Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
SEBI Grade A 2026: Officer Recruitment, Salary, Prep Guide
Quick Information
| Post Name | SEBI Grade A |
| Total Vacancies | 100 |
| Salary | Rs. 44,500 basic. Gross Rs. 1.35 to Rs. 1.45 lakh/month at Mumbai including DA, HRA, and allowances. Net in-hand Rs. 1.05 to Rs. 1.15 lakh after NPS and tax. |
| Organization | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
Application Fee
| General | Rs. 1,000 |
| OBC | Rs. 1,000 |
| SC / ST | Rs. 100 |
| Women | Rs. 100 |
Important Dates
| Start Date | 15 August 2026 |
| Last Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 October 2026 |
Eligibility
| Age Limit | 30 years maximum for General as on the reference date in notification (typically August 1). OBC NCL: up to 33. SC/ST: up to 35. PwBD: up to 40. Ex-servicemen: 5 years additional per rules. |
| Education | Bachelor's degree with 60% marks (55% SC/ST/PwBD) for General stream. Stream-specific qualifications apply for Legal (LLB), IT (BE/BTech/MCA), Engineering (BE/BTech Civil or Electrical), Research (Master's in Statistics/Economics/Finance), Rajbhasha and Official Language (Master's with Hindi as a subject). |
Selection Process
- 1**Phase 1: Online Screening (200 marks
- 260 minutes)** Qualifying stage. Sectional and total cutoffs must be cleared to progress. | Section | Questions | Marks | Time | |---|---|---|---| | General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 25 mins | | English Language | 40 | 40 | 25 mins | | Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 | 25 mins | | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 25 mins | | Awareness of Securities Market | 40 | 40 | 25 mins | Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for a correct answer. **Phase 2: Online Descriptive + Objective (300 marks
- 33 papers)** Phase 2 marks count in the final merit. - Paper 1: English (Descriptive)
- 4100 marks
- 560 minutes. Essay
- 6precis
- 7comprehension. - Paper 2: Stream-specific (Objective)
- 8100 marks
- 960 minutes. - Paper 3: Stream-specific (Mix)
- 10100 marks
- 1160 minutes. **Interview: 100 marks.** Held at SEBI Mumbai HQ (BKC). Final merit = 85% Phase 2 + 15% Interview.
How to Apply
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SEBI Grade A 2026: recruitment for Assistant Manager posts
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) conducts the Grade A Officer (Assistant Manager) exam once every year to recruit officers into India's securities market regulator. The 2026 cycle is expected to be notified in August 2026, with Phase 1 in October 2026. Total vacancies are typically 100 to 200 per cycle, split across streams (General, Legal, Information Technology, Engineering, Research, Rajbhasha, Official Language). Entry-level compensation is Rs. 1.35 to Rs. 1.45 lakh per month including all allowances. That puts SEBI Grade A and RBI Grade B in the same salary bracket, the two top-paying entry-level roles at central financial regulators.
Important dates for SEBI Grade A 2026
| Event | Date (expected) |
|---|---|
| Official notification | August 2026 |
| Registration opens | August 2026 |
| Last date to apply | September 2026 |
| Phase 1 (Prelims) exam | October 2026 |
| Phase 1 result | November 2026 |
| Phase 2 (Mains) exam | November to December 2026 |
| Phase 2 result | January 2027 |
| Interview | February to March 2027 |
| Final result | March to April 2027 |
Confirm every date against the official notification at sebi.gov.in when it is released. Dates above reflect the typical SEBI Grade A cycle timing based on 2023, 2024, and 2025 recruitments.
SEBI Grade A 2026 streams and vacancies
Recruitment happens across the following streams. Vacancy distribution varies by cycle but the 2024 pattern is the useful reference (97 total posts):
| Stream | Typical share | 2024 vacancies (reference) |
|---|---|---|
| General | Largest allocation | 30 to 40 |
| Legal | Small allocation | 5 to 10 |
| Information Technology | Medium allocation | 10 to 20 |
| Research | Small allocation | 5 to 10 |
| Engineering (Civil, Electrical) | Small allocation | 3 to 5 |
| Rajbhasha (Official Language) | 1 to 2 posts | 1 to 2 |
| Official Language | 1 to 2 posts | 1 to 2 |
The General stream is the most competitive (about 70,000 applicants for 30 to 40 posts, giving a selection ratio of roughly 1:2,000). Niche streams like Legal, IT, and Research have selection ratios closer to 1:500, which is why candidates with degree matches for those streams should target them directly instead of applying through the General stream.
Eligibility for SEBI Grade A 2026
Eligibility is stream-specific. All streams share the same age criteria.
Age (as on the reference date in notification, typically August 1 of the notification year):
- General: 30 years maximum
- Relaxations: OBC NCL up to 33, SC/ST up to 35, PwBD up to 40, Ex-servicemen 5 years additional per rules
Educational qualification by stream:
| Stream | Required qualification |
|---|---|
| General | Bachelor's degree from a recognised university with 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Legal | Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) with 60% marks, or 5-year integrated law degree |
| Information Technology | BE/BTech/BSc in Computer Science, IT, Electronics, Software Engineering, or MCA/MSc in IT with 60% marks |
| Engineering (Civil) | BE/BTech in Civil Engineering with 60% marks |
| Engineering (Electrical) | BE/BTech in Electrical Engineering with 60% marks |
| Research | Master's degree in Statistics, Economics, Finance, Business Administration (Finance), or Commerce with 55% marks |
| Rajbhasha | Master's in Hindi with English as a subject at graduation, or Master's in English with Hindi as a subject |
| Official Language | Master's degree in Hindi with English as a subject at Bachelor's, or Master's in Sanskrit/English/Economics/Commerce with Hindi as a subject |
Final-year candidates can apply provisionally but must submit their degree certificate before the deadline specified in the notification.
Application fee for SEBI Grade A 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 1,000 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 100 |
| Women | Rs. 100 |
| Ex-servicemen | Nil |
Fees are non-refundable and payable online during the application window only.
How to apply for SEBI Grade A 2026 step by step
Applications are accepted only through the SEBI recruitment portal at sebi.gov.in. Offline applications are not accepted.
- Visit sebi.gov.in and navigate to the Careers section, then Recruitment.
- Click on the SEBI Grade A 2026 notification link and register with your name, email, mobile number, and date of birth. You receive a registration ID and password by email.
- Log in with the registration ID and complete the detailed application form: personal, educational, work experience, and stream preference.
- Upload photograph (200 KB max, JPG), signature (100 KB max, JPG), and category or PwBD certificate if applicable.
- Pay the application fee online via UPI, net banking, debit card, or credit card.
- Submit and download the final application form. Print at least two copies for interview and future reference.
Save your registration ID and password securely; they are needed at every subsequent stage (admit card download, result check, interview call).
SEBI Grade A 2026 selection process
Selection has three stages: Phase 1 (Prelims), Phase 2 (Mains), and Interview. All three must be cleared to receive a final offer.
Phase 1: online screening (200 marks, 60 minutes total)
Phase 1 is a qualifying stage. Marks do not count in the final merit but you must clear the sectional and total cutoffs to progress to Phase 2.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 25 mins |
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 25 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 | 25 mins |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 25 mins |
| Awareness of Securities Market | 40 | 40 | 25 mins |
Note: sectional timings are individually allotted; you cannot borrow time across sections. Negative marking is one-fourth of the marks awarded for a correct answer.
Phase 2: online descriptive and objective (300 marks, 3 papers)
Phase 2 marks are used for the final merit. There are three papers.
Paper 1: English (descriptive), 100 marks, 60 minutes
Essay, precis, comprehension. Same for all streams.
Paper 2: stream-specific (objective), 100 marks, 60 minutes
For General stream: Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics. For Legal: General Legal Knowledge including Constitution, Contract Act, Company Law, Securities Laws. For IT: Data structures, Programming, DBMS, Operating Systems, Networks, Web Technology. For Research: Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Business Analysis.
Paper 3: stream-specific advanced (100 marks, 60 minutes)
Case studies and applied analysis in your chosen stream. Some streams include a mix of objective and short-descriptive questions.
Interview (100 marks)
Candidates who clear Phase 2 are called for a personal interview at SEBI Mumbai headquarters (or via video conferencing for some cycles). Interview weightage is 100 marks. Final merit is computed on Phase 2 marks plus Interview marks; the ratio is typically 85 percent Phase 2 plus 15 percent Interview.
Salary and allowances for SEBI Grade A officer
SEBI Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) starting pay structure at Mumbai posting:
| Component | Approximate value |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | Rs. 44,500 per month |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 55,000 (revised quarterly) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) or leased accommodation | Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 35,000 or Bank quarters |
| Grade Allowance | Rs. 6,800 |
| Family Allowance | Rs. 2,000 |
| Local Allowance | Rs. 1,500 |
| Special Allowance | Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 12,000 |
| Gross monthly (Mumbai) | Rs. 1.35 lakh to Rs. 1.45 lakh |
Net in-hand after NPS, tax, and other deductions is approximately Rs. 1.05 lakh to Rs. 1.15 lakh at entry level.
Beyond the monthly package, SEBI officers get:
- Leased accommodation in Mumbai (Rs. 1.5 lakh per month rental value for a 2 or 3 BHK), or HRA if you opt for self-arranged housing
- Medical coverage for self and dependents including dental and vision
- Newspaper allowance, book allowance, briefcase allowance
- Concessional loans for housing, vehicle, and education (interest rates 4 to 6 percent)
- Leave Fare Concession (LFC) once every 2 years for the officer and family
- Contribution to National Pension System (NPS)
Total cost to organisation (CTC) at Grade A level is approximately Rs. 20 to Rs. 24 lakh per year, which places SEBI Grade A at the top of central government financial regulator compensation alongside RBI Grade B.
SEBI Grade A career progression
Direct-recruit officers move up the SEBI hierarchy in this order:
Grade A (Assistant Manager) then Grade B (Manager), Grade C (Assistant General Manager), Grade D (Deputy General Manager), Grade E (General Manager), Chief General Manager, Executive Director, and finally Whole-Time Member.
Typical progression timeline: Grade A to Grade B in 4 to 5 years, Grade B to Grade C in 4 to 6 years. Compensation at Grade D level crosses Rs. 3 lakh per month. Senior positions (Chief General Manager and above) are largely by selection and cross Rs. 4 lakh per month with executive perks.
Preparation strategy for SEBI Grade A 2026
Phase 1: 2 to 3 months focused prep
- General Awareness and Securities Market: read The Hindu Business Line and Economic Times daily. Cover NCFM modules for basics of securities market. Time: 45 minutes per day.
- English: focus on error spotting, cloze, and reading comprehension. Practice 5 sets a week.
- Quantitative Aptitude: standard bank PO prep applies. Focus on data interpretation and arithmetic.
- Reasoning: high-level puzzles and seating arrangements dominate SEBI Phase 1.
Target: 65 percent aggregate in Phase 1.
Phase 2: 1 to 2 months after Phase 1 result
- For General stream: revise your commerce and finance basics deeply. Companies Act 2013, SEBI Act, LODR Regulations, ICDR Regulations are the most cited in past papers.
- For Legal stream: focus on Constitution, Contract Act, Companies Act, Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, SEBI Act, and case law of the last 3 years.
- For IT stream: DBMS, Data Structures, and Networking are heavy. Do not neglect Web Technology.
- For Research stream: Statistics inference, Time Series, and Financial Econometrics are the scoring topics.
Interview
- Deep knowledge of one specialist area is often more valuable than shallow coverage of many.
- Be honest about the reasons for your interest in a regulator role over a private-sector finance role. Interviewers ask this in almost every SEBI panel.
- Follow SEBI's recent orders, circulars, and consultation papers for 3 months before the interview.
SEBI Grade A vs RBI Grade B: which one to target
Both are top central financial regulator postings. Choose based on stream fit and interest:
| Feature | SEBI Grade A | RBI Grade B |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Mumbai (headquarters) with pan-India offices | Mumbai + all Indian states (rotation) |
| Streams | General, Legal, IT, Research, Engineering, Rajbhasha | General, DEPR, DSIM |
| Application fee (General) | Rs. 1,000 | Rs. 850 |
| Phase 1 marks | 200 (5 sections, 60 mins) | 200 (4 sections, 120 mins) |
| Phase 2 marks | 300 (3 papers) | 300 (3 papers) |
| Interview weightage | 15 percent | 15 percent |
| Entry salary in-hand | Rs. 1.05 to Rs. 1.15 lakh | Rs. 1.15 to Rs. 1.25 lakh |
| Notification cycle | August | July to August |
| Vacancies (typical) | 100 to 200 | 250 to 400 |
Most serious candidates attempt both. Prep is 80 percent overlapping for the General stream. The differentiator is the Awareness of Securities Market section in SEBI Phase 1 and the Finance & Management paper in RBI Phase 2.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying in the wrong stream. Once submitted, stream cannot be changed. If you have an IT or Legal degree, apply through that stream (selection ratio is much better than General).
- Ignoring Securities Market awareness. This is a full 40-mark section in Phase 1 and is heavily weighted in Phase 2 for General stream. Do not treat it as add-on.
- Skipping the descriptive English paper prep. Many candidates score well in objective sections but underperform in Paper 1 of Phase 2, losing 20 to 30 marks that decide the final merit.
- Interview underprep. SEBI interviews are notoriously conceptual. Vague answers do not survive follow-up questions.
- Waiting for the "official" cutoff. SEBI does not release Phase 1 cutoffs officially. Target 130 out of 200 to be safe for General; 110 to 120 for reserved categories.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SEBI Grade A 2026 notification date? The SEBI Grade A 2026 notification is expected in August 2026, with Phase 1 exam in October 2026. Confirm dates on sebi.gov.in when the notification is released. The last three cycles have followed similar timing.
What is the age limit for SEBI Grade A 2026? The maximum age for General category candidates is 30 years as on the reference date in the notification. Age relaxations apply: 3 years for OBC NCL, 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwBD, 5 additional years for ex-servicemen.
Is a Chartered Accountant (CA) eligible for SEBI Grade A? Yes. CAs are eligible under the General stream as CA is treated as equivalent to a Bachelor's degree with 60 percent marks. Their subject knowledge in Finance, Companies Act, and Audit gives them an advantage in Phase 2.
What is the salary of SEBI Grade A officer in 2026? Total monthly emoluments at entry level in Mumbai are approximately Rs. 1.35 to Rs. 1.45 lakh gross, with net in-hand of Rs. 1.05 to Rs. 1.15 lakh after NPS and tax deductions. Total annual CTC including all perks and allowances is approximately Rs. 20 to Rs. 24 lakh.
How is the SEBI Grade A final merit calculated? Final merit is based on Phase 2 marks (85 percent weightage) plus Interview marks (15 percent weightage). Phase 1 is qualifying only and marks do not count in the final merit.
Is there negative marking in SEBI Grade A Phase 1? Yes. One-fourth of the marks allotted for a correct answer are deducted for each wrong answer. Skipping a question you do not know costs less than a wrong guess.
Which stream has the highest selection chance in SEBI Grade A? Niche streams (Legal, IT, Research) have selection ratios closer to 1:500, compared to about 1:2,000 for General. If your degree matches a niche stream, apply through it directly.
Can I appear for both SEBI Grade A and RBI Grade B in the same cycle? Yes. Both notification and exam windows do not overlap. Most General stream candidates prepare for both since Phase 1 syllabi are about 80 percent common.
Is SEBI Grade A better than IBPS PO or SBI PO? On pay, SEBI Grade A entry salary is about 2x IBPS PO in-hand. Career ceiling at Executive Director level is above the highest scale in commercial banking. On competition, SEBI Grade A is harder (selection ratio around 1:2,000 for General vs 1:200 to 1:400 for SBI PO), but the payoff scales accordingly.
Where is the SEBI Grade A interview held? The interview is held at SEBI headquarters in Mumbai (Bandra Kurla Complex). Some cycles allow video conference interviews for outstation candidates. The interview is 30 to 45 minutes and involves 3 to 5 panel members.
Sources
- Securities and Exchange Board of India official portal: sebi.gov.in
- SEBI recruitment page: sebi.gov.in/careers.html (link goes live during the notification window)
- Reference for career progression and pay structure: SEBI Annual Report 2024
- Related on this site: RBI Grade B 2026, IBPS PO 2026, SBI PO 2026, Best books for IBPS PO and SBI PO 2026