SEBI Grade A Eligibility Changes 2026
Comprehensive breakdown of the official Second Amendment Regulations (Notification F. No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2026/320). Review revised 3-route General Stream rules, 60% minimum graduation marks, CGPA 6.75 benchmark formulas, Legal stream advocate experience removal, and official Gazette PDF download.
Notification ID
F. No. GN/2026/320
Gazette Notification Overview
The Securities and Exchange Board of India notified the Second Amendment Regulations, 2026, fundamentally updating employee recruitment guidelines and educational qualifications for Grade A (Assistant Manager) appointments.
Regulatory Authority
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Statutory Amendment
SEBI (Employees' Service) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026
Notification Number
F. No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2026/320
Notification Date
8th October 2026
Gazette Publication Date
9th October 2026
Effective Date
Immediate (From Date of Publication in The Gazette of India)
Applicability
SEBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) Recruitment 2026 & Future Cycles
Official Portal
sebi.gov.in
6 Major Eligibility Changes at a Glance
Key statutory modifications enacted by SEBI that directly impact eligibility, percentage thresholds, and candidate application scrutiny.
General Stream: 3 Clear Qualification Routes
Aspirants can now qualify via (1) Any Bachelor's degree (min. 3 years, covering both 3-year and 4-year programs like B.Tech) with 60% marks, (2) Any 2-year Master's degree / PG Diploma, or (3) Recognized CA, CFA, CS, or Cost Accountant (CMA) certifications.
Mandatory Minimum Graduation Marks
Unreserved (General / OBC / EWS) candidates must secure at least 60% aggregate marks across all years/semesters. Reserved categories (SC / ST / PwBD) require 50% aggregate marks.
Standardized CGPA-to-Percentage Benchmarks
Where universities lack an official formula, 6.75 CGPA on a 10-point scale equals 60% (General cutoff), and 5.75 CGPA equals 50% (Reserved cutoff). Other scales are normalized.
Legal Stream: 2-Year Advocacy Experience Scrapped
The desirable qualification of 2 years post-qualification advocacy experience has been omitted entirely. Fresh law graduates (LL.B.) can now apply on equal footing.
Specialized Streams: AI, ML & Data Science Recognized
Information Technology and research streams officially codify emerging disciplines: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Big Data Analytics.
Foreign Degree Equivalence Streamlined
Postgraduate degrees from foreign universities require an equivalence certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or UGC under the 2025 regulations.
General Stream: 3 Authorized Qualification Routes
Aspirants applying for the SEBI Grade A General Stream can satisfy any ONE of the following 3 authorized academic qualification tracks:
Bachelor's Degree in Any Discipline (Min. 3 Years)
Full-time Regular Bachelor's degree (3-year or 4-year programs like B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., B.E., B.Tech, etc.) in any field/discipline from a recognized University or Institute completed after Class XII.
Minimum Marks Requirement
60% aggregate for UR/OBC/EWS | 50% aggregate for SC/ST/PwBD
Aggregate marks are calculated taking into account all semesters/years of the entire graduation program.
Master's Degree or Postgraduate Diploma
Master's degree or Postgraduate Diploma in any discipline obtained after completion of graduation from a recognized institution.
Minimum Marks Requirement
Recognized Passing Grade / Degree Completion (60% graduation benchmark applies only to bachelor's degree under Route 01)
Must be a 2-year Master's degree or PG diploma obtained after graduation from a UGC / AICTE recognized university.
Professional Certifications (CA / CFA / CS / CMA)
Candidates possessing professional certification credentials from recognized statutory accounting and governance institutes.
Minimum Marks Requirement
Recognized passing certificate from the respective statutory body
Includes Chartered Accountant (ICAI), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA Institute), Company Secretary (ICSI), and Cost Accountant (ICMAI).
Crucial Mandate: Full Degree Aggregate Marks
The minimum percentage (60% for General / 50% for SC/ST/PwBD) must be calculated on the aggregate marks obtained across all semesters and academic years of the bachelor's degree.
CGPA to Percentage Conversion & Eligibility Calculator
Test your graduation CGPA / GPA against the standardized benchmarks prescribed in the official SEBI Gazette notification.
Official SEBI CGPA to Percentage Calculator
Built strictly on Gazette Notification F. No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2026/320 benchmarks
Fully Eligible for General (Unreserved) & Reserved Posts
Congratulations! Your academic score satisfies the official Gazette threshold for SEBI Grade A Recruitment 2026.
10-Pt Scale
6.75
Equiv. %
60%
Official Rule Mandate: If your university or institute provides its own conversion formula on the official marksheet/degree certificate, that institutional formula supersedes this calculation. The benchmarks (6.75 = 60%, 5.75 = 50%) apply strictly when no official conversion criteria are provided.
Gazette Conversion Benchmark Matrix
Applicable when university formula is absent10-Point CGPA / CPI
6.75 & Above
Equivalent %
60.00%
Applicable Categories
UR / EWS / OBC / SC / ST / PwBD
10-Point CGPA / CPI
5.75 to 6.74
Equivalent %
50.00% – 59.99%
Applicable Categories
SC / ST / PwBD (where reserved)
10-Point CGPA / CPI
Below 5.75
Equivalent %
Below 50.00%
Applicable Categories
Ineligible across all categories
| CGPA / CPI (10-Pt Scale) | Prescribed Equivalent % | Candidate Category | Regulatory Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.75 & Above | 60.00% | UR / EWS / OBC / SC / ST / PwBD | Eligible for Unreserved (General) & Reserved |
| 5.75 to 6.74 | 50.00% – 59.99% | SC / ST / PwBD (where reserved) | Eligible for Reserved Posts Only (SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Below 5.75 | Below 50.00% | Ineligible across all categories | Not Eligible under Minimum Academic Benchmarks |
Legal Stream: 2-Year Advocacy Clause Scrapped
The amendment permanently eliminates the desirable requirement of 2 years' post-qualification experience as an Advocate, opening the doors for fresh LL.B. graduates.
Degree in Law + Desirable Advocacy Experience
Degree in Law from a recognized University / Institute. Desirable: 2 years post-qualification experience as an Advocate (or associate in an Advocate's or Solicitor's Office / Law Firm after Bar Council enrollment).
Pure Merit on Law Degree (Zero Experience Mandate)
Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B. - 3 Years or 5 Years Integrated) from a recognized University / Institute. The 2-year desirable advocate experience clause has been COMPLETELY REMOVED from the regulations.
IT, Economics, Finance & Statistics Streams
The Second Amendment officially codifies emerging technological and quantitative fields, explicitly accommodating AI, ML, Data Science, and Public Policy specializations.
Economics and Management Stream
- Economics
- Commerce
- Business Administration (MBA)
- Econometrics
- Quantitative Economics
- Financial Economics
- Business Economics
- Mathematical Economics
- Agricultural Economics
- Industrial Economics
- Public Policy
- Business Analytics
- Securities Market
- Capital Markets
Finance Stream
- Finance (including recognized CA, CFA, CS, or Cost Accountant qualifications)
- Quantitative Finance
- Mathematical Finance
- Quantitative Techniques
- International Finance
- Business Finance
- International and Trade Finance
- Project and Infrastructure Finance
- Agricultural Business Finance
Statistics, Data Science and Computing
- Statistics
- Mathematical Statistics
- Applied Statistics
- Data Science
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning (ML)
- Big Data Analytics
Mathematics and Statistics Track
- Master's Degree in Mathematics (Minimum 2 Years Duration)
- Combined with Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics (Minimum 1 Year Duration)
Information Technology (IT) Stream
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Computer Science / IT / ECE / Electrical)
- Master of Computer Applications (MCA)
- M.Sc. / M.Tech in Computer Science / Information Technology
- Recognized Specializations in AI, Machine Learning & Data Analytics
Foreign Degree Equivalence Guidelines
Candidates possessing postgraduate qualifications from foreign universities must secure official equivalence certification under the revised regulatory framework.
Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
Equivalence certificates issued by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) prior to the commencement of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equivalence Regulations, 2025 remain valid and accepted.
University Grants Commission (UGC) 2025
Post-2025 certifications must be issued under the UGC Equivalence Regulations certifying that the foreign qualification is strictly equivalent to a Master's Degree of a recognized Indian University.
How the Eligibility Changes Impact You
Analysis of which candidate cohorts benefit immediately and where strategic academic planning is required.
Fresh Graduates (3-Year & 4-Year Degrees)
Earlier ambiguity around 3-year degrees (B.A./B.Sc./B.Com.) vs 4-year technical degrees (B.E./B.Tech) is permanently cleared. Any recognized Bachelor's degree of at least 3 years' duration with 60%+ aggregate qualifies for the General stream.
Fresh Law Graduates (LL.B.)
Removal of the 2-year advocacy clause allows fresh law graduates to take the Grade A Legal Officer examination immediately after completing their degree.
B.Tech & MCA IT Graduates
Engineering, MCA, and modern AI/Data Science graduates remain eligible for both the General Stream and the Specialized Information Technology (IT) Stream.
Candidates with Below 60% in Graduation
Unreserved graduates below 60% cannot apply using only their bachelor's degree under Route 01. However, obtaining a recognized 2-year Master's degree or PG Diploma in any discipline unlocks eligibility under Route 02 without the bachelor's 60% barrier.
Professional Certificate Holders
CA, CFA, CS, and Cost Accountants are officially codified as eligible alternatives, removing any subjective interpretation by recruitment scrutiny desks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Authoritative clarifications on the revised SEBI Grade A eligibility criteria, CGPA benchmarks, and stream qualifications.
What is the official notification number of the SEBI Grade A eligibility amendment?
The official Gazette notification is F. No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2026/320, titled 'Securities and Exchange Board of India (Employees' Service) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026', published in The Gazette of India on 9th October 2026.
What is the minimum percentage required in graduation for SEBI Grade A 2026?
Under Route 01 of the General Stream, Unreserved (General), OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates must have at least 60% aggregate marks across all years/semesters. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates require at least 50% aggregate marks where vacancies are reserved for them.
Can a candidate with below 60% in graduation apply through Route 02 (Master's Degree)?
Yes. The 60% minimum aggregate marks benchmark applies specifically to bachelor's degree holders under Route 01. If an unreserved candidate has below 60% in graduation, completing a recognized 2-year Master's degree or PG Diploma in any discipline qualifies them for the General Stream under Route 02.
How is CGPA converted to percentage under the new SEBI regulations?
If your university or institute specifies an official conversion formula on the marksheet or degree, that formula will be accepted. In the absence of an official formula, SEBI benchmarks apply: a CGPA of 6.75 on a 10-point scale equals 60%, and 5.75 equals 50%. Grading scales other than 10 points are normalized to a 10-point scale first.
Is the 2-year advocate experience still needed for the SEBI Legal Stream?
No. The 2026 amendment has officially omitted the clause providing for 2 years' post-qualification experience as an Advocate. Fresh law graduates (LL.B. 3-year or 5-year integrated) can now apply without any prior courtroom or law firm experience.
Can an engineer (B.E. / B.Tech) apply for both General and IT streams?
Yes. Candidates holding a recognized B.E. / B.Tech in Computer Science, IT, Electronics, or Electrical can apply for the IT Stream. They are also fully eligible for the General Stream under Route 01, provided they meet the 60% aggregate marks requirement.
Are final year students eligible to apply under the new eligibility rules?
As per standard SEBI recruitment notification norms, appearing candidates must acquire the passing certificate/provisional degree on or before the crucial cutoff date specified in the active recruitment advertisement.
Are foreign master's degrees eligible under the revised SEBI regulations?
Yes, provided the candidate submits an Equivalence Certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or the University Grants Commission (UGC) certifying that the foreign qualification is equivalent to a Master's degree of an Indian university.
How can I prepare for the revised SEBI Grade A IT & General exam on TVK?
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Official Regulatory Sources & Verification Documents:
Curated by: The Victory Key Regulatory Affairs & Legal Examination Desk
Verified against: The Gazette of India Notification F. No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2026/320
Last verified date: 2026-10-15
The Victory Key (TVK) is an independent regulatory examination prep platform. All trademarks, logos, and emblems belong to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Government of India. This analysis is compiled from verified Gazette of India statutory releases for applicant guidance.