What is SEBI Exam?

SEBI Exam refers to the Securities and Exchange Board of India Exam, which is conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). SEBI is the regulator for the securities market in India and conducts this exam to recruit candidates for various positions in SEBI.

The SEBI Exam is conducted in two phases: Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Phase 1 exam is an online screening test, and candidates who clear this stage are eligible to appear for the Phase 2 exam. The Phase 2 exam is a descriptive test and consists of three papers.

The SEBI Exam syllabus includes topics such as Securities Market, Financial Markets, General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Logical Reasoning. Candidates who qualify in the SEBI Exam are called for an interview, after which the final selection is made.

The SEBI Exam is a highly competitive exam, and candidates who aspire to join SEBI or work in the securities market should prepare thoroughly for the exam.

SEBI Exam Eligibility Crietria

The eligibility criteria for SEBI Exam varies based on the post for which the recruitment is conducted. Here are the general eligibility criteria for SEBI Exam:

  • Age Limit: The age limit varies based on the post. Generally, the age limit for the SEBI Exam is between 21 to 30 years. However, there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to reserved categories.
  • Educational Qualification: The educational qualification varies based on the post. Generally, candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized university with a minimum percentage of marks. For some posts, candidates with a Master’s Degree or a professional degree such as CA/CS/CFA are also eligible to apply.
  • Work Experience: Work experience is not mandatory for all posts. However, for some posts, candidates with work experience in the relevant field are preferred.
  • Language Proficiency: Candidates should have proficiency in English and the official language of the state where the candidate is applying from.

It is important to note that the eligibility criteria may vary based on the specific recruitment notification. Candidates should refer to the official recruitment notification for detailed eligibility criteria for the SEBI Exam.

Category Age Relaxation
SC/ST
Up to 5 Years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)
Up to 3 Years
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
10 Years
Ex-Servicemen
Up to 5 Years

SEBI Exam Pattern

SEBI Prelims Exam Pattern

The SEBI Preliminary Exam consists of objective-type questions with multiple choices. The exam consists of multiple sections such as English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, General Awareness, and Awareness about Securities Market. Here is a general overview of the SEBI Prelims Exam pattern:

  • The exam consists of 200 objective-type questions with a total of 200 marks.
  • The duration of the exam is 2 hours.
  • There is negative marking of 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question for each incorrect answer.
  • The exam is conducted online.
  • The minimum qualifying marks for each section and for the overall exam are decided by SEBI.

Here is the section-wise distribution of questions and marks in the SEBI Prelims Exam:

Section Number of Questions Marks
English Language
40
40
Quantitative Aptitude
40
40
Reasoning Ability
40
40
General Awareness
40
40
Awareness about Securities Market
40
40
Total
200
200

SEBI Mains Exam Pattern

The SEBI Mains Exam is conducted in two phases.

Phase 1: Paper 1 – Securities Market

The Paper 1 of the SEBI Mains Exam is focused on the Securities Market. This paper is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the securities market, regulations, and laws governing the market. Here is the detailed exam pattern for Paper 1:

  • The exam consists of 100 objective-type questions with a total of 100 marks.
  • The duration of the exam is 40 minutes.
  • There is negative marking of 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question for each incorrect answer.
  • The exam is conducted online.
  • The minimum qualifying marks for the paper are decided by SEBI.

Phase 2: Paper 2 – English Language, Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management

The Paper 2 of the SEBI Mains Exam is focused on English Language, Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management. This paper is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of English Language, Economics, Social Issues, Finance, and Management. Here is the detailed exam pattern for Paper 2:

  • The exam consists of both objective-type and descriptive-type questions with a total of 100 marks.
  • The duration of the exam is 60 minutes for the objective-type questions and 40 minutes for the descriptive-type questions.
  • There is negative marking of 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question for each incorrect answer in the objective-type questions.
  • The exam is conducted online.
  • The minimum qualifying marks for the paper are decided by SEBI.

Here is the table for the SEBI Mains Exam pattern:

Section Number of Questions Marks Duration
Paper 1: Securities Market
100
100
40 Minute
Paper 2: English Language, Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management
100
100
60 minutes (objective-type) and 40 minutes (descriptive-type)

SEBI Exam Interview Details

SEBI conducts an interview for the shortlisted candidates who have cleared the SEBI Mains Exam. The interview carries a weightage of 15% of the total marks. Candidates who have secured the minimum qualifying marks in the SEBI Mains Exam are called for the interview.

The interview is conducted by a panel of experts from various fields such as finance, economics, law, management, and securities market. The panel assesses the candidate’s overall personality, knowledge, communication skills, and suitability for the job.

The interview is conducted in a structured manner, and the panel asks questions related to the candidate’s academic background, work experience, and relevant issues related to the securities market.

The final merit list is prepared based on the marks secured in the SEBI Mains Exam and the interview. Candidates who have secured the highest marks are selected for the respective posts. It is important for candidates to prepare well for the interview and stay updated with the latest developments in the securities market, regulatory framework, and economic issues.

Selection Process

The selection process for the SEBI Exam includes a Preliminary Exam and a Mains Exam. Candidates need to clear the Preliminary Exam to be eligible for the Mains Exam. The Mains Exam consists of two papers, Paper 1 focused on Securities Market and Paper 2 focused on English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Candidates who clear the Mains Exam are called for an interview. The final selection is based on the marks obtained in the Mains Exam and the interview.

Application Fees

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) conducts various exams such as SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) and SEBI Grade B (Officer) exams. The application fees for SEBI Grade A & Grade B exams are:
  • General/OBC/EWS: Rs. 1000/-
  • SC/ST/PwBD: Rs. 100/-

Exam Frequency:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) conducts various exams such as SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) and SEBI Grade B (Officer) exams. The frequency of SEBI exams varies depending on the availability of vacancies and the requirement of the organization. SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) exam is conducted once every year or once in two years, depending on the number of vacancies available. The notification for the exam is generally released in the first quarter of the year. SEBI Grade B (Officer) exam is conducted as and when there is a requirement for recruitment of officers in SEBI. The notification for the exam is released on the official website of SEBI when the vacancies are available.

Conducting Authority:

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

SEBI Exam Syllabus for Prelims:

SEBI Prelims Exam Syllabus for SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) and SEBI Grade B (Officer) exams

Sections SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) & SEBI Grade B (Officer) Prelims Exam Syllabus
Paper 1: Economic and Social Issues
Growth and Development, Economic Reforms in India, Social Structure in India, Globalization, Corporate Governance
Paper 2: Securities Market
Securities Markets and their Regulation, Commodity Derivatives, Currency Derivatives, Bond Market, Money Market, Capital Market, Stock Market

SEBI Exam Syllabus for Prelims:

SEBI Mains Exam Syllabus for SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) and SEBI Grade B (Officer) exams

Sections SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) & SEBI Grade B (Officer) Mains Exam Syllabus
General Awareness
Current Affairs, Economic News, Financial Awareness, Static General Knowledge
English Language
Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement, Fill in the blanks
Quantitative Aptitude
Simplification, Number Series, Data Interpretation, Quadratic Equations, Time and Work, Percentages, Averages, Ratio and Proportion
General Awareness
Logical Reasoning, Alphanumeric Series, Seating Arrangement, Puzzle, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Inequalities

SEBI Exam cut-off marks for the past 5 years:

SEBI Grade A cut-off marks:

SEBI Exam Grade A cut-off marks for the past 5 years

SEBI Grade B cut-off marks:

SEBI Exam Grade B cut-off marks for the past 5 years

Salary Structure of SEBI

SEBI Grade A Officer (Assistant Manager)

Component Amount
Basic Pay
Rs. 28,150/- per month
Pay Scale
Rs. 28,150-1550(4)-34350-1750(7)-46600-EB-1750(4)-53600-2000(1)-55600 (17 years)
Dearness Allowance (DA)
Approx. 17% of basic pay
House Rent Allowance (HRA)
Varies based on place of posting (7%-9% of basic pay)
Special Allowance
Approx. 7.75% of basic pay
Grade Allowance
Rs. 5000/- per month
Telephone Allowance
Rs. 1000/- per month
Meal Allowance
Rs. 1000/- per month
Internet Allowance
Rs. 2000/- per month
Medical Allowance
Approx. Rs. 5000/- per annum
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
Approx. Rs. 20,000/- per annum

SEBI Grade B Officer (Manager)

Component Amount
Basic Pay
Rs. 35,150/- per month
Pay Scale
Rs. 35,150-1750(9)-50900-EB-1750(2)-54400-2000(4)-62400 (14 years)
Dearness Allowance (DA)
Approx. 17% of basic pay
House Rent Allowance (HRA)
Varies based on place of posting (7%-9% of basic pay)
Special Allowance
Approx. 7.75% of basic pay
Grade Allowance
Rs. 7000/- per month
Telephone Allowance
Rs. 1500/- per month
Meal Allowance
Rs. 1500/- per month
Internet Allowance
Rs. 2000/- per month
Medical Allowance
Approx. Rs. 7000/- per annum
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
Approx. Rs. 20,000/- per annum

Note: The pay scale mentioned above is subject to change and may vary based on the revision of the salary structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The eligibility criteria for SEBI exam varies depending on the post. For Grade A post, candidates must have a master’s degree or bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks. For Grade B post, candidates must have a master’s degree or bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60% marks.

The SEBI exam consists of three phases: Phase I (Preliminary Exam), Phase II (Mains Exam) and Phase III (Interview). Phase I exam is objective type with multiple-choice questions, while Phase II exam is a mix of objective and descriptive questions.

Candidates can prepare for the SEBI exam by studying the syllabus, solving previous year papers, taking mock tests, and revising regularly. It is important to cover all the topics mentioned in the syllabus and focus on time management during the exam.

The cutoff for SEBI exam varies every year and is determined based on various factors like the number of vacancies, the number of applicants, difficulty level of the exam, etc. The cutoff marks for each phase (Prelims, Mains, and Interview) are also different.

The salary of a SEBI Grade A Officer (Assistant Manager) ranges from Rs. 73,600/- to Rs. 1,07,900/- per month (approx.), including various allowances and benefits.

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