The SEBI Grade A Mains 2026 Precis passage (21 February 2026) was not merely a compression exercise — it was a test of trade policy understanding, logical sequencing, and structural discipline.
Let us decode the passage and the ideal writing approach.
📌 Passage Theme Overview
The passage revolved around:
- U.S.–China trade tensions
- Temporary tariff reductions
- Market reaction
- Strategic interpretation of Trump’s move
- Implications for India
- Structural weaknesses in India’s manufacturing ecosystem
This was a policy-analysis passage, not a narrative one.
🔍 Structural Breakdown of the Passage
A strong SEBI précis always follows the author’s logical flow, not random shortening.
🔹 Part 1 – Global Trade Thaw
- 90-day tariff reduction
- Earlier escalation of trade war
- Market optimism
👉 Core Idea: Temporary relief in US–China trade tensions.
🔹 Part 2 – Strategic Interpretations
- Is Trump backing down?
- Or did pressure tactics work?
- Trade deficit still unresolved
- Talks to continue
👉 Core Idea: Agreement is tactical, not structural resolution.
🔹 Part 3 – Implications for India
- China+1 model risk
- India’s trade deficit with China
- ‘Make in India’ dependency
- Need for labour and land reforms
👉 Core Idea: India must undertake structural reforms or remain dependent.
✍ What SEBI Was Testing
This passage tested:
✔ Trade diplomacy awareness
✔ Ability to remove examples & data
✔ Logical flow preservation
✔ Policy-neutral tone
✔ Structural compression in 150 words
It was not about rewriting lines.
It was about understanding the author’s policy argument progression.
🧠 Ideal Writing Approach for SEBI Precis
Step 1: Identify Core Argument
This passage was not about tariff numbers.
It was about:
Temporary trade détente and India’s structural vulnerability.
If you missed this — structure would collapse.
Step 2: Maintain 3-Paragraph Flow
Best scoring format:
Paragraph 1:
US–China tariff pause and its context
Paragraph 2:
Interpretations and unresolved trade deficit
Paragraph 3:
Implications for India and reform necessity
Do NOT merge everything into one block.
Flow matters more than compression speed.
Step 3: Remove What Must Go
In SEBI Precis, remove:
- Exact percentages
- Dates
- Country-specific tariff figures
- Repetitive references
- Descriptive language
Keep only structural meaning.
Step 4: Craft a Precise Title (4–6 Words)
Examples of strong titles:
- US–China Trade Truce
- Temporary Tariff Détente
- Trade Tensions and India
- Bilateral Thaw and Structural Reform
Avoid generic titles like:
❌ Trade Agreement
❌ US China Issue
❌ Global Trade
⚠ Common Mistakes Candidates Likely Made
- Writing in one long paragraph
- Retaining unnecessary statistics
- Missing India’s reform angle
- Turning précis into summary commentary
- Adding personal opinion
Remember:
Precis = Author’s voice, not your analysis.
🎯 Difficulty Level Assessment
| Parameter | Level |
|---|---|
| Topic Familiarity | Moderate |
| Compression Demand | High |
| Structural Discipline | Critical |
| Time Pressure Impact | Significant |
In a 60-minute paper, precision writing required calm control.
🚀 What This Means for 2027 Aspirants
SEBI is clearly moving towards:
- Trade & global economic policy
- Regulatory awareness
- Structural economic reforms
- Analytical neutrality
Your preparation must include:
✔ Policy-based editorial reading
✔ Structured 3-paragraph précis practice
✔ 150-word discipline drills
✔ Title crafting practice
📌 Bank Whizz Recommendation
If you are preparing for SEBI 2027:
Start building:
- 30 policy-based précis sets
- 150-word exact practice habit
- Flow-based compression, not sentence trimming
SEBI rewards clarity + structure + maturity.