PFRDA Grade A Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025
Understanding the PFRDA Grade A exam pattern and syllabus is one of the first and most important steps in your preparation journey. It helps you know what kind of questions to expect, how marks are distributed, and which topics you need to study the most.
Now that the PFRDA Grade A 2025 notification is out, it’s the right time to go through the syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility criteria, exam dates, salary details, and more. Getting familiar with these details early on will help you plan your preparation better and stay ahead.
To make things simple and save your time, we’ve put together the complete PFRDA Grade A syllabus and exam pattern for you — all in one place.
Remember: The syllabus may vary depending on the stream (General, Legal, Finance, etc.) you are applying for.
PFRDA Grade A Exam Pattern 2025
Once you go through the PFRDA Assistant Manager (Grade A) exam notification, you’ll find all the key details about the exam pattern. The selection process is divided into three main stages:
- Phase 1 – Preliminary Exam (Online Screening):
This is the first stage and includes two papers, each worth 100 marks. It’s designed to screen candidates for the next round. - Phase 2 – Mains Exam (Online Examination):
Again, this stage also has two papers of 100 marks each. The questions here are a bit more advanced and stream-specific. - Phase 3 – Interview:
Candidates who clear Phase 2 are called for the interview round, which assesses their personality, communication skills, and overall suitability for the role.
In short, the exam has two written stages followed by an interview — all designed to find the best-fit candidates for the role of Assistant Manager at PFRDA.
PFRDA Grade A 2025 Phase 1 Exam Pattern
The PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 exam is an online test with multiple-choice questions and is divided into two papers:
- Paper 1 is the same for all streams (General, Legal, Finance, etc.) and is worth 100 marks. It usually covers general sections like reasoning, English, quantitative aptitude, and general awareness.
- Paper 2, on the other hand, is stream-specific — which means the syllabus and questions will depend on the field you’ve applied for. It also carries 100 marks.
To get a clearer picture of the exact structure, number of questions, duration, and subjects for each paper, you can refer to the detailed exam pattern in the table provided in the official notification.
| Paper | Stream / Subject | Maximum Marks | Number of Questions | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | All Streams: Multiple Choice Questions on – | 60 minutes | ||
| • English Language | 25 | 20 | ||
| • Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 20 | ||
| • Test of Reasoning | 25 | 20 | ||
| • General Awareness (including Financial Sector related questions) | 25 | 20 | ||
| Total | 100 | 80 | ||
| Paper 2 | General Stream: MCQs on Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector | 100 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Other Streams (IT, Legal, Research, Rajbhasha, Finance & Accounts): MCQs on specialized subject | 100 | 50 | 40 minutes |
Note: You have to secure separate cut-offs in each paper as well as overall cut-off marks in Phase 1.
To move on to Phase 2 of the PFRDA Grade A exam, you’ll need to score at least the minimum cut-off marks set by the authority. This cut-off will depend on the number of available vacancies and may vary each year.
It’s important to note that the marks you get in Phase 1 are used only to shortlist candidates for Phase 2. These marks won’t be counted in your final selection or merit list.
PFRDA Grade A 2025 Phase 2 Exam Pattern
The PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 (Mains) exam also has two papers – just like Phase 1 – but the format is slightly different:
- Paper 1 is a descriptive English paper (common for all streams). You’ll be asked to write essays, précis, and comprehension answers. This paper checks your writing and communication skills.
- Paper 2 is stream-specific, with multiple-choice questions based on the subject related to your chosen stream (like General, Legal, IT, etc.).
Each paper has a different time duration, and you’ll need to manage your time wisely. The detailed format, marks, and time for each paper are usually given in a table in the official notification:
| Paper | Stream / Subject | Maximum Marks | Number of Questions | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | All Streams: English (Descriptive Test) – Tests drafting skills (Essay, Précis, Comprehension) | 100 | 3 | 60 minutes |
| Paper 2 | General Stream: MCQs on Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector | 100 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Other Streams (IT, Rajbhasha, Finance & Accounts, Research – Economics): MCQs on stream-specific subjects | 100 | 50 | 40 minutes |
In PFRDA Grade A Phase 2, you must clear the cut-off marks for each paper separately — as well as meet the overall cut-off to move to the next stage.
Also, since Paper 2 will be held in multiple shifts, if you’ve applied for more than one stream, your exam schedule and details will be mentioned clearly in your call letter.
Keep in mind: your Paper 2 will be evaluated only if you qualify in Paper 1 (the descriptive English test). So, it’s important to perform well in both papers.
Phase 3- Personal Interview
Your selection for PFRDA Grade A Phase 3 (Interview) will depend on how well you perform in the Phase 2 exam. If you qualify, you’ll be called for the interview — and you can choose to attend it in either Hindi or English, whichever you’re more comfortable with.
For the final selection, your marks from both Phase 2 and the interview will be considered. Here’s how the final merit is calculated:
- 85% weightage is given to marks from Phase 2
- 15% weightage is given to marks from the Interview
So, to make it to the final list, you’ll need to do well in both stages!
PFRDA Grade A Marking Scheme
In the PFRDA Grade A exam, a wrong answer will attract a penalty of 1/4th of the mark assigned to that question. The detailed PFRDA Grade A Marking Scheme is provided in the table below:
| Paper | Stream / Subject | Maximum Marks | Number of Questions | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | All Streams: English (Descriptive Test) – Tests drafting skills (Essay, Précis, and Comprehension) | 100 | 3 | 60 minutes |
| Paper 2 | General Stream: MCQs on Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, and Pension Sector | 100 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Other Streams (IT, Rajbhasha, Finance & Accounts, Research – Economics): MCQs on specialized subjects related to the respective stream | 100 | 50 | 40 minutes |
PFRDA Phase 1 Paper 1 Syllabus (Common for all Streams)
The PFRDA Grade A syllabus for Phase 1-Paper 1 consists of various subjects – English Language, Reasoning, General Awareness, and Quantitative Aptitude. This paper is common for all the streams. The detailed PFRDA Grade A syllabus for Phase 1 is listed below.
PFRDA Phase 2 Paper 1 Syllabus (Common for all Streams)
PFRDA Grade A Paper 1 of Phase 2 is descriptive English Language (common for all streams). The detailed PFRDA Grade A syllabus for Phase 2- Paper 1 for all streams is given below.
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| English Language | Anonyms, Homonyms, Antonyms, Spelling, Word formation, Idioms and phrases, Fill in the suitable words, Grammar, Spotting errors, Sentence correction, Active/Passive voice, Direct/Indirect speech, Reading Comprehension, Passage completion, Theme detection, Deriving conclusion, Rearrangement of passage |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Simplification and approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equation, Number System / HCF & LCM, Ratio and Proportion, Average, Partnership, Ages, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time, Speed & Distance, Problems on Trains, Boat and Stream, Time & Work / Pipes and Cisterns, Simple and Compound Interest, Mixture & Allegations, Permutation and Combination, Probability, Data Interpretation (DI), Caselet DI, Data Sufficiency |
| Reasoning | Analogy, Classification, Word formation, Statement and conclusions, Syllogism, Statement and assumptions, Statement and arguments, Coding decoding, Blood relations, Passage and conclusions, Alphabet test, Series test, Number, ranking and time sequence, Direction sense test, Decision-making test, Figure series, Input/output, Assertion and reasoning, Sitting arrangement, Odd figure out, Analogy, Series test, Miscellaneous test |
| General Awareness | Monetary Policies, Banking and Financial Awareness, Economic Terms, Current Affairs, Static GK, Financial and Economic News, Government Schemes, Agreements & Deals, Banking Terms – rates & processes, National Institutions |
PFRDA Paper 2 Syllabus (Common for Both phases)
The PFRDA Assistant Manager exam syllabus for Phase 2- Paper 2 for General, Actuarial, Finance & Accounts, Information Technology, Official Language (Rajbhasha), Research (Economics) and Research (Statistics) is provided in the table below.
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| English Writing Skills | Precis Writing Essay Writing Comprehension |
PFRDA Syllabus Paper 2 for General Stream
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Commerce and Accountancy | – Accounting as a financial information system – Accounting standards: Revenue Recognition, Fixed Assets, Foreign Exchange Transactions, Investment – Cash Flow and Fund Flow Statements – Financial Statement Analysis and Ratio Analysis – Accounting for Share Capital Transactions (Bonus Shares, Right Shares) – Employee Stock Options, Buy-Back of Securities – Company Final Accounts |
| Management | – Nature and Scope of Management – The Management Processes: Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Controlling – Role of a Manager – Leadership: Tasks, Styles, Theories, Effective vs. Successful Leader – Human Resource Development (HRD): Concept and Goals – Motivation, Morale, Incentives: Theories, Factors, Role – Communication: Types, Barriers, Role of IT |
| Finance | – Financial System – Role and Functions of Regulatory Bodies – Financial Markets: Primary & Secondary (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity), Instruments, Functions, Recent Developments – Basics of Derivatives: Forward, Futures, Swap – Financial Inclusion and Technology Use – Alternate Finance Sources, PPP Model – Taxation (Direct & Indirect), GST, Fiscal Policy, FRBM – Inflation: WPI, CPI, Remedies |
| Costing | – Cost and Management Accounting: Objectives and Scope – Methods of Costing: Unit, Job, Batch, Contract, Process, Service Sector – Cost Control and Analysis: Standard Costing, Marginal Costing, Budgetary Control – Lean Systems & Innovation: JIT, Kaizen, 5S, TPM, One-Piece Flow, Six Sigma – Process Innovation, Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) |
| Companies Act | – Companies Act, 2013 (Chapters: III, IV, VIII, X, XI, XII, XXVII) |
| Economics | – Demand & Supply, Market Structures – National Income Concepts & Measurement – Classical vs Keynesian Models, Output & Employment, Consumption & Investment Functions, Multiplier & Accelerator – Money Demand & Supply, IS-LM Model, Inflation & Phillips Curve, Business Cycles – BOP, Forex Markets, Monetary & Fiscal Policies, NBFCs |
| Pension Sector | – Overview of Pension Sector in India – Retirement Schemes in India – National Pension System (NPS) – Atal Pension Yojana (APY) – Annuity Plans – Basics of Investment |
PFRDA Syllabus Paper 2 for Information Technology Stream
| Topics | Details |
|---|---|
| Database Concept | ER Model, Relational Model, Relational Algebra, Tuple Calculus, Integrity Constraints, Normal Forms, File Organization, Indexing (B & B+ Trees), Transactions & Concurrency Control |
| SQL Queries | SELECT, VIEW, TRUNCATE, DELETE, UPDATE, ALTER, INNER JOIN, Outer Joins, Aggregate Functions, UNION, INTERSECTION, EXCEPT, IN and EXISTS clauses, Nested Queries |
| Programming Concepts (Java/C/C++) | Program Control (Iteration, Recursion, Functions), Variable Scope, Variable & Function Binding, Parameter Passing, Functional & Logic Programming, OOPs Concepts, Inheritance, Classes, Exception Handling |
| Data Analytics Languages (Python/R) | Regex, Slicing, Data Reshaping, DataFrames, Dictionaries & Sets, File Management, Classes & Functions, Data Mining, Lists, Data Import/Export, Charts & Graphs |
| Algorithms for Problem Solving | Tree & Graph Traversals, Connected Components, Spanning Trees, Shortest Paths, Hashing, Sorting, Searching, Design Techniques (Greedy, Dynamic Programming, Divide & Conquer) |
| Networking Concepts | ISO/OSI Stack, LAN Technologies (Ethernet, Token Ring), TCP/UDP, IP, Switches, Gateways, Routers, Application Layer Protocols (DNS, SMTP, POP, FTP, HTTP), Firewalls |
| Information & Cyber Security Concepts | Cyber Attacks, Software Development Security, Network Security, Authentication, CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), Network Audit, Systems Audit |
| Data Warehousing | Data Extraction, Cleaning, Transformation, Loading, Metadata, Data Cube, Data Mart, Data Models |
| Shell Programming | Shell Scripting Basics, Shell Variables, Script Arguments, If Statement, Loops, Return Statements, Basic UNIX Commands |
PFRDA Syllabus Paper 2 for Research (Economics) Stream
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Economics | Demand and Supply, Market Structures, National Income, Output & Employment Determination, Investment Function, Multiplier & Accelerator, Demand & Supply for Money, IS–LM, Inflation & Phillips Curve, Business Cycles, Inflation, Monetary & Fiscal Policy, Banking Functions, Public Goods, Tax & Non-Tax Revenue, Direct & Indirect Taxes, Fiscal Balance, Public Debt, Public Budget, Foreign Trade & Balance of Payments |
| Statistics and Econometrics | Measures of Central Tendency & Dispersion, Correlation, Sampling Methods, Sampling Distribution, Statistical Inferences, Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Panel Data Analysis, Time Series Properties & Analysis |
| Financial Institutions and Markets | Asymmetric Information, Market Model, Market Efficiency, Money, Credit & Capital Markets, Primary & Secondary Markets, Commodity Markets, Mutual Funds, Stock Exchanges, Credit Rating Agencies, Pension & Insurance Markets, Foreign Exchange Markets, Role of International Financial Institutions (IS, IMF, World Bank) |
PFRDA Syllabus Paper 2 for Finance and Accounts Stream
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| The Basic Financial Statement | Trial Balance, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, Income Statement |
| Analysis of Financial Statements | Ratio Analysis, Break-even Analysis, IND AS (Indian Accounting Standards), Standards on Auditing |
| Cost Accounting Concepts (Basics) | Marginal Costing, Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis, Cost Sheet, Forecasting |
| Management Accounting | Cost of Capital, Capital Structure, Capital Budgeting, Sources of Finance, Corporate Accounting |
| Business Law | Negotiable Instruments Act, Contract Act, Partnership Act, Company Law (including recent amendments) |
| Taxation and Compliance | Income Tax Act, GST, Knowledge of IT and Digital Transactions, Compliance of KYC Norms |
| Financial System & Markets | Role and Functions of Regulatory Bodies in Financial SectorFinancial Markets: Primary and Secondary (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity), Functions, Instruments, Recent Developments |
| General Topics | Basics of Derivatives: Forward, Futures, Swap Recent Developments in Financial Sector Financial Inclusion & Technology Alternate Sources of Finance, Public-Private Partnership, Social Cost-Benefit Direct & Indirect Taxes, Non-tax Revenue, Finance Commission, Fiscal Policy, FRBM Act Inflation: WPI, CPI – Trends & Remedies Economics: Capital & Money Market, Micro & Macro Concepts, RBI Policies |
PFRDA Syllabus Paper 2 for Official Language (Rajbhasa) Stream
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Rajbhasha | – भारत सरकार की राजभाषा नीति (Official Language Policy of the Government of India) से संबंधित प्रश्न |
| – हिंदी से अंग्रेजी अनुवाद: शब्द, वाक्यांश, वाक्य (Terms, Phrases, Sentences) | |
| – अंग्रेजी से हिंदी अनुवाद: शब्द, वाक्यांश, वाक्य (Terms, Phrases, Sentences) | |
| – हिंदी से अंग्रेजी – विधिक शब्दावली (Legal Terminology) | |
| – हिंदी से अंग्रेजी – पेंशन / प्रशासनिक / बैंकिंग / पूंजी बाजार / अर्थशास्त्र / सामाजिक सुरक्षा शब्दावली (Pension, Administrative, Banking, Capital Market, Economics, Social Security Terminology) | |
| – अंग्रेजी से हिंदी – पेंशन / प्रशासनिक / बैंकिंग / पूंजी बाजार / अर्थशास्त्र / सामाजिक सुरक्षा शब्दावली (Pension, Administrative, Banking, Capital Market, Economics, Social Security Terminology) |
PFRDA Syllabus Paper 2 for Legal Stream
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Acts | PFRDA Act, 2013; IRDAI Act, 1999; SEBI Act, 1992 |
| Constitution of India | Preamble, Parts I, III, IV, IVA, V, VI, VIII, IXA, IXB, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XIVA, XX |
| Law of Contracts | Indian Contract Act, 1872 (Chapters I–VI & VIII–X), Indian Partnership Act, 1932, Specific Relief Act, 1963 |
| Criminal Law | Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Chapters I–VI, IX, XVII, XXI–XXIII), Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 |
| Law of Evidence | Indian Evidence Act, 1872 |
| Civil Procedure | Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Parts I–V, VII, Schedule-I) |
| Administrative Law | Principles of Natural Justice, Basics of Administrative Law |
| Jurisprudence | General Principles, Interpretation of Statutes, Important Latin Terms and Maxims |
| Law of Torts & Consumer Law | Law of Torts, Consumer Protection Act, 2019 |
| Arbitration Law | Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Part I, III, IV) |
| Property Law | Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (Chapters III, IV, V) |
| Trust Law | Law of Trusts – Parties to a Trust Deed, Duties of Trustees |
| Corporate Law | Companies Act, 2013 (Chapters I–V, VII–XIII, XV, XVI, XXVII–XXIX), Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Part I & II) |
| Taxation | General Principles of Taxation |
