Exams   »   SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026

SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026: Strategies to Crack the Exam

The SEBI Grade A Exam 2026 is one of the most prestigious regulatory body examinations in India, conducted to recruit Assistant Managers in various streams. Candidates aiming to crack the SEBI Grade A Exam must focus on conceptual clarity, general financial awareness, and consistent practice. With SEBI Grade A Phase 2 scheduled for 21st February 2026, candidates need to focus on Phase 2 preparation, which includes an objective, as well as, a descriptive paper. Read here for more details.

SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026

SEBI Grade A Recruitment 2026 is a golden opportunity for aspirants wanting to work in India’s financial regulatory domain. The SEBI Grade A Exam Phase 2 is scheduled for 21st February 2026. Before we dive into the SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026 , let’s take a glance at the key updates:

Particulars Details
Organization Name Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Post Name Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager)
Category Government/Regulatory Body Exam
Exam Stages
  1. Phase 1 (Online Screening Test)
  2. Phase 2 (Mains Exam)
  3. Interview
Mode of Examination Online (Computer-Based)
Selection Weightage Phase 2 – 85%, Interview – 15%
Official Website www.sebi.gov.in
Vacancy  110
Salary Rs. 1,84,000/-

SEBI Grade A Exam Analysis 2026 for 10th Jan – Click to Check

SEBI Grade A 2026 Exam Pattern

Before beginning your preparation, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the exam structure. The SEBI Grade A selection process consists of three stages: Phase 1, Phase 2, and a Personal Interview. Below is the detailed breakdown of the SEBI Grade A 2026 Exam Pattern to help you plan your preparation effectively.

SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 1

The SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 1 exam consists of two Papers and is qualifying in nature. That means the marks scored in this Phase 1 exam do not go to the final scores of the merit list. There is a negative marking of 1/4th or 0.25 for every wrong attempt.

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Exam Pattern 2026
Papers Streams Subjects Maximum Marks Duration
Paper 1 All Streams 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
Paper 2 General Stream Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act and Economics. 100 40 minutes
Legal, Information Technology & Official Language stream Multiple choice questions on Specialized subjects related to the stream. 100 40 minutes
Research Stream Multiple-choice questions on subjects of Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Finance and Commerce 100 40 minutes

SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 2

The SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 2 exam also consists of 2 Papers. Paper 1 is descriptive in nature with a total time of 1 hour or 60 minutes. Paper 2 will be MCQs, and each section is 40 minutes. The same negative marking applies to this exam as well. Phase 2 is the most important stage and requires in-depth preparation.

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2026
Papers Streams Subjects Maximum Marks Duration
Paper 1 All Streams English (Descriptive Test) to test the drafting skills 100 60 minutes
Paper 2 General Stream Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act and Economics. 100 40 minutes
Legal & Official Language stream Multiple choice questions on Specialized subject related to stream 100 40 minutes
Research Stream Multiple choice questions on subjects Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Finance and Commerce. 100 40 minutes
Information Technology Coding Test (Languages: C++/JAVA/Python) 100 180 minutes

Study Plan: Roadmap for SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026

Preparing for the SEBI Grade A exam can be overwhelming, but with the right approach, you can tackle it confidently. Thus, it is important to have a study plan, which you can customise according to your strengths and weaknesses. With Phase 2 scheduled for 21st February 2026, candidates should now fine-tune their preparation and focus on exam-specific practice to secure success in the SEBI Grade A Exam 2026. Here is a breakdown for a SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026 study plan:

Month Key Tasks
Months 1–2 Revise Quant, Reasoning, English, and core Commerce/Finance; read daily current affairs; take weekly easy mocks.
Months 3–4 Solve previous year papers; practice sectional tests; cover tough topics like Costing and Companies Act; start essay and précis writing.
Month 5 Attempt full-length mocks for Phase 1 & 2; revise weak areas; take daily current affairs quizzes.
Month 6 Focus on revision, light mocks, and descriptive writing; review formulas and definitions; stay calm and maintain exam stamina.

SEBI Grade A Preparation 2025

Daily Time Allocation

Based on the above study plan, you need to follow a daily study routine for your SEBI Grade A preparation 2026. Make sure to allocate study time based on the difficulty and weightage of each subject. Stay consistent, whether you’re working or preparing full-time.

Slot Activity Focus
Morning (1–1.5 hrs) Current affairs + GA Stay updated consistently
Late morning Quant/Reasoning/DI Practice & speed
Afternoon Commerce/Finance Theory Build depth
Evening English writing practice/reading Descriptive prep
Night Mock/Revision of that day’s weak topics Consolidation

Important Topics for SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026

Here are the most important topics to focus on for the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Paper 1 exam. Covering these well will help you build a strong base and boost your chances of clearing the exam:

SEBI Grade A Preparation Phase 1: Paper 1 (GA, English, Quant, Reasoning)

  • General Awareness/Finance & Economy: Banking & finance news, SEBI regulations, government schemes, economic surveys, global markets.
  • English: Grammar, error spotting, cloze test, para jumbles, vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms), reading comprehension.
  • Quantitative Aptitude: DI, averages, ratio-proportion, time & work, percentages, inequalities, series, simplification.
  • Reasoning: Seating arrangement, puzzles, syllogism, direction, blood relations, input-output, logical reasoning.

SEBI Grade A Preparation Phase 1: Paper 2 (Commerce/Finance/Economics)

  • Commerce & Accountancy: Basics of accounting, journals, ledgers, trial balance, financial statements, accounting concepts.
  • Management/Finance/Economics: Financial markets, instruments, micro & macro economics, demand-supply, budget, fiscal policy, capital market concepts.
  • Costing, Companies Act: Costing methods, overheads, company law basics, share capital, boards.

SEBI Grade A Preparation Phase 2: Paper 1 (Descriptive English)

This paper tests your writing, comprehension, and clarity of thought. It includes Essay Writing, Precis Writing, and Reading Comprehension.

Section Important Topics Preparation Tips
Essay Writing – Economic growth & development in India – Financial inclusion & digital payments – Role of SEBI in protecting investors – Corporate governance & ethics – Impact of technology in financial markets Practice 1–2 essays weekly; structure essays in intro–body–conclusion format; use facts & examples from current affairs.
Precis Writing – Summarizing financial/economic articles – Budget or policy analysis summaries Read editorials daily (The Hindu, Mint); practice condensing paragraphs without losing meaning.
Reading Comprehension – Passages from business, finance, economy, or social issues Focus on understanding tone, theme, and key message; avoid over-guessing.
Grammar & Vocabulary – Synonyms/antonyms, connectors, punctuation Revise grammar rules regularly; build a word list for common financial terms.

SEBI Grade A Preparation Phase 2: Paper 2 (Objective; Specialized Subjects)

This paper is the most crucial since it carries higher weightage (⅔ in Phase 2 merit). It tests your understanding of Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, and Economics.

Subject Important Topics Focus Areas & Tips
Commerce & Accountancy – Accounting Principles & Concepts – Journal Entries, Ledger, Trial Balance – Financial Statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) – Accounting Standards (AS 1–29) – Ratio Analysis & Depreciation Focus on fundamentals; practice numerical questions daily; revise important formulas and standards.
Management – Principles of Management (Fayol, Taylor) – Motivation & Leadership Theories – Planning, Organizing, Controlling – HR & Organizational Behaviour Make short notes of key theories and thinkers; understand the real-life application of management concepts.
Finance – Financial Markets & Instruments – Time Value of Money, NPV, IRR, CAPM – Cost of Capital, Leverage, Capital Structure – Risk & Return, Portfolio Management Solve formula-based questions; understand market-linked examples; stay updated with financial news.
Costing – Cost Concepts & Classification – Cost Sheet, Marginal & Standard Costing – Budgetary Control, Variance Analysis – Break-even Analysis Practice numerical questions; focus on interpretation and logic behind formulas.
Companies Act, 2013 – Incorporation of Companies – Memorandum & Articles of Association – Board of Directors, Meetings, Powers – Share Capital, Dividend, Audit & Accounts Read summary notes; focus on sections that are frequently tested; relate provisions to real-life company examples.
Economics – Microeconomics: Demand & Supply, Elasticity, Market Structures – Macroeconomics: GDP, Inflation, Fiscal & Monetary Policy – Balance of Payments, Economic Growth Models Link concepts to current Indian economy; revise definitions and graphs.
Current Financial & Economic Affairs – Union Budget, Economic Survey Highlights – RBI Monetary Policy updates – SEBI circulars & financial market reforms Revise last 6 months of current affairs focused on economy, banking, and finance.

Recommended Books for SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026

Below is a curated list of books widely used for SEBI Grade A Preparation 2026:

Subject Book / Author
General Awareness & Economy “Indian Economy” by Ramesh Singh; daily current affairs magazines (e.g., Economic Times, The Hindu)
Quantitative Aptitude “Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams” by R.S. Aggarwal; “Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency” by Arun Sharma
Reasoning “A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-verbal Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal; “Analytical Reasoning” by M.K. Pandey
English “High School English Grammar & Composition” by Wren & Martin; “Objective General English” by S.P. Bakshi
Accounting & Commerce “Accountancy Vol 1 & 2” by T.S. Grewal; “Fundamentals of Corporate Accounting” by S.N. Maheshwari
Management/Finance/Economics “Principles of Economics” by N. Gregory Mankiw; “Managerial Economics” by D.N. Dwivedi; “Fundamentals of Financial Management” by Brigham & Houston
Companies Act/Costing “Company Law” by Avtar Singh; “Cost Accounting” by S.P. Jain & K.L. Narang
Important links:
SEBI Grade A Cut Off 2026 SEBI Grade A Previous Year Question Papers
SEBI Grade A Notification 2025 SEBI Grade A Salary 2026

FAQs

When is SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam scheduled?

The SEBI Grade A Phase 2 exam is scheduled for 21st February 2026.

How important is Phase 2 for SEBI Grade A?

Phase 2 is the most important stage as it carries maximum weightage in the final merit list.

How many months of current affairs are required for SEBI Grade A?

Candidates should prepare at least 6–8 months of current affairs focused on finance and economy.

Can candidates crack SEBI Grade A with self-study?

Yes, with the right resources, mock practice, and disciplined self-study, candidates can crack SEBI Grade A.

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