NISM Series VI Study Material: What to Use
The official NISM workbook, third-party notes and mock tests, and what each is genuinely good for.
The one essential piece of study material for NISM Series VI is NISM's own workbook. The exam is set on it, chapter for chapter, and the weightage table in the workbook is the same one the paper follows. Everything else is a supplement.
The current workbook is version March 2026. Its own note says to refer to that version for the Series VI exam taken on or after April 30, 2026, and that the updates made in it are highlighted in yellow. If you have an older copy, replace it.
You save ₹400
- Full-length mock tests
- Chapter-wise question bank
- AI study plan
One payment, no subscription · Valid for 1 month
What to use, and what each is good for
NISM workbook, March 2026
Use it for
The full syllabus: 13 chapters, chapter-end review questions, four annexures
Watch out for
Older versions in circulation that miss recent SEBI changes
The workbook's weightage table
Use it for
Deciding how long to spend on each chapter
Watch out for
Treating light chapters as optional: 3, 2 and 2 marks still count
SEBI circulars cited in the footnotes
Use it for
Checking the exact wording of a rule the workbook summarises
Watch out for
Reading them in place of the workbook; the exam follows the workbook
Third-party notes and summaries
Use it for
Quick revision of terms and sequences
Watch out for
Notes made for an older workbook version
Your own notes and flashcards
Use it for
Forms, timelines, who-does-what at each step
Watch out for
Copying the workbook out in full instead of condensing it
Timed practice papers
Use it for
Testing recall under the 120-minute limit with negative marking
Watch out for
Question sets written for an older workbook version
| Material | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| NISM workbook, March 2026 | The full syllabus: 13 chapters, chapter-end review questions, four annexures | Older versions in circulation that miss recent SEBI changes |
| The workbook's weightage table | Deciding how long to spend on each chapter | Treating light chapters as optional: 3, 2 and 2 marks still count |
| SEBI circulars cited in the footnotes | Checking the exact wording of a rule the workbook summarises | Reading them in place of the workbook; the exam follows the workbook |
| Third-party notes and summaries | Quick revision of terms and sequences | Notes made for an older workbook version |
| Your own notes and flashcards | Forms, timelines, who-does-what at each step | Copying the workbook out in full instead of condensing it |
| Timed practice papers | Testing recall under the 120-minute limit with negative marking | Question sets written for an older workbook version |
What is inside the workbook
- check_circle13 chapters, from the Indian capital market through to investor services
- check_circleA syllabus outline with the weightage of each chapter
- check_circleReview questions at the end of chapters, useful for a first check after reading
- check_circleFour annexures: Aadhaar e-KYC, the use of technology for KYC, the operational mechanism for margin pledge, and the framework for using clients' pledged securities for exposure and margin
- check_circleFootnotes naming the SEBI circular behind many rules
How to get it
Get the workbook from NISM: its Series VI page at nism.ac.in is the place to start. Check the version printed on the cover before you rely on any copy, including one a colleague passes on.
Free account, this exam preselected.
What the workbook does well, and where to add
The workbook is thorough on procedure. It explains how an account is opened, how a demat request moves from the client to the DP to the issuer's registrar, how a pledge is created, closed or invoked, and how settlement instructions flow. Because it is written by the body that sets the exam, it is also the safest source on terminology.
Its weakness is length and density. Chapter 4 on account opening alone runs to more than 50 pages, much of it lists of documents and conditions. Reading it twice does not mean you can recall it under time pressure. Two additions help: a short set of your own summary notes per chapter, and plenty of question practice so you learn how the facts are asked.
Notes worth making as you read
- checkA one-page map of who is who: depository, DP, clearing corporation, issuer, RTA, and what each does
- checkThe forms and instructions used in each process, such as the demat request, delivery instructions and pledge instructions
- checkAccount types and what can and cannot be done with each, including the BSDA
- checkThe steps of transmission and of nomination, side by side
- checkCorporate action terms: record date, book closure and how each action reaches the demat account
- checkThe differences between pledge, hypothecation, re-pledge and the NDU
On practice questions
The workbook itself notes that its sample questions and examples are for reference only and that the actual exam's difficulty may vary. Use the review questions to check understanding after each chapter, and use full-length timed papers closer to the exam to check speed and recall.
Beware of out-of-date material
Depository rules change often, and the March 2026 workbook highlights its own updates for that reason. Notes, videos or question sets made for an older version can teach a rule that has since changed. When a source disagrees with the current workbook, go with the workbook.
Access exam-specific mock tests directly from your Android device.Trusted by learners and rated 4.6★ on Google Play.