NISM Series VI (Depository Operations)
NISM-Series-VI: Depository Operations Certification Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
NISM-Series-VI: Depository Operations Certification Examination is one of the certification examinations offered by the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), a public trust established in 2006 by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). NISM lists this examination under its Operations category, alongside the Securities Operations and Risk Management certification. The examination is intended for candidates who work, or intend to work, in depository and securities operations roles - typically back-office and operations staff at depository participants, brokerages, and custodial or registrar functions - where an understanding of depository processes and market infrastructure is part of the job. Because NISM does not publish the detailed content outline on the page retrieved for this profile, this guide does not reproduce a domain-by-domain syllabus; candidates should obtain the current NISM workbook and study material through NISM's own channels and confirm the applicable syllabus there. For continuing education, NISM also operates a Depository Operations CPE/eCPE programme for certified professionals who must maintain their credential. To prepare, work through the official workbook chapter by chapter, then test recall with practice questions that force you to distinguish similar depository processes and the responsibilities of each party in the chain. Verify all examination logistics - registration, fees, duration, question count, pass mark, and retake rules - directly with NISM, since those details are not stated in the source material used here.
What you'll study
About NISM Series VI (Depository Operations) preparation
Who conducts the NISM-Series-VI Depository Operations examination?
It is offered by the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), a public trust established in 2006 by SEBI, the regulator of the securities markets in India. NISM carries out capacity-building activities aimed at enhancing quality standards in the securities markets. This independent study page is not affiliated with NISM and does not represent it.
Where does this exam sit among NISM's certifications?
NISM groups it under the Operations category of its certification examinations, alongside NISM-Series-VII: Securities Operations and Risk Management. That placement tells you the intended audience: people in depository, custody, and securities back-office operations rather than advisory or distribution roles.
What does the exam cover?
NISM's own page for this certification does not publish the detailed content outline in the material available to us, so we do not reproduce a domain list or weightings here. Download the current official workbook and syllabus from NISM and treat those as the authoritative scope before you plan study time.
How many questions, how long, and what is the pass mark?
Those details are not stated in the source material used for this page, so we have deliberately left them blank rather than guess. Exam structures are revised periodically, and outdated figures are the most common preparation error. Confirm the current question count, duration, and passing score on NISM's official certification page before booking.
Is there a continuing education requirement after certification?
NISM operates a Depository Operations CPE/eCPE programme, listed under Operations-CPE/eCPE in its CPE section. Certified professionals should check NISM's CPE pages for the current renewal requirements, programme formats, and available sessions, since the specific credit or renewal conditions are not stated in the source used here.
How hard is it, and what trips candidates up?
Difficulty reports vary and we cannot cite an official pass rate. The usual failure mode is memorising definitions without understanding the sequence of a transaction - who instructs, who confirms, who reconciles, and what happens when a step fails. Learn processes end to end, then test yourself on near-identical concepts that differ only in one party or one document.
In what order should I study?
Start with the official workbook's early chapters to build the vocabulary of depository participants, clients, and account structures. Move next to transaction flows and the documents that trigger them. Finish with the compliance and grievance-handling chapters. Revise by writing process steps from memory, then checking against the workbook rather than rereading passively.
What if I fail - can I retake it?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any fees are not stated in the source material for this page, so we cannot confirm them. Check NISM's official certification page for the current policy before scheduling. If you do need to resit, diagnose which process areas caused the loss rather than repeating the same broad revision.
Where can I find official study material?
NISM's site links to a Study Material section, and the certification pages for individual examinations point to the relevant workbooks. Use those official materials as your primary source, and use third-party practice questions only as a recall check - never as a substitute for the syllabus.