NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Examination

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NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Examination Online Tutorial

The NISM Series-III-A examination seeks to create a common minimum knowledge benchmark for all persons engaged in a compliance function with any intermediary registered as Stock Brokers, Sub-brokers, Depository Participants, Merchant Bankers, Underwriters, Bankers to the Issue, Debenture Trustees and Credit Rating Agencies.

Examination Objectives:

On successful completion of the Securities Intermediaries Compliance examination, the candidate should:

  • Understand the structure of financial and securities markets in India; financial intermediaries and the types of products available in the Indian market.
  • Understand the regulatory framework and the role of the various regulators in the financial system.
  • Understand the Importance of Compliance function and the scope and role of the compliance officer in the Indian securities market.
  • Understand the various regulations and rules of the Indian securities market as related to the defined group of intermediaries.
  • Understand the importance of compliance of the rules and regulations and the penal actions initiated in case of any default or failure.

Exam Details

The examination consists of 100 questions of 1 mark each and should be completed in 120 minutes. The passing score for the examination is 60%. There shall be a negative marking of 25% of the marks assigned to a question. The Minimum required passing score is 60% and the certification is valid for a period of 3 years. The cost of NISM Series-III-A is Rs. 1500.

Eligibility Criterion

There is no eligibility criterion to take this exam

Exam Name NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Examination
Exam Duration120 minutes
No. of Questions 100
Maximum marks 100
Passing Marks 60% and above
Cost Rs. 1500
Validity3 Years

Scheduling the Exam

Now, let us understand how to register for the NISM Series-III-A exam.

Registration process

  • To register and enroll for NISM Certification Examination and CPE Program, the candidate needs to fill in the Online Registration Form available on the NISM Online Certification System at https://certifications.nism.ac.in
  • Activate your NISM account by clicking on the link sent at the registered email ID
  • Login into NISM Certification Portal using your registered email ID and password.
  • Then click on New Enrollment for NISMCertificationExamination to enroll for the NISMCertification Examination
  • Now, select Date & TestCentreSelect SlotMake Online PaymentCredit/ Debit Card, NetBanking

NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification FAQs

Get all your doubts and queries resolved with NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification FAQs

NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Examination FAQs

NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Course outline

Understanding the course outline is the next most important step. It familiarizes you with the exam format and its objectives. These objectives are most often assigned a weighting value which indicates the relative importance of each objective on the exams. Objectives with higher weights cover more questions in the exam. NISM Series-III-A Outline includes 2 units along with sub-units. There are 20 units in total and each unit is assigned a weighting value. Therefore, it is advisable to go through the course outline thoroughly and create your study plan around these objectives to achieve the certification keeping in mind their weightage.

The NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification course outline is as follows:

Part A: Understanding the Financial and Regulatory Structure in India (60 marks)


Unit 1 Introduction to Financial System 5%
Unit 2 Regulatory Framework: General View 10%
Unit 3 Introduction to Compliance 4%
Unit 4 SEBI Act, 1992 7%
Unit 5 Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 and Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 6%
Unit 6 SEBI (Intermediaries) Regulations, 2008 6%
Unit 7 SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 1992 6%
Unit 8 SEBI (Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Relating to Securities Markets) Regulations, 2003 6%
Unit 9 The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 7%
Unit 10 SEBI (KYC Registration Agency) Regulations, 2011 3%


Part B: Understanding Intermediary Specific Regulations (40 marks)


Unit 11 SEBI (Stock Brokers and Sub-Brokers) Regulations, 1992 8%
Unit 12 SEBI (Merchant Bankers) Regulations, 1992, Listing Agreement & SEBI (Delisting of Securities) Guidelines, 2003, SEBI Takeover Code & SEBI (Buyback of Securities) Regulations, 2006 6%
Unit 13 SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 5%
Unit 14 Depositories Act, 1996 3%
Unit 15 SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 1996 3%
Unit 16 SEBI (Bankers to an Issue) Regulations, 1994 3%
Unit 17 SEBI (Underwriters) Regulations, 1993 3%
Unit 18 SEBI (Debenture Trustees) Regulations, 1993 3%
Unit 19 SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 3%
Unit 20 SEBI (Custodian of Securities) Regulations, 1996 3%

NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Preparatory Guide

NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Examination Preparatory Guide

Now, that we have read about the NISM Series-III-A exam and its details, the next important step is to understand how to prepare for the exam. Preparing for any exam is not an easy task and requires a lot of dedication and hard work combined with the right set of resources to ace the exam. There are numerous resources available online but we need to figure out the ones that are beneficial for us. The NISM Series-III-A exam is a step towards a bright and successful career. To clear this exam you need an intent eagerness to learn. Our Preparatory Guide here will help you all along your journey and prepare you well for the exam.

Step-1 Review the Exam Objectives

Reviewing the exam objectives is an important step to ensure that nothing is left out. As mentioned earlier, going through the course outline is really important while preparing for any exam to make sure everything is covered. Furthermore, Familiarising yourself with the exam objectives helps is grasping concepts faster and with accuracy. The NISM Series-III-A exam comprises of 2 parts namely-

  • Part A: Understanding the Financial and Regulatory Structure in India
  • Part B: Understanding Intermediary Specific Regulations

Step-2 Discover your Learning Resources

NISM Series-III-A Study Guide

The NISM Series-III-A Study Guide will provide you complete clarity about the exam questions and how to approach them while preparing you from the scratch.

Reference Books

Books are the best-valued resources for study which provides you with new insights that the study guides may not, giving you an extra edge over others. You can choose any book that suits your way of preparation. Make sure the content is understandable and the book offers you a lot of practice questions and has previous test papers. You can choose multiple books and can buy them or can refer to libraries, however, you should always look for books written by credible and authentic domain experts.

NISM e-learning

NISM eLearning offers learners exposure to high quality content, personalized self-paced learning experience that can be accessed anytime from anywhere. It is a rich and rigorous platform that offers a consistent, cohesive, and quality learning experience for learners. The Course content is delivered exclusively via our Learning Management System (LMS). Furthermore, learners will also be able to form meaningful connections with peers and educators which would give them an extra edge over others in their preparation.

Step-3 Join Online Communities

Joining an Online Community is certainly an ideal way to know your actual stand in the competition. Here, you can interact with your competitors, and keep yourself focused. The prospects of getting resolutions to an issue increase steeply when a greater number of people are involved. Also, multiple viewpoints make the stuff more dynamic and increase expand your domain. Moreover, these groups will help you stay up to date with the exam and will also boost your confidence.

Step-4 Practice tests

Once you are done with your preparation phase, your performance phase begins. This phase is also referred to as the self-evaluation phase as it helps you find out your core strengths and weak spots. They also help you build confidence and learn time management. Moreover, Practice tests are designed in such a manner that it helps the candidates to encounter the real exam environment around them. Take the NISM Series-III- Practice Test Now!

NISM Series-III-A: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Non-Fund) Certification Examination Practice Tests
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