NISM-IFSCA-02A: Cyber Security and Cyber Resilience in the GIFT IFSC (Basic) Mock Test

NISM-IFSCA-02A Certification: Examination Objectives, Assessment Structure & Chapter Weightage

Executive Overview

The NISM-IFSCA-02A: Certification Course on Cyber Security and Cyber Resilience in the GIFT IFSC (Basic) is designed to establish a common minimum knowledge benchmark for IFSCA Officers and employees of Regulated Entities (REs) operating within the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) ecosystem. It also offers professionals outside Regulated Entities an opportunity to enhance their expertise in financial cyber security, regulatory compliance, and resilience practices.

Examination Objectives:

Upon successfully completing the NISM-IFSCA-02A certification examination, candidates will demonstrate comprehensive knowledge across key operational, technical, and regulatory cyber security domains:

• Foundational Cyber Security Concepts: Gain a firm understanding of basic cyber security concepts, core security principles, risk terminology, and the evolving global threat landscape.
• Governance, Risk & Architecture: Understand how governance structures, risk management frameworks, and robust security architecture combine to establish effective cyber security programs.
• Core Cyber Security Domains: Develop practical domain knowledge across Asset Management, Access Management, Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM), Physical Security, Application Security, Data Security, and Vulnerability Management.
• Security Awareness & Culture: Recognize the crucial role of human factors, cyber hygiene, continuous security training, and building a strong security culture across financial entities.
• Incident Response & Cyber Resilience: Understand mechanisms for cyber incident detection, triage, containment, eradication, safe recovery, and long-term organizational resilience.
• IFSCA Regulatory Framework: Develop familiarity with mandatory cyber security guidelines, audit compliance, and reporting obligations mandated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
• Emerging Technologies & Threat Vectors: Understand security challenges originating from Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, IoT, and modern attack vectors in global financial ecosystems.

Assessment Structure & Exam Pattern:

The NISM-IFSCA-02A examination evaluates a candidate's candidate benchmark knowledge through a standardized multiple-choice structure:

Syllabus Index & Chapter Weightage Table:

Below is the complete chapter-wise syllabus index along with the marks allocated to each topic in the 50-mark NISM-IFSCA-02A examination:

Key Highlights for Candidates:

• High-Weightage Chapters (5 Marks each): Cyber Security Design & Architecture (Ch. 3), Access Management & Physical Security (Ch. 5), Data Security (Ch. 8), and Incident Response & Cyber Resilience (Ch. 11) together account for 20 marks (40% of the exam).
• Regulatory Compliance (IFSCA Guidelines): Chapter 12 specifically covers the March 10, 2025 IFSCA circulars and subsequent amendments, detailing audit deadlines, 6-hour incident reporting, and exemption rules for GIFT IFSC entities.
• No Negative Marking Advantage: Candidates should attempt all 50 questions within the 60-minute duration, as there is no penalty for incorrect answers.