SEBI Grade A Exam Survival Guide

Window: India | Securities markets + Law + Finance

Must-do topics

• Securities market: SEBI Act, SEBI functions, stock exchanges, intermediaries
• Law: Companies Act, FEMA, SCRA, Depositories Act
• Finance: capital markets, derivatives, mutual funds, portfolio basics
• Economics: inflation, GDP, monetary policy, financial inclusion
• Current affairs: budget, economic survey, RBI/SEBI circulars

Top traps (avoid)

• Mixing SEBI vs RBI vs IRDAI vs PFRDA roles
• Forgetting sections/provisions in SEBI Act
• Over-preparing static law; missing circular-based Qs
• Confusing derivatives uses (hedge vs speculate vs arbitrage)

Time split

• Phase I: 200 Q, 2 hrs (mix of GA, quant, law, finance)
• Phase II: 3 papers (econ/finance, securities, English writing)

Last-48h checklist

• SEBI circulars of last 6 months
• Financial ratios + basics of derivatives
• Law section notes (penalties, powers, compliance)
• Mutual fund structure/regulation basics

Quick facts

• SEBI Act 1992 = investor protection, market regulation
• IPO process = DRHP → SEBI approval → listing
• Derivatives = forward/future (obligatory), options (right, not obligation)
• Mutual fund = trust, AMC, custodian, trustee

Speed tactics

• Eliminate regulator-mismatch answers
• Focus on core principle rather than obscure detail
• Essay: give structure + data/examples

Day-of mini-plan

• 10 GA Qs warm-up; 1 finance calc
• Stay calm in securities essay → use SEBI’s investor protection theme