, mutual funds, brokers, depositories, and listed companies across India.
A SEBI Grade A Officer joins as an Assistant Manager and works in one of SEBI's headquarters (Mumbai) or regional offices (Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad). The role involves market regulation, enforcement, policy formulation, and investor protection — making it intellectually demanding and prestigious.
What makes SEBI Grade A stand out is its salary package — ₹62,500 basic pay (revised 2025) with a gross of ₹1.43L–₹1.84L/month — making it one of the highest-paying government jobs in India. With just 100–135 vacancies per year and 80,000–90,000 applicants, it is also among the most competitive regulatory exams.
📅 SEBI Grade A 2026 Important Dates
⚠️ The 2025 recruitment cycle (Phase 3 Interviews: May–June 2026) is currently underway. The 2026 cycle notification is expected in October–November 2026. All upcoming dates are estimated based on past patterns. Confirm at sebi.gov.in/careers.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SEBI Grade A 2025 Short Notification | 8 October 2025 | ✅ Done |
| SEBI Grade A 2025 Full Notification Released | 30 October 2025 | ✅ Done |
| Online Application Opens | 30 October 2025 | ✅ Done |
| Online Application Last Date | 28 November 2025 | ✅ Done |
| Admit Card Released (Phase 1) | 3 January 2026 | ✅ Done |
| Phase 1 Online Exam | 10 January 2026 | ✅ Done |
| Phase 1 Result Declared | 30 January 2026 | ✅ Done |
| Phase 2 Online Exam | 21 February 2026 | ✅ Done |
| Phase 2 Result Declared | 27 March 2026 | ✅ Done |
| Phase 3 Interviews | 6 May – 4 June 2026 | ✅ Done |
| Final Merit List & Joining | July 2026 (Expected) | ⏳ TBN |
| 🆕 SEBI Grade A 2026 Notification | October–November 2026 (Expected) | ⏳ TBN |
| SEBI Grade A 2026 Application Window | November 2026 (Expected) | ⏳ TBN |
| SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 1 Exam | January 2027 (Expected) | ⏳ TBN |
Eligibility Criteria 2026
📌 Note on attempts: SEBI Grade A has no official limit on the number of attempts. However, you must satisfy the age criteria at the time of each notification. Final-year students who expect to complete their degree before joining date are eligible to apply.
Vacancy History & 2026 Outlook
| Year | Total | General | Legal | IT | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEBI Grade A 2020 | 147 | ~100 | ~20 | ~15 | ~12 |
| SEBI Grade A 2022 | 120 | 80 | 16 | 14 | 10 |
| SEBI Grade A 2023 | 25 | ~20 | ~3 | ~2 | — |
| SEBI Grade A 2024 | 97 | 56 | 17 | 10 | 14 |
| SEBI Grade A 2025 | 135 | 77 | 20 | 22 | 16 |
| SEBI Grade A 2026 (Est.) | TBN | ~70–80 | TBN | TBN | TBN |
💡 2026 Outlook: Vacancies have been rising sharply — from 24 in 2022 to 135 in 2025. SEBI is expanding its regulatory capacity. The 2026 cycle is expected to have 100–150 vacancies across streams, with the General Stream accounting for ~50–60% of total posts.
Exam Pattern 2026
SEBI Grade A selection has 3 stages. Only Phase 2 + Interview marks count for final merit (85:15 ratio). Phase 1 is qualifying only.
Phase 1 — Online Screening Test (Qualifying)
Min. 30% in Paper 1 + 40% in Paper 2 + 40% aggregate required to qualify. Marks NOT counted for final selection.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1 (Common – All Streams) General Awareness + English Language + Quantitative Aptitude + Reasoning Ability | 80 | 100 | 60 min | 30% (aggregate, no sectional) |
Paper 2 (Stream-Specific) General: Commerce, Finance, Economics, Management, Companies Act | Legal: Law | IT: Computer Science | Research: Economics/Statistics | Engineering: Civil/Electrical | Official Language: Hindi | 50 | 100 | 40 min | 40% |
Phase 2 — Online Main Examination (Merit-Based)
Min. 50% aggregate required. Paper 1 carries 1/3 weightage; Paper 2 carries 2/3 weightage. These marks count for final merit (85% weightage).
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1 (English Descriptive – Common) Essay Writing + Précis Writing + Comprehension | 3 | 100 | 60 min | Descriptive |
Paper 2 (Stream-Specific) General/Research: Objective + Descriptive on Finance, Economics, Securities Law | Legal: MCQ + Descriptive | IT: Coding Test (C++/Java/Python, 180 min) | Official Language: Hindi | 100 | 100 | 90 min | Objective + Descriptive |
Phase 3 — Personal Interview (15% of Final Merit)
Only candidates who qualify Phase 2 (min. 50% aggregate) are called for the interview. The interview is conducted at SEBI offices. Candidates can choose Hindi or English as the medium.
Interview assesses: domain knowledge (securities market, regulatory framework), current affairs, communication skills, and personality. Final selection = Phase 2 (85%) + Interview (15%).
Detailed Syllabus 2026
📊 Quantitative Aptitude (Phase 1, Paper 1)
- Number Series, Simplification & Approximation
- Percentage, Average, Ratio & Proportion
- Profit & Loss, SI & CI, Partnership
- Time & Work, Pipe & Cistern, Speed, Distance & Time
- Data Interpretation – Tabular, Bar, Pie, Line, Caselet
- Permutation, Combination & Probability
- Quadratic Equations, Mensuration
🧩 Reasoning Ability (Phase 1, Paper 1)
- Puzzles – Floor, Box, Month-Year, Scheduling
- Seating Arrangement – Linear, Circular, Double row
- Syllogisms, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations
- Direction & Distance, Inequality
- Input-Output, Order & Ranking
- Statement & Conclusions, Logical Reasoning
📝 English Language (Phase 1 & Phase 2 Descriptive)
- Reading Comprehension – long and short passages
- Error Spotting, Sentence Rearrangement, Para Jumbles
- Cloze Test, Phrase/Sentence Connectors, Fill in the Blanks
- Vocabulary – Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases
- Phase 2: Essay Writing (250–300 words on finance/economy topics)
- Phase 2: Précis Writing – summarizing long passages
- Phase 2: Comprehension with analytical questions
🌐 General Awareness (Phase 1, Paper 1)
- Current Affairs – national & international (last 6 months)
- Indian Economy, Union Budget, GDP, fiscal policy
- Securities Market basics – SEBI regulations, IRDAI, RBI, NABARD
- Financial Markets – Sensex, Nifty, mutual funds, derivatives
- Awards, Appointments, Important Days, Sports
- Government Schemes – Make in India, PLI, Digital India
💼 General Stream Paper 2 – Finance, Commerce & Economics
- Commerce & Accountancy – Financial Statements, Ratio Analysis
- Management – Principles, Organizational Behaviour
- Finance – Capital Budgeting, Working Capital, CAPM, Derivatives
- Securities Law – SEBI Act 1992, SCRA 1956, Depositories Act
- Costing – Standard Costing, Marginal Costing, Variance Analysis
- Companies Act 2013 – Key provisions, Board structure, Auditing
- Economics – Micro & Macro, Demand-Supply, Market Structures
💰 SEBI Grade A Salary & Perks 2026
Salary Breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (Revised 2025) | ₹62,500/month |
| Grade Allowance | As per SEBI norms |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | ~30.38% of Basic Pay |
| Special Allowance | As per SEBI norms |
| Family Allowance | As per SEBI norms |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) / Accommodation | HRA (if own accommodation) or SEBI-provided flat |
| City Compensatory Allowance (CCA) | City-dependent |
| Learning Allowance | Newspaper reimbursement + study materials |
| Gross (Mumbai, with accommodation) | ~₹1,43,000/month |
| Gross (Mumbai, without accommodation) | ~₹1,84,000/month |
Pay Scale Progression (17 Years)
| Stage | Basic Pay | Increment | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | ₹62,500 | ₹3,600 | 4 increments @ ₹3,600 |
| After ~4 years | ₹76,900 | ₹4,050 | 7 increments @ ₹4,050 |
| After ~11 years | ₹1,05,250 | ₹4,050 | Efficiency Bar (EB) |
| After ~15 years | ₹1,21,450 | ₹4,650 | 1 increment |
| Maximum (17 years) | ₹1,26,100 | — | Top of Grade A scale |
Additional Perks & Benefits
Career Growth Path
How to Apply for SEBI Grade A 2026
SEBI Grade A 2026 Study Plan (6 Months)
Build strong fundamentals in Quant (Number Series, DI, Algebra) and Reasoning (Puzzles, Seating, Syllogisms). SEBI Phase 1 is qualifying — target above 40% aggregate with accuracy. Start reading Economic Times or Financial Express daily for 20 minutes for General Awareness and Securities Market knowledge.
This is the most critical part of SEBI prep. Cover Commerce, Accountancy, Finance, Securities Law, and Economics systematically. ICSI or CA Foundation material helps for Companies Act. Refer to SEBI Act 1992 and SCRA 1956 directly — 5–8 questions come from these Acts every year.
Phase 2 Paper 1 is an English Descriptive test. Practise writing one essay and one précis every alternate day. Build a bank of finance-related essay topics: inflation, cryptocurrency regulation, ESG investing, SEBI reforms. Compile and revise monthly current affairs from official sources.
SEBI exams are unique — deep knowledge of capital markets is essential. Study: Primary & Secondary markets, IPO process, Mutual Funds, Debt instruments, Derivatives (Futures & Options basics), Insider Trading regulations, SEBI Takeover Code. Read SEBI annual reports and circulars from sebi.gov.in.
Attempt 2–3 full-length Phase 1 mocks per week. Analyse every mock thoroughly. For Phase 2, practise full papers under timed conditions. SEBI Interview focuses on your stream knowledge, current regulatory issues, and personality. Prepare a 2-minute introduction, know SEBI's recent enforcement actions, and read the SEBI Annual Report.
Best Books for SEBI Grade A 2026
| Book | Author | Subject | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal | Quant | Buy |
| A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | Reasoning | Buy |
| Objective English for Competitive Examinations | Hari Mohan Prasad | English | Buy |
| Indian Financial System & Capital Markets | M.Y. Khan | Finance & Capital Markets | — |
| Securities Law & Capital Markets | Taxmann / ICSI Study Material | Securities Law | — |
| Fundamentals of Financial Management | Prasanna Chandra | Financial Management | — |
| Economics (Micro & Macro) | HL Ahuja | Economics | — |
| SEBI Grade A Previous Year Papers | Adda247 / Oliveboard | Mock Tests & PYQs | — |
Free Resources for SEBI Grade A Preparation
Expert Tips for SEBI Grade A 2026
Read the SEBI Act 1992 and SCRA 1956 directly — not just summaries. SEBI Paper 2 asks 5–8 questions straight from these Acts every cycle. This is the highest-ROI activity for General Stream candidates.
SEBI is the capital markets regulator. Deep knowledge of Derivatives (Futures & Options), IPO processes, Mutual Fund regulations, and Insider Trading Laws separates rank-holders from the rest. Make these your Paper 2 strengths.
The Phase 2 English Descriptive paper (100 marks, 60 min) is often underestimated. Practise writing under timed conditions — one Essay (300 words) and one Précis every alternate day from Month 3. Focus on finance/economy topics: ESG, digital payments, SEBI reforms, startup regulations.
Read Economic Times or Business Standard for 20 minutes daily. SEBI's General Awareness focuses heavily on financial and securities market current affairs — not general news. Follow SEBI's official Twitter and press releases.
Phase 1 is only qualifying — don't over-invest here. Aim for 50–55% in Phase 1 (safely above the 40% cut-off). Shift 60–70% of your preparation energy to Phase 2 (Paper 2 domain knowledge), which actually determines your final merit rank.
SEBI interview panels test current regulatory issues deeply. Before the interview, read SEBI's last 2 annual reports, recent enforcement orders, and current consultation papers. Know SEBI's recent policy initiatives — algo trading, ESG disclosures, SME IPO framework.
SEBI is headquartered in Mumbai with 4 regional offices (Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad). Officers are not subject to transfers as frequently as bank employees. This makes SEBI Grade A a particularly stable and sought-after career in regulatory finance.