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Short answer
IFSCA Grade A is the entry level Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) recruitment of the International Financial Services Centres Authority, the unified regulator for GIFT IFSC at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. Recruitment happens in three streams: General, Legal and Information Technology. Selection is a three stage process: Phase 1 online screening (two papers of 100 marks each), Phase 2 online examination (a descriptive English paper and a stream paper of 100 marks each) and Phase 3 interview, with 85 per cent weightage on Phase 2 and 15 per cent on the interview. IT Stream candidates must also clear a qualifying coding test before the interview. Approximate gross pay at the minimum of the scale is about Rs 1,80,000 per month.
The IFSCA IT Stream Paper 2 syllabus is functionally the same as the SEBI Grade A IT Officer syllabus, which means one focused preparation cycle covers both exams. The details are in the IFSCA versus SEBI IT comparison below.
Status of the 2026 cycle. As of 11 September 2026, IFSCA has not published the Officer Grade A 2026 advertisement. Everything on this page that is marked Expected is projected from the most recent official notification (Officer Grade A 2025, advertised on 11 September 2025). Everything marked Official is taken directly from that notification. Verify final dates and vacancies on ifsca.gov.in once the 2026 advertisement appears.
IFSCA Grade A 2026 at a glance
- Recruiting body
- IFSCAInternational Financial Services Centres Authority
- Post
- Officer Grade AAssistant Manager
- Streams
- General, Legal, IT
- Vacancies
- 20 2025General 12, Legal 4, IT 4
- Notification
- Sept 2026 Expected2025 window: 11 to 25 Sept
- Phase 1 exam
- Oct 2026 Expected2025: 11 October
- Phase 2 exam
- Nov 2026 Expected2025: 15 November
- Age limit
- 30 yearsAs on application closing date
- Minimum marks
- 60%In the qualifying degree, 55% for SC/ST
- Application fee
- Rs 1,000Rs 100 for SC/ST/PwBD
- Pay scale
- Rs 62,500 to 1,26,10017 year scale
- Approx gross
- Rs 1.80 lakhPer month at minimum of scale
- Probation
- 2 years
- Headquarters
- GIFT CityGandhinagar, Gujarat
- Official site
- ifsca.gov.in
- Selection
- 3 phasesPlus coding test for IT
What is IFSCA and why this exam matters
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) is a statutory regulatory body established by an Act of Parliament to develop and regulate the financial services market in International Financial Services Centres in India. Its headquarters is at GIFT IFSC, GIFT City, Gandhinagar, the first and so far the only IFSC in the country.
What makes IFSCA structurally unusual among Indian regulators is its mandate. Within the IFSC, IFSCA is empowered to exercise the powers of RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA in respect of financial products, financial services and financial institutions. An Officer Grade A at IFSCA therefore works across banking, capital markets, insurance, pension, bullion, fund management and fintech regulation inside one institution, rather than within the narrower remit of a single sectoral regulator.
Why aspirants target IFSCA Grade A
- Single unified regulator role: exposure to four regulatory domains, not one.
- Very high syllabus overlap with RBI Grade B, SEBI Grade A, NABARD Grade A and PFRDA Grade A, so the marginal preparation cost is low if you are already in the regulatory exam circuit.
- Compensation parity with other financial sector regulators: approximately Rs 1.8 lakh gross per month at the minimum of the scale.
- A genuine IT Stream with dedicated posts, which is rare. RegTech, SupTech and cyber supervision work at an IFSC is technically substantive.
- Small cohort: a 20 post recruitment means you join a compact, fast growing institution rather than a large bureaucracy.
IFSCA Grade A 2026 important dates
IFSCA does not follow a fixed annual calendar, so the dates below are anchored to the 2025 cycle. Treat the 2026 column as a planning guide, not a commitment.
| Activity | 2025 (Official) | 2026 (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Notification release | 11 September 2025 | September 2026 |
| Online application and fee payment | 11 September to 25 September 2025 | Approximately 2 weeks from release |
| Phase 1 call letter | Intimated by email and SMS | Same process |
| Phase 1 online examination | 11 October 2025 (Saturday) | October 2026 |
| Phase 2 online examination | 15 November 2025 (Saturday) | November 2026 |
| Coding test (IT Stream only) | Notified separately after Phase 2 | Notified separately |
| Phase 3 interview | Intimated to Phase 2 qualifiers | Intimated individually |
Planning point. In the 2025 cycle there were only about 16 days between the notification and the close of applications, and about five weeks between the notification and Phase 1. That is not enough time to build a syllabus from scratch. Candidates who clear IFSCA Grade A almost always start preparing before the notification drops, usually as part of a wider RBI, SEBI or NABARD preparation cycle.
Vacancies and stream split
The 2025 advertisement carried 20 posts across three streams. The table reproduces the official category wise break up.
| Stream | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR/GEN | Total | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 1 |
| Legal | 1 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | – |
| Information Technology | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | – |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 1 |
A few operational rules worth knowing before you apply:
- Candidates are selected stream wise, and separate cut off marks are prescribed for each stream from Phase 2 to the interview.
- You may apply for either Legal or IT and also for General, provided you satisfy the qualification for each. A separate online application and separate fee is needed for each stream.
- If you submit more than one application within a single stream, only the latest application is valid, and the fee for the rest is forfeited.
- Inter se seniority among selected candidates is decided on total marks in the common papers of Phase 1 and Phase 2, that is, the papers taken by candidates across all streams.
Eligibility: qualification, age and relaxations
Educational qualification by stream
| Stream | Qualification accepted |
|---|---|
| General | Master's Degree with specialisation in Statistics, Economics, Commerce, Business Administration (Finance) or equivalent, or Econometrics
Or Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology or Computer Science, or Master's in Computer Applications or Information Technology Or Bachelor's Degree in Commerce with CA, CFA, CS or ICWA Or Bachelor's Degree in Law |
| Legal | Bachelor's Degree in Law |
| Information Technology | Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology or Computer Science, or Master's in Computer Applications or Information Technology |
Minimum marks requirement
Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 60 per cent marks or equivalent grade in the respective qualifying examination, that is, the Master's or Bachelor's degree relied on. SC and ST candidates get a relaxation of 5 per cent, so the threshold becomes 55 per cent. On a 10 point scale, a CGPA of 6.75 is treated as 60 per cent, 6.25 as 55 per cent and 5.75 as 50 per cent where the university has not defined its own conversion.
Note two things that catch candidates out. First, for the General Stream qualification of MBA (Finance), equivalent qualifications are also admissible, but if the degree certificate does not explicitly name the specialisation, the burden is on the applicant to produce evidence from the institution that the course carried a Finance specialisation, and IFSCA's decision on equivalence is final. Second, candidates who have appeared for the final qualifying examination and are awaiting results are eligible to appear in all three phases, but the offer of appointment is conditional on producing the qualification documents within the stipulated time.
Age limit and relaxation
A candidate must not have exceeded 30 years of age as on the closing date of applications (25 September 2025 in the last cycle). Upper age relaxations are as follows.
| Category | Relaxation | Effective upper age |
|---|---|---|
| SC / ST (where posts are reserved) | 5 years | 35 |
| OBC non creamy layer (where posts are reserved) | 3 years | 33 |
| PwBD (unreserved) | 10 years | 40 |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years | 43 |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years | 45 |
| Ex servicemen | 5 years | 35 |
Cumulative relaxation is available where a candidate belongs to SC, ST or OBC and is also covered under PwBD or ex servicemen. Candidates from reserved categories for which no vacancy is notified may still apply, but they are not eligible for relaxations, although SC, ST and PwBD candidates remain exempt from the application fee and pay only intimation charges.
Application fee and how to apply
| Category | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved / General, EWS and OBC | Rs 1,000 as application fee cum intimation charges, plus applicable taxes |
| SC, ST and PwBD | Rs 100 as intimation charges, plus applicable taxes |
Applications are accepted online only, through the Careers section of www.ifsca.gov.in. Before you start, keep these ready as separate scanned files, because the application will not register without all four:
- Photograph and signature as per the prescribed specifications.
- Left thumb impression, clearly scanned and not smudged. Candidates without a left thumb may use the right thumb.
- Handwriting declaration, written by hand and in English only, reading: "I, ______ (Name of the candidate), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required." A declaration typed or written by anyone else invalidates the application.
- A valid personal email ID and mobile number that stays active until the process ends, since call letters and interview intimations are sent there. Never use someone else's email ID.
No corrections after submission. Once the application is finally submitted, requests for change or correction in any particular, including category, are not entertained under any circumstances. Use the "Save and Next" and "Preview" facility to verify every field before clicking "Complete Registration".
IFSCA Grade A selection process at a glance
Direct answer
IFSCA Grade A selection is a three stage process. Phase 1 is an online screening examination of two objective papers, 100 marks each, purely for shortlisting. Phase 2 is an online examination with a descriptive English paper and a stream specific objective paper, 100 marks each, and this is the stage that counts for merit. Phase 3 is the interview. Final marks are computed as 85 per cent from Phase 2 and 15 per cent from the interview. IT Stream candidates must additionally clear a qualifying coding test between Phase 2 and the interview.
| Stage | Nature | Papers | Counts towards final merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Online objective, screening only | Paper 1 (common) + Paper 2 (stream) | No. Used only to shortlist for Phase 2 |
| Phase 2 | Online, descriptive + objective | Paper 1 English (common) + Paper 2 (stream) | Yes, 85 per cent weightage |
| Coding test IT only | Skill test, qualifying in nature | Single coding test | No marks, but mandatory gate to the interview |
| Phase 3 | Interview, in Hindi or English | – | Yes, 15 per cent weightage |
IFSCA Grade A Phase 1 exam pattern
Phase 1 is an online screening examination consisting of two papers of 100 marks each. Both papers carry negative marking of one fourth of the marks assigned to the question.
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Cut off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 All streams |
General awareness (financial sector): 25 questions English language: 25 questions Quantitative aptitude: 25 questions Test of reasoning: 25 questions 1 mark each |
100 | 100 | 60 min | 30% |
| Paper 2 General |
Multiple choice questions on general knowledge, current events of national and international importance, economic and social development, commerce, accountancy, management, finance and costing, Indian economy, global economy, five year plans, and central government initiatives and schemes in the financial sector 2 marks each |
50 | 100 | 60 min | 40% |
| Paper 2 IT / Legal |
Multiple choice questions on the specialised subject related to the stream 2 marks each |
50 | 100 | 60 min | 40% |
| Aggregate cut off for Phase 1 | 40% | ||||
- Candidates must secure separate cut offs in each paper as well as the aggregate cut off to be shortlisted for Phase 2.
- Marks obtained in Phase 1 are used only for shortlisting and are not counted in the final selection.
- All question papers in Phase 1 and Phase 2, except the test of English, are set bilingually in Hindi and English.
IFSCA Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern
Phase 2 is where the exam is actually won. It consists of two papers of 100 marks each, with unequal weightage.
| Paper | Subjects | Marks | Duration | Cut off | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 All streams |
English (descriptive test) Precis writing: 35 marks Essay writing: 30 marks Comprehension: 35 marks |
100 | 60 min | 30% | 1/3 |
| Paper 2 General |
Multiple choice questions on the IFSCA Act, Union Budget, Economic Survey, banking, capital market, insurance, pension funds, bullion, GIFT City, GIFT IFSC, IFSCA and global financial centres 50 questions, 2 marks each |
100 | 60 min | 40% | 2/3 |
| Paper 2 IT |
50 multiple choice questions of two marks each on the specialised subject related to the Information Technology Stream | 100 | 60 min | 40% | 2/3 |
| Paper 2 Legal |
50 multiple choice questions of two marks each on the specialised subject related to the Legal Stream | 100 | 60 min | 40% | 2/3 |
| Aggregate cut off for Phase 2 | 40% | ||||
Five rules of Phase 2 that change how you prepare
- Paper 2 carries two thirds of the weight. Your stream paper, not your English, decides the outcome.
- Paper 1 is evaluated only if you qualify Paper 2. A brilliant essay is worth nothing if the stream paper falls below 40 per cent.
- Negative marking applies to Paper 2 only in Phase 2, at one fourth per wrong answer. The descriptive paper has none.
- Both separate and aggregate cut offs apply. You need 30 per cent in Paper 1, 40 per cent in Paper 2 and 40 per cent on the weighted aggregate.
- Final cut offs are set against vacancies. The competent authority fixes the interview call cut off in relation to the number of posts, so the effective bar in a 4 post stream is far above the stated 40 per cent.
The coding test for IT Stream candidates
What the notification says
For candidates applying under the Information Technology Stream, a skill test in the form of a coding test is conducted for those who qualify the Phase 2 examination. The coding test is qualifying in nature. Only candidates who qualify it are eligible to participate in the interview and to be considered for subsequent stages. Candidates who do not qualify the coding test stand excluded from further consideration, irrespective of their performance in any other stage. Where both the coding test and the interview are conducted, the interview is treated as valid only for those who have qualified the coding test. The syllabus, venue, date and other details of the coding test are notified separately.
Read that carefully, because it is the single most underestimated element of the IFSCA IT Stream. You can top Phase 2 and still be eliminated by a qualifying coding test. The practical implication is that an IT Stream aspirant cannot prepare only for multiple choice questions. You need working coding ability in at least one language, typically C++, Java or Python, on standard problem solving topics: arrays and strings, hashing, sorting and searching, recursion, trees and graphs, greedy algorithms, dynamic programming and divide and conquer. These are exactly the topics the notification lists under "Algorithms for problem solving" in the objective syllabus, which tells you the coding test is drawn from the same territory rather than from an unrelated pool.
Preparation note. The SEBI Grade A IT Stream Test Series and Notes covers the same algorithms and data structures block that the IFSCA coding test draws from, alongside the objective paper syllabus. If you are preparing for SEBI Grade A IT, you are already building the coding foundation IFSCA asks for.
Phase 3 interview and final merit calculation
Only candidates shortlisted after Phase 2, and in the IT Stream only those who have also cleared the coding test, are called for the interview. A candidate may opt to be interviewed in Hindi or English.
Final merit formula
Final selection in all streams is based on total marks secured in Phase 2 and Phase 3, weighted as:
Final score = (Phase 2 marks × 85 per cent) + (Interview marks × 15 per cent)
Phase 1 marks do not enter this calculation at all. Within Phase 2, the weighted score itself is one third from Paper 1 (English) and two thirds from Paper 2 (stream). So the stream paper effectively drives roughly 57 per cent of your entire final score, the English paper about 28 per cent, and the interview 15 per cent.
Outstation candidates called for the interview are reimbursed a single AC three tier return railway fare by the shortest route, against documentary evidence. Candidates already serving in government, quasi government organisations, public sector banks or undertakings must produce a No Objection Certificate from their employer at the time of the interview, and a discharge certificate before appointment.
Phase 1 Paper 1 syllabus: common to all streams
Paper 1 in Phase 1 is identical for General, Legal and IT candidates: four sections of 25 questions each, one mark per question, in 60 minutes. That is roughly 36 seconds per question, which makes this a speed test rather than a depth test.
| Section | Scope and high yield areas |
|---|---|
| General awareness (financial sector) | RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA and IFSCA news; monetary and credit policy announcements; Union Budget and Economic Survey highlights; banking and NBFC regulation updates; capital market and mutual fund developments; GIFT City and IFSC announcements; international bodies such as IMF, World Bank, BIS, IOSCO, FATF; major appointments, reports and indices. Cover the last six to eight months before the exam. |
| English language | Reading comprehension, cloze test, para jumbles, error spotting, sentence improvement, fill in the blanks, vocabulary in context, phrase replacement. |
| Quantitative aptitude | Simplification and approximation, number series, percentages, ratio and proportion, average, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, time speed and distance, mixtures, permutation, combination and probability, data interpretation (tables, bar, line, pie, caselet). |
| Test of reasoning | Puzzles and seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding decoding, blood relations, direction sense, order and ranking, input output, data sufficiency, statement and assumption, logical reasoning. |
Do not over invest here. Paper 1 has a 30 per cent cut off and its marks do not count towards the final merit. Aim to comfortably clear it and the aggregate, then redirect the bulk of your hours to your stream paper, which drives the actual selection.
IFSCA Grade A General Stream syllabus in full
The General Stream has two different specialised papers: one in Phase 1 and a completely different one in Phase 2. This is a crucial distinction. The Phase 1 paper is broad and academic, covering economics, commerce, management and finance. The Phase 2 paper is institution specific and focuses on the IFSCA Act, GIFT IFSC and the four regulated sectors. Many candidates prepare only the generic economy syllabus and are caught out by Phase 2.
Phase 1 Paper 2: General Stream syllabus
| No. | Head | Detailed topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General knowledge and current events | General knowledge; current events of national and international importance. |
| 2 | Economic and social development | Growth and development: measurement of growth, national income and per capita income; poverty alleviation and employment generation in India; sustainable development and environmental issues. Social structure in India: multiculturalism; demographic trends; urbanisation and migration; gender issues and social justice. |
| 3 | Commerce and accountancy | Accounting as a financial information system; accounting standards with specific reference to accounting for depreciation, inventories, revenue recognition, fixed assets, foreign exchange transactions and investments; cash flow statement, fund flow statement, financial statement analysis and ratio analysis; accounting for share capital transactions including bonus shares and right shares; employee stock options and buy back of securities; preparation and presentation of company final accounts. |
| 4 | Management | Management: nature and scope; the management processes, planning, organisation, staffing, directing and controlling; the role of a manager in an organisation; leadership, the tasks of a leader, leadership styles, leadership theories, a successful leader versus an effective leader; human resource development, concept and goals of HRD; motivation, morale and incentives, theories of motivation, how managers motivate, concept of morale, factors determining morale, role of incentives in building up morale; communication, steps in the communication process, communication channels, oral versus written, verbal versus non verbal, upward, downward and lateral communication, barriers to communication, role of information technology; corporate governance, factors affecting corporate governance, mechanisms of corporate governance. |
| 5 | Finance | Financial system: role and functions of regulatory bodies in the financial sector. Financial markets: primary and secondary markets (forex, money, bond, equity and others), their functions, instruments and recent developments. General topics: basics of derivatives, forward, futures and swap; recent developments in the financial sector; financial inclusion and use of technology; alternate sources of finance, private and social cost benefit, public private partnership; direct and indirect taxes, non tax sources of revenue, GST, Finance Commission, fiscal policy, Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM); inflation: definition, trends, estimates, consequences and remedies, WPI and CPI components and trends; financial risk management. |
| 6 | Costing | Overview of cost and management accounting, objectives and scope; methods of costing: single output or unit costing, job costing, batch costing, contract costing, process or operation costing, costing of service sectors; basics of cost control and analysis: standard costing, marginal costing, budget and budgetary control; lean system and innovation: introduction to lean system, just in time (JIT), Kaizen costing, 5 Ss, total productive maintenance (TPM), cellular manufacturing and one piece flow production systems, Six Sigma, introduction to process innovation and business process re engineering (BPR). |
| 7 | Indian economy and global economy | Demand and supply, market structures, national income concepts and measurement, classical and Keynesian approach to determination of output and employment, consumption function, investment function, multiplier and accelerator, demand and supply for money, IS-LM, inflation and the Phillips curve, business cycles; balance of payments, foreign exchange markets, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, non banking financial institutions; role of international financial institutions: BIS, IOSCO, IMF and World Bank. |
| 8 | Government initiatives | Central Government's initiatives and schemes in the financial sector. |
Phase 2 Paper 2: General Stream syllabus
This is the paper that carries two thirds of your Phase 2 score. It is narrower, more factual and far more IFSC specific than the Phase 1 paper.
| No. | Head | Detailed topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IFSCA and IFSC | IFSCA Act; IFSCA; IFSC; GIFT IFSC; GIFT City; and global financial centres. |
| 2 | Union Budget and Economic Survey | Union Budget: concepts, approach and broad trends; Economic Survey. |
| 3 | Banking | Structure and functions of financial institutions; functions of the Reserve Bank of India; banking system in India, structure and developments, financial institutions including SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and NaBFID; recent developments in the global financial system and their impact on the Indian financial system; role of information technology in banking and finance; non banking system; developments in digital payments. |
| 4 | Capital market | Role and functions of regulatory bodies in the financial sector; primary and secondary markets (forex, money, bond, equity and others), their functions, instruments and recent developments; basics of derivatives, forward, futures and swap; spot and derivative market of precious metals. |
| 5 | Insurance | History of Indian insurance, principles of insurance; risk and uncertainty, pooling and diversification of risk, indemnity and insurable interest; legal foundations of insurance, basics of group, health insurance and pensions, intermediation, role in mobilising savings, evolution of various types and bancassurance in India; functions performed by insurers: product design, pricing, distribution, underwriting, claims, investment and reinsurance; insurance lines and products: property liability, life insurance and annuities, health insurance, liability risks and insurance, valuation and solvency requirements, specialist insurance lines in India including agricultural and export credit guarantee, reinsurance, GIC of India, obligator sessions and retention of risk within the country. |
| 6 | Pension sector | Status of the pension sector in India; types of retirement schemes in India and their features; National Pension System; Atal Pension Yojana; annuity plans; basics of investment. |
How the General Stream is actually won
- The IFSCA Act and GIFT IFSC block is the differentiator. Most competitors arrive from an RBI or SEBI preparation base and know banking and capital markets well. Fewer have read the IFSCA Act, the IFSCA (Banking) Regulations, the fund management regime, the bullion exchange framework and the aircraft and ship leasing regime at GIFT IFSC. That is where the marginal marks are.
- Insurance and pension are frequently neglected and carry real weight in Phase 2. Cover the full head, not just headlines.
- Global financial centres is explicitly named. Be able to compare GIFT IFSC with Dubai DIFC, Singapore, Hong Kong and London on regulation, tax treatment and product mix.
- Read the annual IFSCA report and the latest Economic Survey chapter on financial markets. These are the highest yield primary documents for this paper.
IFSCA Grade A IT Stream syllabus in full
Key structural fact
Unlike the General and Legal Streams, the Information Technology Stream has a single syllabus that is common to both Phase 1 Paper 2 and Phase 2 Paper 2. The notification states this explicitly: "Syllabus for Paper 2 for Information Technology Stream (Common for both Phases)". The difference between the two phases is depth and difficulty, not scope. Practically, this means an IT aspirant prepares one syllabus and revises it twice, which is a significant structural advantage over General Stream candidates who face two distinct papers.
| No. | Topic | Details as specified in the notification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Database Concepts | ER model. Relational model: relational algebra, tuple calculus, integrity constraints, normal forms. File organization, indexing (for example, B and B+ trees). Transactions and concurrency control. |
| 2 | SQL Queries | Select, view, truncate, delete, update, alter. Inner join, different types of outer joins. Use of aggregate functions. Union, intersection, except, in and exist clauses. Nested queries. |
| 3 | Programming Concepts (Java / C / C++) | Program control (iteration, recursion, functions). Scope of variables. Binding of variables and functions. Parameter passing. Functional and logic programming. OOPS concepts, inheritance, class and object, constructors, functions, exception handling. |
| 4 | Data Analytics Languages (Python / R) | Regex, slicing, data reshaping, dataframes, dictionaries and sets, file management, classes and functions, data mining, lists, importing and exporting data, charts and graphs. |
| 5 | Algorithms for problem solving | Tree and graph traversals, connected components, spanning trees, shortest paths; hashing, sorting, searching; design techniques (greedy, dynamic programming, divide and conquer). |
| 6 | Networking Concepts | ISO/OSI stack. LAN technologies (Ethernet, Token ring). TCP/UDP, IP. Basic concepts of switches, gateways and routers. Application layer protocols (DNS, SMTP, POP, FTP, HTTP). Firewalls. |
| 7 | Information and Cyber Security Concepts | Cyber attacks, software development security, network security, authentication. CIA: confidentiality, integrity and availability. Network audit, systems audit. |
| 8 | Data warehousing | Data extraction, data cleaning, data transformation, data loading. Metadata, data cube, data mart, data models. |
| 9 | Shell Programming | Shell scripting basics, shell variables, shell script arguments, if statement, loop, return, basic UNIX commands. |
| 10 | AI / ML | Machine learning, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, data preprocessing, model evaluation, linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, clustering, feature engineering, Python for ML, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, NLP, sentiment analysis, neural networks, overfitting and underfitting, cross validation, reinforcement learning, cloud AI services, deployment basics. |
How to read the weight of each IT topic
The notification does not publish a topic wise mark distribution, but the structure of the syllabus and the pattern of comparable regulator IT papers point to a workable allocation. Treat the table below as a planning heuristic, not an official weightage.
| Topic | Suggested effort | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Programming concepts and OOPS | High | Feeds both the objective paper and the qualifying coding test. |
| Algorithms and data structures | High | Same reason. This is the bridge topic between the MCQ paper and the coding test. |
| Database concepts and SQL | High | Two separate syllabus heads, highly scoring, and questions are predictable in form. |
| Networking and cyber security | Medium to high | Two heads, directly relevant to a financial regulator's supervisory work, so expect applied framing. |
| AI / ML | Medium | The longest topic description in the notification, and the newest. Conceptual questions on model evaluation, overfitting and learning types are the likely pattern. |
| Python and R for data analytics | Medium | Output based and syntax questions on dataframes, slicing and regex. |
| Data warehousing | Low to medium | Compact head. ETL, data cube, data mart and schema definitions are the recurring items. |
| Shell programming | Low | Small but very high return per hour. Basic UNIX commands and script constructs are quickly mastered. |
IFSCA IT Stream versus SEBI Grade A IT: the syllabus is effectively the same
The most useful fact on this page
If you are preparing for SEBI Grade A Officer, Information Technology Stream, you are already preparing for the IFSCA Grade A IT Stream. The nine core heads of the SEBI IT syllabus, that is Database Concepts, SQL Queries, Programming (C, C++, Java), Data Analytics (Python, R), Algorithms, Networking, Cyber Security, Data Warehousing and Shell Programming, are the same nine heads, in the same order, with substantially the same sub topics, that IFSCA prescribes for its IT Stream Paper 2. IFSCA adds one further head, AI and ML, and applies the combined syllabus to both Phase 1 and Phase 2.
| Syllabus head | IFSCA Grade A IT | SEBI Grade A IT | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database Concepts | Yes | Yes | ER model, relational algebra, tuple calculus, normal forms, integrity constraints, indexing. Effectively identical. |
| SQL Queries | Yes | Yes | Joins, aggregate functions, set operations, nested queries. Effectively identical. |
| Programming (C, C++, Java) | Yes | Yes | OOPS, inheritance, constructors, exception handling, parameter passing, recursion. Effectively identical. |
| Data Analytics (Python, R) | Yes | Yes | Dataframes, slicing, regex, data reshaping, importing and exporting. Effectively identical. |
| Algorithms and data structures | Yes | Yes | Traversals, spanning trees, shortest paths, sorting, searching, greedy, DP, divide and conquer. Effectively identical. |
| Networking Concepts | Yes | Yes | OSI stack, TCP/IP, LAN technologies, application layer protocols, firewalls. Effectively identical. |
| Information and Cyber Security | Yes | Yes | Attacks, network and software security, authentication, CIA triad, audits. Effectively identical. |
| Data Warehousing | Yes | Yes | ETL, metadata, data cube, data mart, data models. Effectively identical. |
| Shell Programming | Yes | Yes | Shell variables, arguments, conditionals, loops, UNIX commands. Effectively identical. |
| AI / ML | Yes | Not a separate head | The one genuine addition in IFSCA. Supervised and unsupervised learning, regression, decision trees, clustering, model evaluation, neural networks, NLP, deployment basics. |
| Coding / skill test | Yes, qualifying | Varies by cycle | IFSCA mandates a qualifying coding test for IT candidates after Phase 2. |
What this overlap means in practice
- One preparation cycle, two exams. Roughly 90 per cent of the IFSCA IT paper is covered by a properly built SEBI Grade A IT preparation. The incremental work is a focused AI and ML module.
- The same question bank transfers. Because the sub topics match, practice questions written for SEBI Grade A IT Paper 2 are directly usable for IFSCA Phase 1 Paper 2 and Phase 2 Paper 2.
- The common paper is also shared. Both exams test general awareness of the financial sector, English, quantitative aptitude and reasoning in the screening stage, so that preparation transfers too.
- The only genuinely IFSCA specific work for an IT candidate is the AI and ML head, plus a light reading of the IFSCA Act and the GIFT IFSC ecosystem for the interview.
Recommended preparation
SEBI Grade A IT Stream: Test Series and Notes
Built around the exact nine head IT syllabus that SEBI and IFSCA share. If you are targeting the IFSCA Grade A IT Stream, this is the most efficient route: you prepare once and stay eligible for both exams.
- Complete notes across Database, SQL, Programming, Python and R, Algorithms and Data Structures, Networking, Cyber Security, Data Warehousing and Shell Programming
- Topic wise practice sets and full length mock tests in the actual paper format, 50 questions of two marks each with negative marking
- Algorithms and data structures coverage that doubles as groundwork for the IFSCA qualifying coding test
- Designed by Piyush Wairale, M.Tech, IIT Madras, who has taught 20,000 plus students and mentored a GATE DA All India Rank 2
Covers the SEBI Grade A IT syllabus in full. Supplement with an AI and ML module for the additional IFSCA head.
IFSCA Grade A salary, allowances and career path
Direct answer
The pay scale for Officer Grade A in IFSCA is Rs 62,500 – 3600(4) – 76,900 – 4050(7) – 1,05,250 – EB – 4050(4) – 1,21,450 – 4650(1) – 1,26,100, a 17 year scale. The approximate gross pay and allowances at the minimum of the scale is about Rs 1,80,000 per month, inclusive of IFSCA's contribution to the National Pension System, grade allowance, special allowance, special grade allowance, dearness allowance, local allowance, family allowance, special compensatory allowance, learning allowance and housing allowance.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basic pay scale | Rs 62,500 rising to Rs 1,26,100 over 17 years, with an efficiency bar |
| Approximate gross | About Rs 1,80,000 per month at the minimum of the scale, including the NPS employer contribution |
| Allowances included | Grade allowance, special allowance, special grade allowance, dearness allowance, local allowance, family allowance, special compensatory allowance, learning allowance, housing allowance |
| Other benefits | Leave fare concession; medical expenses covering hospitalisation and non hospitalisation; personal accident insurance; eye refraction and cost of spectacles; education allowance; knowledge updation allowance; briefcase; conveyance expenses; house cleaning allowance; staff furnishing scheme; scheme for purchasing computers |
| Probation | Two years, with confirmation subject to satisfactory performance. The notification records "reasonable prospects for promotion to higher grades" |
| Posting and service rules | Governed by the IFSCA (Employees' Service) Regulations, 2020, as amended. Officers are liable to serve anywhere in India or abroad. Headquarters is at GIFT City, Gandhinagar |
IFSCA Grade A examination centres
Phase 1 is held at a wide network of centres across all five zones, while Phase 2 is conducted at a much smaller set of cities. Candidates may indicate a preference of up to three centres each for Phase 1 and Phase 2, and the two choices may be different. Choice of centre once exercised is final, and no request for change of centre, venue, date or session is entertained.
| Zone | Centres |
|---|---|
| East | Kolkata, Burdwan, Patna, Bhagalpur, Guwahati, Jorhat, Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Imphal, Churachandpur, Siliguri, Agartala, Muzaffarpur |
| West | Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Surat, Bardoli, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Jaipur, Udaipur, Pune, Hubballi (Hubli), Dharwad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nasik, Panaji |
| North | Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara, Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Lucknow, Jammu, Sambha, Dehradun, Roorkee, Meerut, Haldwani |
| South | Chennai, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, Hyderabad, Khammam, Warangal, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, Ernakulam, Madurai, Coimbatore, Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajahmundry |
| Central | Bhopal, Nagpur, Raipur, Indore, Ujjain, Prayagraj, Moradabad, Kanpur |
| Zone | Centres |
|---|---|
| East | Kolkata, Patna, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar |
| West | Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Jaipur |
| North | Mohali, Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Lucknow |
| South | Chennai, Hyderabad, Ernakulam, Bangalore, Hubballi (Hubli), Dharwad |
| Central | Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur, Raipur |
Preparation strategy: General Stream
The General Stream has 12 of the 20 posts, which makes it the largest but also the most contested. Here is a four block plan that maps to how the marks are actually distributed.
Block 1: Secure Phase 1 without over investing
Paper 1 needs 30 per cent and Paper 2 needs 40 per cent, with a 40 per cent aggregate. For anyone already preparing for RBI Grade B or SEBI Grade A, this is largely revision. Spend your time on the sections where you are weakest and set a target of comfortably clearing all three cut offs rather than maximising, since Phase 1 marks do not carry forward.
Block 2: Build the IFSC and GIFT City core
This is the block that separates selected candidates from the rest. Work directly from primary sources:
- The IFSCA Act, 2019: objectives, constitution of the Authority, powers transferred from RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA, and the regulatory architecture.
- The IFSCA Annual Report and its framework circulars: banking, capital markets, fund management, insurance, bullion exchange, aircraft leasing, ship leasing, ancillary services and fintech.
- The GIFT City and GIFT IFSC ecosystem: entities operating there, tax treatment, NSE IX and India INX, IIBX, and the Fund Management Entity regime.
- Global financial centres: be able to compare GIFT IFSC with DIFC Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and London on regulation, cost and product mix.
Block 3: Consolidate the four sectors
Banking, capital market, insurance and pension each form a named head in Phase 2. Candidates from a banking background usually neglect insurance and pension and lose easy marks. Build compact, revisable notes on each of the six Phase 2 heads and keep them to a fixed length so they can be revised in a single sitting near the exam.
Block 4: Train the descriptive paper
Phase 2 Paper 1 is 100 marks in 60 minutes, split into precis (35), essay (30) and comprehension (35), and it carries one third of the Phase 2 weight. The binding constraint is time, not ideas. Practise at least fifteen full length timed attempts before the exam. Use financial sector topics for essays, since your subject reading then doubles as content.
Cross exam tip. The IFSCA General Stream Phase 2 syllabus overlaps heavily with SEBI Grade A and RBI Grade B Phase 2. If you are already in that circuit, the IFSCA specific delta is roughly two weeks of focused reading on the IFSCA Act, GIFT IFSC frameworks and global financial centres. Browse the full regulatory and PSU exam course catalogue to see what maps across.
Preparation strategy: IT Stream
The IT Stream has 4 posts and a structurally different preparation problem: one syllabus, used twice, plus a qualifying coding test that can eliminate you regardless of your written score.
| Weeks | Focus | What to actually do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 3 | Database, SQL, Data Warehousing | ER modelling, relational algebra, tuple calculus, all normal forms with counter examples, B and B+ tree indexing, transactions and concurrency control. Write SQL by hand daily: joins, set operations, aggregates, nested and correlated queries. Then ETL, data cube, data mart and schema types. |
| 4 – 6 | Programming, OOPS, Algorithms and Data Structures | The heaviest block, because it feeds both the MCQ paper and the coding test. Output based questions on scope, binding, parameter passing and recursion. OOPS and exception handling. Then traversals, connected components, spanning trees, shortest paths, hashing, sorting, searching, greedy, dynamic programming and divide and conquer. Solve on a keyboard, not on paper. |
| 7 – 8 | Networking, Information and Cyber Security | OSI and TCP/IP layer by layer, addressing and subnetting, application layer protocols, switches, routers and gateways, firewalls. Then attack classes, CIA triad, authentication mechanisms, secure development, network and systems audit. Expect applied, regulator flavoured framing. |
| 9 – 10 | Python and R, Shell, AI and ML | Dataframes, slicing, regex, reshaping, file handling, charts. Shell variables, arguments, conditionals, loops and core UNIX commands, which is the best marks per hour topic in the syllabus. Then the AI and ML head: learning types, preprocessing, regression, decision trees, clustering, feature engineering, evaluation metrics, overfitting and cross validation, neural network and NLP basics. |
| 11 – 12 | Mock tests, coding practice and the common paper | Full length mocks in the real format, 50 questions of two marks with one fourth negative marking in 60 minutes. Alternate with timed coding sets. Keep the common Paper 1 sections, financial awareness, English, quant and reasoning, ticking over daily. |
Three mistakes IT Stream candidates repeatedly make
- Treating the coding test as an afterthought. It is a hard gate. Qualify it or your written performance is irrelevant.
- Ignoring negative marking discipline. At two marks per question with one fourth negative, a wrong answer costs half a mark. In a 100 mark paper with a stream specific cut off, guess control is a scoring skill in itself.
- Skipping the common paper. Inter se seniority among selected candidates is fixed on total marks in the common papers of Phase 1 and Phase 2, so the shared papers matter even after selection.
Books and resources
| Area | Recommended reading |
|---|---|
| IT: Database | Korth, Silberschatz and Sudarshan, Database System Concepts; Navathe and Elmasri, Fundamentals of Database Systems |
| IT: Algorithms and DS | Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein, Introduction to Algorithms; Narasimha Karumanchi, Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy |
| IT: Networking | Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking; Tanenbaum, Computer Networks |
| IT: Security | William Stallings, Cryptography and Network Security |
| IT: AI and ML | Aurelien Geron, Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras and TensorFlow; the Scikit-learn user guide for evaluation metrics and cross validation |
| General: Economy | Ramesh Singh, Indian Economy; the latest Economic Survey and Union Budget documents |
| General: Finance and markets | NISM and NCFM modules on capital markets and derivatives; IRDAI and PFRDA primers for the insurance and pension heads |
| General: IFSC specific | The IFSCA Act, 2019; IFSCA Annual Report; IFSCA framework circulars on banking, fund management, bullion, insurance and aircraft and ship leasing; the GIFT City official site |
| Structured course | SEBI Grade A IT Stream Test Series and Notes, which maps directly onto the IFSCA IT syllabus |
IFSCA Grade A 2026: frequently asked questions
When will the IFSCA Grade A 2026 notification be released?
IFSCA has not announced the 2026 notification date. Based on the 2025 cycle, where the advertisement opened on 11 September 2025 and closed on 25 September 2025, the 2026 notification is expected around September 2026 on ifsca.gov.in. Treat all 2026 dates as tentative until the official advertisement appears.
What is the IFSCA Grade A exam pattern?
Three stages. Phase 1 is an online screening test with two papers of 100 marks each, 60 minutes per paper, with cut offs of 30 per cent, 40 per cent and 40 per cent aggregate. Phase 2 is an online examination with Paper 1 as a descriptive English test of 100 marks and Paper 2 as a stream specific objective paper of 100 marks, weighted one third and two thirds. Phase 3 is the interview. Final marks are 85 per cent from Phase 2 and 15 per cent from the interview. IT Stream candidates must additionally clear a qualifying coding test.
Is the IFSCA Grade A IT Stream syllabus the same as SEBI Grade A IT?
Yes, very nearly. The IFSCA Information Technology Stream Paper 2 syllabus, which is common to both Phase 1 and Phase 2, covers Database Concepts, SQL Queries, Programming Concepts in Java, C and C++, Data Analytics using Python and R, Algorithms for problem solving, Networking Concepts, Information and Cyber Security, Data Warehousing and Shell Programming. These are the same heads that appear in the SEBI Grade A IT Officer syllabus. IFSCA adds an explicit AI and ML head. A candidate preparing for SEBI Grade A IT therefore covers the IFSCA IT paper almost completely, and the remaining delta is a focused AI and ML module.
What is the age limit for IFSCA Grade A 2026?
A candidate must not have exceeded 30 years of age as on the application closing date. Upper age relaxation is 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC non creamy layer, 10 years for PwBD in the unreserved category, 13 years for PwBD OBC, 15 years for PwBD SC and ST, and 5 years for ex servicemen. Cumulative relaxation applies where a candidate falls in more than one eligible category.
What is the IFSCA Grade A salary per month?
The Officer Grade A pay scale is Rs 62,500 to Rs 1,26,100 across 17 years. The approximate gross pay and allowances at the minimum of the scale, including IFSCA's contribution to the National Pension System, grade allowance, special allowance, dearness allowance, learning allowance and housing allowance, is about Rs 1,80,000 per month. Other benefits include leave fare concession, medical expenses, personal accident insurance, education allowance, knowledge updation allowance and conveyance expenses.
How many vacancies are there in IFSCA Grade A?
The 2025 recruitment advertised 20 posts: 12 in the General Stream, 4 in the Legal Stream and 4 in the Information Technology Stream. The 2026 vacancy count will be announced in the official notification.
What qualification is needed for the IFSCA Grade A IT Stream?
A Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology or Computer Science, or a Master's in Computer Applications or Information Technology. A minimum of 60 per cent marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying degree is required, with a 5 per cent relaxation for SC and ST candidates. On a 10 point scale a CGPA of 6.75 is treated as 60 per cent where the university has not defined its own conversion.
Is there negative marking in IFSCA Grade A?
Yes. One fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in Paper 1 and Paper 2 of Phase 1, and in Paper 2 of Phase 2. Since Phase 2 Paper 2 carries two marks per question, each wrong answer costs half a mark. Phase 2 Paper 1 is descriptive and carries no negative marking.
What is the IFSCA Grade A coding test and who has to take it?
Only Information Technology Stream candidates. Those who qualify Phase 2 must take a skill test in the form of a coding test, which is qualifying in nature. Candidates who do not clear it are excluded from further consideration irrespective of their performance in any other stage, and an interview is treated as valid only for those who have qualified the coding test. The syllabus, venue and date are notified separately by IFSCA.
Can I apply for more than one stream?
Yes. You may apply for the Legal or Information Technology Stream and also for the General Stream if you meet the qualification for each. A separate online application and a separate fee are required for each stream. If more than one application is submitted within a single stream, only the latest is valid and the fee for the rest is forfeited.
What is the IFSCA Grade A application fee?
Rs 1,000 plus applicable taxes as application fee cum intimation charges for Unreserved, EWS and OBC candidates. Rs 100 plus applicable taxes as intimation charges for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. The fee is non refundable and is not returned even if a candidate is not shortlisted for Phase 2 or Phase 3.
What are the cut offs in Phase 1 and Phase 2?
Phase 1: 30 per cent in Paper 1, 40 per cent in Paper 2 and 40 per cent aggregate. Phase 2: 30 per cent in Paper 1, 40 per cent in Paper 2 and 40 per cent aggregate computed with one third weightage for Paper 1 and two thirds for Paper 2. Phase 1 marks are used only for shortlisting. The final cut off for an interview call is decided by the competent authority in relation to the number of vacancies, so the effective bar is much higher than the stated minimum.
Are Phase 1 marks counted in the final selection?
No. Marks obtained in Phase 1 are used only to shortlist candidates for Phase 2. However, inter se seniority among selected candidates is determined on total marks in the common papers of Phase 1 and Phase 2, that is, the papers taken by candidates across all streams, so Phase 1 performance still affects your position in the seniority list.
Is the paper bilingual?
Yes. All question papers in both Phase 1 and Phase 2, except the test of English, are set bilingually in Hindi and English. The Phase 3 interview may be taken in Hindi or English at the candidate's option.
Where is the posting and is there a bond?
IFSCA is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Officers are governed by the IFSCA (Employees' Service) Regulations, 2020 and are liable to serve anywhere in India or abroad. Probation is two years. The notification does not specify a service bond, but a discharge certificate, including settlement of any existing bond with a previous employer, must be produced before joining.
Is IFSCA Grade A easier than RBI Grade B or SEBI Grade A?
It is not easier in absolute terms. IFSCA has far fewer vacancies, so competition per post is sharp. What makes it attractive is the overlap: the General Stream Phase 2 paper is built on banking, capital market, insurance and pension, which an RBI or SEBI aspirant has largely covered, and the IT Stream paper maps almost one to one onto the SEBI Grade A IT syllabus. Most serious aspirants prepare for these exams as a single cycle rather than separately.
Can final year students apply?
Yes. Candidates who have appeared for the final qualifying examination and are awaiting results are eligible to appear in Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. The offer to join is subject to producing documents evidencing the requisite qualification within the time granted, with no extension permitted.
Start where the overlap is highest
Preparing for the IFSCA IT Stream? Start with the SEBI Grade A IT syllabus.
The two syllabi share nine of ten heads and the same sub topics. One structured preparation cycle keeps you eligible for both exams, and the algorithms and data structures work doubles as groundwork for the IFSCA qualifying coding test.
Explore the SEBI Grade A IT Test Series and NotesNotes, topic wise practice and full length mocks in the actual paper format. By Piyush Wairale, M.Tech, IIT Madras.
Sources and verification
- Official IFSCA advertisement, Recruitment of Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) 2025, including the Annexure carrying the detailed stream wise syllabus. All vacancy, eligibility, pattern, syllabus, fee, centre and pay figures on this page are reproduced from that document.
- International Financial Services Centres Authority, ifsca.gov.in. Addenda, corrigenda and notices relating to the recruitment are published only on the IFSCA website.
- Comparison of the Information Technology Stream syllabus against the published SEBI Grade A IT Officer syllabus.
Disclaimer. This page is an independent preparation resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the International Financial Services Centres Authority. Figures marked as expected are projections from the previous recruitment cycle and are not official. Always confirm eligibility, dates and vacancies against the official notification on ifsca.gov.in before applying.