Examination Overview – NISM Series VI: Depository Operations Certification
The examination seeks to create a common minimum knowledge benchmark for associated persons engaged or employed by a registered depository participant in: (a) dealing or interacting with clients, (b) dealing with securities of clients, (c) handling redressal of investor grievances, (d) internal control or risk management, (e) activities having a bearing on operational risk, or (f) maintenance of books and records pertaining to the above activities.
This certification aims to enhance the quality of services rendered by Depository Participants and improve the compliance standards and operational efficiencies in the Indian depository system.
Examination Objectives
On successful completion of the examination, the candidate should:
Know the basics of the Indian securities market and the depository system, including key features and its need in the Indian context.
Understand the institutional structure and business partners within the Indian depository framework.
Know the regulations, registration process, and compliance responsibilities of DPs under SEBI guidelines.
Understand various core functions of Depositories and DPs — dematerialisation, pledging, settlement, PoA, and account opening.
For more details, please visit the official website of
NISM.
Assessment Structure
| Component |
Details |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Marks per Question | 1 mark |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Passing Criteria | 60% (60 marks) |
| Negative Marking | 25% of the marks assigned to a question |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours |
Syllabus Outline with Weightages
| Unit No. |
Unit Name |
Weightage (%) |
| 1 | Introduction to Securities Market | 5 |
| 2 | Introduction to Depository | 10 |
| 3 | Depository and Its Business Partners | 12 |
| 4 | Functions of DP – Account Opening | 9 |
| 5 | Functions of DP – Account Operations | 5 |
| 6 | Functions of DP – Transmission & Nomination | 5 |
| 7 | Functions of DP – Dematerialisation | 9 |
| 8 | Functions of DP – Trading and Settlement | 13 |
| 9 | Functions of DP – Pledge and Hypothecation | 10 |
| 10 | Functions of DP – Corporate Action & Public Issues | 10 |
| 11 | Functions of DP – Debt and Government Securities | 10 |
| 12 | Additional Services – Foreign Portfolio Investor | 2 |
| 13 | Investor Services | 2 |
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Frequently Asked Questions – NISM Series VI: Depository Operations
Finding a reliable NISM VI Depository Operations Mock Test is a critical first step in your preparation. While some free tests exist, they often don't provide the comprehensive coverage or real-exam feel needed to pass. For a thorough and effective practice experience, nismexams.in offers a complete package featuring over 700+ exam-focused questions, detailed video lectures, and concise notes, ensuring your preparation is perfectly aligned with the official NISM exam.
The NISM Series VI exam is a 2-hour computer-based test that consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, with each question carrying one mark. A crucial element to be aware of is the 25% negative marking for each incorrect answer. To pass the certification, you must achieve a minimum score of 60%. This structure requires a strong grasp of the subject matter, along with good time management and accuracy.
Yes, trying a NISM VI Demo Test is a smart way to assess the quality of a preparation platform. A good demo test should give you a clear insight into the types of questions asked and the platform's user interface. While our main offering at nismexams.in is a comprehensive premium package, a demo helps you understand the value and quality you can expect from our full Depository Operations Practice Test.
A strategic approach is to prioritize the chapters with the highest weightage. For the NISM Series VI exam, you must concentrate on:
Functions of DP – Trading and Settlement (13%)
Depository and Its Business Partners (12%)
Introduction to Depository (10%)
Functions of DP – Pledge and Hypothecation (10%)
Functions of DP – Corporate Action & Public Issues (10%)
Functions of DP – Debt and Government Securities (10%)
Mastering these six chapters is essential as they account for 65% of the entire exam.
A NISM VI Mock Test is a complete simulation of the actual exam, not just a collection of questions. It is timed for 2 hours, contains 100 questions structured according to the official syllabus weightages, and incorporates the 25% negative marking. This is fundamentally different from a simple question bank because it trains you to handle the time pressure and strategic decision-making required for the real test, a core feature of the preparation offered on nismexams.in.
Relying solely on a free Depository Operations Mock Test is a risky strategy for a professional certification. Free resources are often not updated, may contain errors, and rarely cover the full depth of the syllabus. For an exam with negative marking, a comprehensive and verified question bank, like the 700+ questions included in our affordable package, provides a much more reliable path to success.
This chapter carries the highest weightage at 13% because it covers the core operational activities of a Depository Participant (DP). It details the process of how securities are transferred from a seller's demat account to a buyer's account after a trade is executed on the stock exchange. A deep understanding of settlement cycles (like T+1), pay-in, and pay-out is fundamental to the role and is therefore heavily tested.
To successfully pass the NISM Series VI: Depository Operations Certification Exam, you must score a minimum of 60%. This means you need to achieve a net score of at least 60 marks out of 100 after the 25% negative marking for any incorrect answers has been applied.
You can find a complete Depository Operations Model Test within the comprehensive preparation package at nismexams.in. Our platform is specifically designed to provide an authentic exam experience with multiple full-length mock tests. Each NISM VI Model Test is created by industry experts to accurately reflect the difficulty, question format, and topic distribution of the actual NISM exam.
The 25% negative marking means that for every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted from your score. In simple terms, for every four questions you get wrong, you lose one full mark. This makes random guessing a poor strategy and highlights the importance of accuracy. Practicing with our NISM VI Practice Test helps you develop a strategy for when to answer and when to skip a question.
This certification is essential for associated persons working with a registered Depository Participant (DP) in various roles, including:
Client interaction and dealing with securities.
Investor grievance redressal.
Internal control and risk management.
Maintenance of books and records.
Essentially, anyone whose job involves the operational side of the depository system.
The 15-day access plan at nismexams.in is perfectly designed for focused, short-term preparation. A successful 15-day strategy would be:
Days 1-7: Watch the Engaging Video Lectures to quickly grasp the core concepts of the depository system and DP functions.
Days 8-12: Dedicate this time to intensive practice with our 700+ Exam-Focused Questions, attempting chapter-wise tests.
Days 13-15: Take multiple full-length mock tests to master time management and get comfortable with the negative marking system.
This chapter has a high weightage of 12% because it explains the entire ecosystem of the depository system in India. It covers the roles and functions of the two main depositories (NSDL and CDSL), Depository Participants (DPs), clearing corporations, and registrars and transfer agents (RTAs). Understanding how these entities interact is fundamental to the subject.
The "Functions of DP – Dematerialisation" chapter (9% weightage) is a core topic that explains the process of converting physical share certificates into an electronic format that can be held in a demat account. You will learn about the Dematerialisation Request Form (DRF), the role of the RTA, and the timelines involved. This is a foundational process for all depository operations.
Our package is designed for thorough practice. We offer 15 test attempts per set, which allows you to retry the tests multiple times. This repetition is key to identifying your weak areas, learning from your mistakes, and tracking your improvement, ensuring you are fully confident on exam day.
While our concise short notes are excellent for quick revision, the video lectures serve a different purpose. They are designed to break down complex operational workflows, such as the settlement process or pledging mechanism, into simple, visual explanations. For many learners, watching an expert explain these processes is much more effective than reading about them.
After you successfully pass the exam, the NISM Series VI: Depository Operations Certification is valid for a period of three years. To maintain your certification beyond this period, you will need to either pass the exam again or complete a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program as prescribed by NISM.
Yes, our NISM VI Practice Test comprehensively covers the "Functions of DP – Corporate Action & Public Issues" chapter, which has a 10% weightage. Our question bank includes practical questions on how corporate actions like dividends, bonuses, and rights issues are handled for securities held in demat form.
A Depository Operations Demo Test is a short, free sample designed to give you a preview of our platform and the quality of our questions. In contrast, a full mock test is a complete simulation of the actual exam, with 100 questions, a 2-hour timer, and negative marking. A demo is for a quick look, but only the full mock tests can properly prepare you for the intensity of the real exam.
Our course provides exceptional value. For just Rs. 599, you receive a complete and expertly designed preparation toolkit, including over 700 practice questions, engaging video lectures, concise revision notes, and multiple test attempts. This affordable, all-in-one package offers a structured and reliable path to passing an important industry certification, saving you the potential cost and time of failing and needing to re-attempt the exam.
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