Key Takeaways
- The IFSCA Grade A Selection Process includes three phases: screening exam, main exam, and interview.
- Phase 1 consists of two online papers focusing on general and stream-specific knowledge, while Phase 2 involves descriptive and specialized assessments.
- Candidates in the IT stream must pass a coding test to qualify for the interview stage.
- The overall weightage for the final selection is 85% from Phase 2 and 15% from the interview.
- Negative marking applies in both exam phases, affecting candidates’ scores.
The IFSCA Grade A recruitment is one of the most coveted opportunities for professionals aspiring to work in India’s premier financial regulatory body. The selection process is designed to evaluate candidates on multiple dimensions general aptitude, domain knowledge, and professional skills.
The process mainly comprises three phases Phase I (screening exam), Phase II (main exam), and Phase III (interview). For candidates applying under the Information Technology (IT) stream, a qualifying coding test is also conducted post-Phase II before the interview.Know the detailed IFSCA Grade A Selection Process in the subsections below.
What is the selection process of an IFSCA Grade A officer?
The selection process for IFSCA Grade A is structured to assess both general aptitude and specialized knowledge. It involves three stages:
- Phase I – an online screening examination for shortlisting candidates.
- Phase II – a more detailed online examination, with a weightage on descriptive and specialized papers.
- Phase III – a personal interview for final assessment.
For IT stream candidates, the selection is slightly different: qualifying the coding test post-Phase II is mandatory to appear for the interview. Failing the coding test excludes the candidate from further consideration, regardless of performance in other stages. Candidates who have completed their final exams but are awaiting results can appear for all phases, but joining will be contingent on producing the required documents within the stipulated time.
| Phase | Key Details | Cut-off & Negative Marking |
| Phase 1 (Prelims) | Online screening exam, 2 papers: Paper 1 – General MCQs (100), Paper 2 – Stream MCQs (100) | Paper 1: 30% (no sectional), Paper 2: 40%; Negative marking: 1/4th per wrong answer in both papers |
| Phase 2 (Mains) | Online exam, 2 papers: Paper 1 – English Descriptive (100), Paper 2 – Stream MCQs (100) | Paper 1: 30%, Paper 2: 40%; Negative marking: 1/4th per wrong answer in Paper 2 |
| Phase 3 (Interview) | Personal Interview; only candidates who clear Phase II | NA; Application fee not refunded for non-shortlisted candidates |
What is the IFSCA Grade A exam pattern ?
The IFSCA Grade A recruitment 2026 is conducted in three stages to select candidates for the post of Assistant Manager. The first two stages are online exams, designed to test both general aptitude and specialized knowledge in streams like General, Legal, and Information Technology (IT).
Phase I is a screening test to shortlist candidates for the main exam. Phase II is the mains exam, which assesses in-depth subject knowledge and English language skills. Candidates who clear Phase II are called for Phase III, the interview, which carries 15% weightage in the final selection. Marks from Phase II contribute 85% to the final score, while IT stream candidates must also clear a coding test before the interview.
| Phase / Topic | Details |
| Phase I (Preliminary / Screening) | – Two papers, 100 marks each, 60 minutes per paper. – Paper 1: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness. – Paper 2: Stream-specific topics (Financial Sector for General, Legal, or IT streams). – Marks are only for shortlisting; negative marking of 1/4th applies. |
| Phase II (Mains Exam) | – Two papers, 100 marks each, 60 minutes per paper. – Paper 1: Descriptive English – Essay, Precis, Comprehension. – Paper 2: Advanced stream-specific topics (Finance, Economy, IFSCA operations, etc.). – Aggregate cut-off: 40%; Paper 1 weightage – 1/3rd, Paper 2 – 2/3rd. – Negative marking applies for Paper 2; Paper 1 evaluated only if Paper 2 is cleared. |
| Phase III (Interview) | – Candidates who qualify Phase II are called for interview. – Marks carry 15% weightage in final selection; Phase II carries 85%. – IT stream candidates must clear a coding test before the interview. – Candidates can appear in Hindi or English. |
| Other Important Notes | – IFSCA may offer the post to the next candidate if a selected candidate does not join; no obligation to fill the post. – All papers except English are bilingual (Hindi & English). – Application fee is non-refundable for candidates not shortlisted. |
Check: IFSCA Grade A Syllabus
What is the selection criterion for the IFSCA Grade A phase 1 exam?
Phase I is an online screening examination with two papers of 100 marks each. Paper 1 tests general aptitude including Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, and General Awareness, while Paper 2 is stream-specific (Finance/Legal/IT).
Marks in this phase are only for shortlisting and do not count toward the final selection. Candidates must meet both individual paper cut-offs and aggregate cut-off to qualify for Phase II. There is negative marking of 1/4th for incorrect answers.
| Parameter | Details |
| Papers | Paper 1: General (Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness) Paper 2: Stream-specific topics (Finance, Legal, IT) |
| Marks | 100 each |
| Duration | 60 minutes per paper |
| Negative Marking | 1/4th of marks per wrong answer in both papers |
| Cut-off | Paper 1: 30% (no sectional cut-off) Paper 2: 40% Aggregate cut-off: 40% |
| Purpose | Shortlisting candidates for Phase II (Mains) |
| Evaluation | Only those meeting individual and aggregate cut-offs are shortlisted; Phase I marks are not counted for final selection |
What is the selection criterion for the IFSCA Grade A phase 2 exam?
The Phase 2 exam (Mains) of IFSCA Grade A is an online examination consisting of two papers of 100 marks each, designed to assess both English proficiency and stream-specific knowledge. Marks obtained in this phase carry weightage for the final selection, unlike Phase 1.
Candidates must secure minimum cut-offs in both papers as well as the aggregate to qualify for Phase 3 (Interview). For the IT stream, candidates must also qualify a coding test before being eligible for the interview. Negative marking of 1/4th of the marks applies for Paper 2, while Paper 1 (English Descriptive) is evaluated only if Paper 2 is cleared.
| Parameter | Details |
| Papers | Paper 1: English Descriptive (Essay, Precis, Comprehension) Paper 2: Stream-specific MCQs (Finance, Economy, IFSCA operations, Legal, or IT topics) |
| Marks | 100 each |
| Duration | 60 minutes per paper |
| Negative Marking | 1/4th per wrong answer in Paper 2 |
| Cut-off | Paper 1: 30% Paper 2: 40% Aggregate: 40% |
| Weightage for final selection | Paper 1: 1/3 Paper 2: 2/3 |
| Purpose | Shortlisting candidates for Phase 3 (Interview) |
| IT Stream Specific | Qualifying coding test required before interview |
Note:
- Aggregate and individual paper cut-offs must be met.
- Only candidates clearing these criteria are eligible for Phase 3.
- IT stream candidates must clear the coding test post-Phase 2.
- Marks from Phase 2 contribute 85% to the final selection, while Phase 3 (Interview) contributes 15%.
What is the selection criterion for phase 3 (Interview) of the IFSCA Grade A exam?
The Phase 3 interview is the final stage of the IFSCA Grade A selection process, conducted for candidates who have cleared Phase 2 (Mains). For candidates applying under the IT stream, qualifying the coding test is mandatory before they are eligible for the interview.
The interview evaluates the candidate’s personality, communication skills, clarity of thought, and overall suitability for the role. Marks obtained in the interview contribute 15% of the final selection, while Phase 2 carries 85% weightage.
Candidates can appear in Hindi or English. The selection is provisional and subject to verification of documents and personal information.
| Parameter | Details |
| Mode | Personal Interview |
| Eligibility | Candidates who cleared Phase 2; IT stream candidates must also clear coding test |
| Weightage | 15% of total marks; Phase 2 contributes 85% |
| Language | Hindi / English |
| Purpose | Assess overall suitability, communication, and personality |
| Other Notes | Selection is provisional, subject to document verification; offer may be withdrawn if candidate fails to join |
FAQs
There are 3 stages namely Phase 1, Phase 2 & Interview.
Yes, there will be negative marking in both the papers of Phase 1 & paper 2 of Phase 2.
In the final selection, 85% weightage will be given to Phase 2.
In the final process, the 15% weightage will be given to the Interview.
Yes, both phases will have online written exams.
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