SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit & Education

The SEBI Grade A eligibility criteria 2026 define who can apply for the SEBI Grade A exam. You must be an Indian citizen, meet the prescribed age limit (not older than 30 years), and fulfil the required educational qualification.

There is no minimum age limit specified in the SEBI Assistant Manager eligibility criteria. However, age relaxations are available for eligible reserved categories.

This article explains the SEBI Grade A eligibility criteria in detail, including the age limit, age relaxations, educational qualifications, minimum marks, number of attempts, and other requirements.

SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria 2026

Understanding the eligibility is just one step; dive deeper by exploring the SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern to know what lies ahead.

SEBI Grade A eligibility criteria include:

1. Age Limit
2. Educational Qualification
3. Nationality

Below, we’ll explain these SEBI Grade A officer eligibility criteria in detail. But before we explain it further, here is a quick way to check your eligibility for the SEBI Grade A exam. 

Let’s walk through the SEBI Grade A eligibility requirements step by step. This will ensure you’re completely clear and confident about your application.

SEBI Grade A Eligibility 2026: Age Limit & Relaxation

Age for the SEBI Grade A 2026 exam is to be calculated as of the 1st of the month in which the SEBI Grade A notification is released.

• There is no minimum age limit for any category.
• 30 years is the maximum age limit for the unreserved or general category.

If you’re from a reserved category, SEBI offers age relaxations in the upper age limit.

Take a look at the SEBI Grade A age relaxation table below to see the specific age relaxations offered for different categories.

Important Note: No cumulative age relaxation will be available to any applicant, as provided above.

Do You Need Certification to Avail the SEBI Grade A Age Relaxation?

Yes, to avail SEBI Grade A age relaxation under any category, you must possess the required certificate in the prescribed format.

Where Can You Find the Correct Format?

The format for each category certificate is provided at the end of the official notification issued by SEBI.

When Do You Need to Submit the Category Certificate?

You need to submit your category certificate during the interview stage at the time of document verification.

Let’s discuss the category-wise conditions you must meet to avail the age relaxation. 

What Are the Conditions to Avail OBC Age Relaxation in SEBI Grade A?

To avail of OBC age relaxation in SEBI Grade A, you must belong to the OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) and provide a valid OBC NCL certificate. The certificate must: 

• Be based on your family income for the previous 3 financial years (FYs).
• Be issued on or after 1 April of the notification year and before the application closing date.

Important Note: If you belong to the OBC Creamy Layer, you are not eligible for OBC reservation or age relaxation.

How Do You Know if You Belong to the Creamy or Non-Creamy Layer of OBC?

Your OBC status is determined mainly by family income and your parents’ occupation. 

• If your family’s annual income is more than ₹8 lakh, you generally fall under the Creamy Layer and cannot claim OBC reservation benefits.
• If your family’s annual income is ₹8 lakh or less, you may qualify as OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) and claim reservation benefits, subject to the applicable criteria.
• However, income alone does not determine OBC creamy-layer status. If your parents hold certain high-ranking government positions, such as Group A/Class I posts, you may fall under the Creamy Layer regardless of family income.

For more details, refer to the official Report on Income Criteria for Creamy Layer.

What Is the Validity of an OBC Certificate?

An OBC certificate generally does not have an expiry date. 

However, to claim OBC reservation and age relaxation, you must submit a recent OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate that meets the requirements specified in the SEBI Grade A notification.

Which Authority Issues the OBC Certificate?

An OBC certificate is issued by authorized government authorities, such as the DM, ADM, DC, or SDM, generally at a rank not below that of a Tehsildar.

What Are the Conditions to Avail SC/ST Age Relaxation in SEBI Grade A?

To claim SC/ST age relaxation in SEBI Grade A, you must provide a valid SC/ST caste certificate issued by a competent government authority, such as:

• District Magistrate (DM)
• Additional District Magistrate (ADM)
• Collector / Deputy Commissioner
• Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
• Executive Magistrate
• Taluka Magistrate

What Is the Validity of an SC/ST Certificate?

An SC/ST caste certificate does not expire once it has been issued by the competent authority. 

Unlike an OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate, an SC/ST certificate does not generally need to be recently issued for each application. The same certificate can be used for future applications, provided it meets the requirements specified in the respective recruitment notification. 

What Are the Conditions to Avail PwBD Age Relaxation in SEBI Grade A?

To claim PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) age relaxation in SEBI Grade A, you must provide a valid disability certificate or Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) confirming a benchmark disability of 40% or more.

The certificate must be issued by a competent medical authority, such as:

• A Medical Board at a District Hospital, Government Medical College, or an institution such as AIIMS
• A Civil Surgeon, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), or Medical Superintendent of a government hospital

Important: Candidates with less than 40% disability are not eligible for PwBD age relaxation.

What Are the Categories of PwBD?

The PwBD categories mentioned in the SEBI Grade A notification include: 

1. Blindness and low vision
2. Deaf and hard of hearing
3. Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy-cured persons, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy
4. Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness
5. Multiple disabilities

For complete details, please refer to the latest SEBI Grade A notification.

What is a Scribe?

A scribe is a person who writes or types the exam answers on behalf of a candidate who is unable to write due to a disability that affects their ability to write or respond during the exam.

What Are the Conditions to Avail a Scribe?

To avail the scribe facility, a candidate must have a 40% or more disability in any one of the following categories: 

• Blindness
• Locomotor disability (both arms affected)
• Cerebral palsy

Other Key Points

• Eligible candidates receive 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour of the examination, whether they use a scribe or not.
• You must arrange your own scribe at your own cost.
• The scribe’s qualification must be at least 2 academic years below and not more than 3 academic years below the minimum qualification required for the exam.
• The scribe must produce valid proof of educational qualification at the exam centre.

What Are the Conditions to Avail Ex-Servicemen Age Relaxation in SEBI Grade A? 

To avail Ex-Servicemen age relaxation in the SEBI Grade A exam, you must meet the following conditions:

• You must be a Commissioned Officer, Emergency Commissioned Officer (ECO), or Short Service Commissioned Officer (SSCO).
• You must have completed at least 5 years of military service as of the 1st day of the month in which the SEBI Grade A notification is released.
• You must have been released from service under any of the following conditions:
  • Completion of the assignment, including cases where the assignment is scheduled to be completed within one year from the 1st day of the notification month, and the release is not due to misconduct or inefficiency.
  • Physical disability attributable to military service.
  • Invalidment from service.

What Are the Conditions to Avail Current Servicemen Age Relaxation in SEBI Grade A?

Current Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) may be eligible for age relaxation if they meet the following conditions:

1. They have completed at least 5 years of military service as of the 1st day of the notification month.
2. Their service has been extended beyond the initial 5-year assignment.
3. They must submit a certificate from the Ministry of Defence confirming that:
   • They are permitted to apply for civilian employment.
   • If selected, they will be released from service within 3 months.

Important Note: Any other ex- or current servicemen are not eligible for the SEBI Grade A age relaxation. 

What Are the Conditions to Avail EWS Age Relaxation in SEBI Grade A?

To avail EWS (Economically Weaker Section) benefits in SEBI Grade A, you must provide a valid Income and Asset Certificate. The certificate must:

• Be issued by a competent revenue authority, generally not below the rank of Tehsildar.
• Be issued for the financial year immediately preceding the year of the SEBI Grade A notification.
• Be valid for the year of the SEBI Grade A notification.
• Be issued before the last date for submitting the application form.

What Is the Validity of an EWS Certificate?

An EWS Income and Asset Certificate is valid for one financial year.

You must provide a valid certificate for the relevant year each time you apply for the SEBI Grade A exam.

Now that you know the age limit, let’s explore the educational qualifications required to apply for the SEBI Grade A 2026 exam.

SEBI Grade A Educational Qualification 2026

Please note that one must have the required educational qualification as of the notification date of the SEBI Grade A Assistant Manager recruitment.

Below are the educational qualifications for general and specialized disciplines.

Minimum Educational Qualification for SEBI Grade A

Important Notes: 

• You can apply for a maximum of 2 streams, provided you meet the educational qualifications for each.
• You need to submit a separate online application for each stream with the corresponding fee.

Can Law and Engineering Graduates be Eligible for SEBI Grade A Exam?

Yes. Earlier, Law and Engineering graduates could apply without a minimum marks requirement. Now, they must have at least 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates), like other graduates.

Is There Any Desirable Qualification for SEBI Grade A?

For the SEBI Grade A General Stream, there is no desirable qualification or experience. You only need to meet the prescribed educational qualification.

However, Legal and Engineering streams have certain desirable experience/skills:

1. Legal: Two years of post-qualification experience as an Advocate, including experience as an associate in an Advocate’s/Solicitor’s office or law firm.
2. Engineering (Electrical): Experience or working knowledge in areas such as electronic security systems, lifts, pumps, air-conditioning plants, and construction project administration, including PERT/CPM techniques.
3. Engineering (Civil): Experience in maintenance of office/residential properties, construction and project management, structural rehabilitation, and knowledge of PERT/CPM, CAM/CAD, MS Project, or Primavera.

What Is the Minimum Marks Criteria for the SEBI Grade A Exam?

There is no minimum percentage or marks requirement in the qualifying degree for SEBI Grade A. Candidates who have passed the required educational qualification are eligible to apply, subject to meeting the other eligibility criteria.

Therefore, no CGPA-to-percentage conversion is required for meeting a minimum marks criterion.

Is a Distance Education Degree Holder Eligible for SEBI Grade A?

Yes, distance education degree holders can apply for SEBI Grade A, provided their degree is from a recognized university or institution, and they meet all other eligibility requirements specified by SEBI.

What Are the Universities Recognised by SEBI?

SEBI recognizes qualifications approved by the relevant statutory and regulatory bodies. You can check the approved universities, institutions, and colleges through the official portals of: 

• AICTE 
• UGC 
• NCTE 
• BCI 
• PCI 
• CoA 

You should also verify that your institution is not listed among the fake universities identified by the UGC. You can check the List of Fake Universities.

Let’s now explore the nationality-related eligibility criteria for the SEBI Grade A 2026 exam. 

SEBI Grade A Eligibility: Nationality

To apply for the SEBI Grade A 2026 exam, you must be an Indian citizen.

Unlike some other government and regulatory body exams, SEBI Grade A eligibility does not provide nationality-based eligibility for citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or other countries.

Maximum Attempts for SEBI Grade A

There is no limit on the number of attempts for the SEBI Grade A exam.

You can appear for the exam multiple times, provided you continue to meet the prescribed age limit, educational qualification, and other eligibility criteria in the respective recruitment notification.

After making sure you meet the SEBI Grade A eligibility criteria. Take the next step by reviewing the detailed SEBI Grade A Syllabus.

Can SEBI Eligibility Criteria Change for the Grade A Exam?

Yes, SEBI can change the eligibility criteria for the Grade A exam.

On 8 October 2026, it updated the educational qualification criteria. Earlier, Law and Engineering graduates could apply without a minimum marks requirement. Now, graduates from any discipline can apply with at least 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).

Medical Criteria for SEBI Grade A Officer

After clearing the interview, selected candidates may have to undergo a medical examination before joining.

SEBI does not publicly disclose detailed medical standards for Grade A officers. The following information is based on experiences shared by previous candidates and is intended to give you an idea of what to expect.

Medical Examination Process for SEBI Grade A

The medical examination is generally conducted at a designated medical centre based on your location.

The examination may include:

1. Physical Examination
2. Blood Tests
   • Complete Blood Count (CBC) with ESR
   • Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)
   • SGPT (liver function test)
3. Urine Test
   • Pregnancy test (R/UPT) for married female candidates, as applicable
4. Chest X-ray (PA View)
5. ECG
6. Eye Test

If the medical officer or consultant identifies any abnormality during the initial examination, they may recommend further tests or investigations.

Medical Standard Categories for SEBI Officer

After the medical examination, you may be placed in one of the following categories based on your medical results:

1. Category A (Medically Fit): You meet all the required medical standards and can join as a SEBI Grade A Officer.
2. Category B (Medical Probation): You can perform your duties, but your health may be monitored through periodic medical checkups.
3. Category C (Unfit): You do not meet the required medical standards. The final decision in such cases rests with SEBI.

Important Note: Most candidates fall under Category A (Medically Fit). Category B is seen only in rare cases, while Category C (Unfit) is extremely rare.

SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Other Streams

The educational qualification for SEBI Grade A varies depending on the stream you are applying for. The stream-wise educational qualifications are given above.

However, the age limit and age relaxations remain the same as those applicable to the General Stream, subject to the conditions specified in the official notification.

So, if you are applying for Legal, IT, Research, Official Language, Engineering, or another SEBI Grade A stream, make sure you meet:

• The educational qualification required for your chosen stream.
• The maximum age limit prescribed by SEBI.
• The applicable age relaxation for your category, if any.

Now that we have covered the SEBI Grade A eligibility criteria, let’s compare them with other similar regulatory exams.  

SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria Vs NABARD Grade A

SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria Vs RBI Grade B

SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria Vs IRDAI Grade A

Conclusion

This page covers everything you need to know about the SEBI Grade A 2026 eligibility criteria: age limit and relaxation, educational qualification, and number of attempts.

We hope that with the information provided, you clearly understand who can apply for the SEBI Grade A 2026 officer exam. If you still have some doubts, check out our FAQ section.