The IRDAI Grade A exam is conducted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for the recruitment of Assistant Manager posts across various streams. The selection process consists of three stages: Phase 1 (Preliminary Examination), Phase 2 (Descriptive Examination), and Interview. Phase 1 is an objective test covering Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General Awareness. Phase 2 consists of three descriptive papers on English, Economic and Social Issues Impacting Insurance, and Insurance and Management. Candidates who qualify in Phase 2 are shortlisted for the Interview round. In this blog, we have provided the detailed IRDAI Grade A exam pattern for Phase 1 and Phase 2, along with information on the exam dates, selection process, and other important details.
What is the IRDAI Grade A Assistant Manager exam pattern?
The IRDAI Assistant Manager (Grade A) exam is conducted in two phases. Phase 1 is an online objective test of 90 minutes with a total of 160 marks. It includes four sections English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness with 40 questions each. There is negative marking, where 1/4 mark is deducted for every wrong answer, and candidates must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs to qualify for Phase 2.
Phase 2 is a descriptive exam with three papers: English (Descriptive), Economic & Social Issues in Insurance, and Insurance & Management. Each paper carries 100 marks and is of 60 minutes duration. Answers must be written in descriptive form, and papers are available in English and Hindi, except the English Descriptive paper, which is conducted only in English.
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What is the IRDAI Grade A selection process?
As per the last released IRDAI Grade A notification, the selection process consists of three stages: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Interview. Phase 1 is an online objective examination that serves as a qualifying stage for Phase 2. Candidates who qualify in Phase 2 are shortlisted for the Interview round. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined marks obtained in Phase 2 and the Interview, while the marks secured in Phase 1 are not considered for final selection.
| Stage | Details |
|---|
| Phase 1 | Online Preliminary Examination (Objective Type). This stage is qualifying in nature and is used to shortlist candidates for Phase 2. |
| Phase 2 | Descriptive Examination consisting of three papers: English, Economic and Social Issues Impacting Insurance, and Insurance and Management. |
| Interview | Candidates shortlisted based on their Phase 2 performance are called for the Interview round. |
| Phase 1 Marks in Final Merit | Marks obtained in Phase 1 are not considered for the final merit list. |
| Final Selection | Based on the combined performance of candidates in Phase 2 and the Interview. |
What is the IRDAI Grade A phase 1 exam pattern?
The IRDAI Grade A Phase 1 exam is an online objective test conducted to shortlist candidates for the Phase 2 examination. The exam consists of four sections with a total of 160 questions carrying 160 marks. Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks in each section as well as the overall cut-off prescribed by IRDAI. There is a negative marking of one-fourth (0.25) mark for every incorrect answer.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| English Language | 40 | 40 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 160 | 160 |
Also, check the latest IRDAI Assistant Manager Preparation Strategy 2026 along with the toppers' study plan.
What is the IRDAI Grade A phase 2 exam pattern?
Candidates who qualify in Phase 1 are eligible to appear for the IRDAI Grade A Phase 2 Descriptive Examination. The exam consists of three papers, each carrying 100 marks and a duration of 60 minutes. Candidates must appear in all three papers. The marks obtained in Phase 2 are considered for shortlisting candidates for the interview and final selection.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|
| Paper 1 | English | 100 | 60 Minutes |
| Paper 2 | Economic and Social Issues Impacting Insurance | 100 | 60 Minutes |
| Paper 3 | Insurance and Management | 100 | 60 Minutes |
| Total | 3 Papers | 300 Marks | 180 Minutes |
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When will the IRDAI Grade A 2026 exam date be announced?
Based on the previous recruitment cycle, IRDAI Grade A 2026 Notification PDF is expected to be released by August 2026, along with the Phase 1 and Phase 2 exam dates. Candidates who successfully complete the application process will first appear for the Phase 1 examination, and those who qualify will proceed to Phase 2. Candidates shortlisted in Phase 2 will then be called for the interview round.
| Important Events | Important Dates (2026) | Last Cycle Dates |
|---|
| IRDAI Grade A Notification Release Date | To be Updated | 21st August |
| IRDAI Assistant Manager Apply Online Start Date | To be Updated | 21st August |
| IRDAI Assistant Manager Apply Online End Date | To be Updated | 20th September |
| IRDAI Assistant Manager Application Fee Payment | To be Updated | 20th September |
| Phase 1 Exam Date | To be Updated | 6th November |
| Phase 2 Exam Date | To be Updated | 21st December |
Is the IRDAI Assistant Manager exam conducted in multiple phases?
Yes, the exam is conducted in three phases: Phase 1 (Prelims), Phase 2 (Mains), and the Interview round. The final selection will be based on the combined score of the Phase 2 Descriptive Exam and the Interview, in order of merit.
Important Points to Remember:
- The weightage of Phase 2 Descriptive Examination and Interview will be 85:15.
- The final merit list will be prepared based on the candidate's performance in Phase 2 and the interview.
IRDAI Grade A 2026 Syllabus Overview
The IRDAI Grade A Assistant Manager exam syllabus is designed to assess both objective knowledge and descriptive skills across multiple areas. The exam is conducted in two phases: Phase I is an online objective test covering reasoning, English, quantitative aptitude, and general awareness, while Phase II is a descriptive test with papers on English, Economic & Social Issues impacting Insurance, and Insurance & Management. The details of the IRDAI Grade A syllabus are as follows:
| Phase | Paper/Section | Key Topics |
|---|
| Phase 1 Objective | Reasoning | Puzzles, Coding-Decoding, Series, Analogy, Classification, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Ranking, Analytical Reasoning |
| English Language | Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Synonyms/Antonyms, Idioms, Sentence Correction, Spotting Errors |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number Systems, Simplification, Ratio & Proportion, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Interest, Data Interpretation, Probability, Mensuration |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs, History, Polity, Economy, Geography, Science & Technology, Sports, Awards |
| Phase 2 Descriptive | English Language | Essay, Precis Writing, Comprehension, Business/Office Correspondence |
| Economic & Social Issues Impacting Insurance | Economic growth, Insurance penetration, Financial markets, Regulations, Reforms, Micro-insurance, Social Security, Rural Insurance |
| Insurance & Management | Principles of Insurance, Risk & Reinsurance, Insurance Products, Legal Foundations, Management Processes, Leadership, HRD, Performance Appraisal, Motivation, Communication, Corporate Governance |
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Key Takeaways
Here is a well-structured table summarizing the IRDAI Grade A Exam Pattern:
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Exam Stages | 3 - Phase 1 (Prelims), Phase 2 (Mains), Interview |
| Phase 1 Pattern | Objective type – 4 sections (English, Reasoning, Quant, GA), 160 marks, 90 mins |
| Negative Marking (Phase 1) | 0.25 marks for each wrong answer |
| Phase 2 Pattern | Descriptive type – 3 papers (English, ESI + Insurance, Specialization), 100 marks each |
| Phase 2 Duration per Paper | 60 minutes per paper |
| Final Selection Criteria | Based on Phase 2 (85%) + Interview (15%) scores |
| Exam Medium | Phase 1 – English & Hindi Phase 2 – English & Hindi (except English paper) |
| Cut-off Requirement | Sectional and overall cut-offs in both Phase 1 & 2 |
