Depository OperationsCertification Guide.
Covers demat account operations, settlement of trades, corporate actions, SEBI depository regulations. Essential for DP operations staff.
Difficulty
Beginner
Suggested prep: 10-15 days
Negative marking
25%
Avoid blind guessing.
Validity
3 years
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Priority
Rank 13
Operations track
What this certification is really testing.
This template pulls directly from the NISM database so the article stays factual, structured, and easy to scan before you register.
Ideal for
Operations staff at depository participants
Back-office professionals at brokerages
CDSL/NSDL related roles
Career paths
Depository Participant Operations
Back Office Securities Settlement
CDSL/NSDL Operations
Client Servicing at Brokerage
Mandatory for
Associated persons of Depository Participants
Employees of DPs dealing with client servicing
Study by chapter weightage, not by guesswork.
The highest scoring chapters carry 72% of the paper. Start there, then use the low-weight chapters for polish.
High-weightage focus
Depository Participants
15%Account Opening and Maintenance
15%Settlement of Trades
15%Legal Framework and SEBI Regulations
15%Dematerialization and Rematerialization
12%Key concepts to remember
Two depositories in India: NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) and CDSL (Central Depository Services Limited)
DP (Depository Participant) is the intermediate between investor and depository like a bank branch
Dematerialization: converting physical shares to electronic form
Rematerialization: converting electronic shares back to physical form (rare)
ISIN (International Securities Identification Number): unique 12-character code for each security
Transfer of securities between DPs happens via inter-depository transfer (IDT) mechanism
SEBI mandated 100% dematerialization for listed company transfers
A clear way to study this module.
Use the database strategy as the practical order of attack: official workbook first, high-weightage chapters next, then mocks and exam-day control.
Study strategy
Focus on Depository Participants (Ch 2, 15%) and Settlement of Trades (Ch 5, 15%)
Know the complete flow: Account opening Demat Trading Settlement Corporate actions
SEBI Depository Regulations 2018 (Ch 7, 15%) focus on key provisions
Understand corporate actions processing bonus, split, dividend through depository
Exam-day tips
Standard format 100 MCQs, 120 minutes
Process-based questions dominate know the step-by-step procedures
0.25 negative marking apply elimination strategy for regulatory questions
This is one of the easier NISM exams most questions test knowledge, not application
Scoring warning
The pass mark is simple. The paper is not.
Because this paper has negative marking, precision matters more than speed. Attempt the sure questions first, then return to calculations and close-call options.
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