Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) Exam

Purpose

The ICSI conducts the Company Secretary (CS) exams to certify and provide membership to students who wish to become Company Secretaries. The exams aim to assess the academic and practical knowledge of candidates in company law, corporate governance, taxation, and financial management.

Conducting Authority

The exams are conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), which is the premier professional body for the regulation and development of the Company Secretary profession in India.

Exam Levels

The CS course is divided into three levels:

1. CS Foundation Program
2. CS Executive Program
3. CS Professional Program

Eligibility Criteria

• CS Foundation Program: Candidates should have passed the Class XII examination from a recognized board.
• CS Executive Program: Candidates who have passed the Foundation program or hold a graduate/post-graduate degree from a recognized university.
• CS Professional Program: Candidates who have passed the Executive program.

Exam Schedule/Important Dates

• CS Foundation Program:
  • Online Application Form Release: March and September
  • Last Date to Submit Application: March and September
  • Exam Date: June and December
  • Result Declaration: August and February
• CS Executive Program:
  • Online Application Form Release: March and September
  • Last Date to Submit Application: March and September
  • Exam Date: June and December
  • Result Declaration: August and February
• CS Professional Program:
  • Online Application Form Release: March and September
  • Last Date to Submit Application: March and September
  • Exam Date: June and December
  • Result Declaration: August and February

Application Process

1. Online Application: Candidates need to fill out the online application form available on the official ICSI website.
2. Submission: Submit the filled application form along with the required documents and pay the application fee.
3. Admit Card: Download the admit card after it is released.

Application Fee

The application fee varies based on the level of the exam and category of the candidate. It is typically around INR 1200-2500.

Exam Pattern

• CS Foundation Program: The exam consists of four papers, each carrying 100 marks. The papers include Business Environment and Law, Business Management, Ethics and Entrepreneurship, Business Economics, and Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing.
• CS Executive Program: The exam consists of eight papers divided into two modules. Each paper carries 100 marks. The papers include Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws, Company Law, Setting up of Business Entities and Closure, Tax Laws, Corporate and Management Accounting, Securities Laws and Capital Markets, Economic, Business and Commercial Laws, Financial and Strategic Management.
• CS Professional Program: The exam consists of nine papers divided into three modules. Each paper carries 100 marks. The papers include Governance, Risk Management, Compliance and Ethics, Advanced Tax Laws, Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances, Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence, Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation and Winding-up, Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non-compliances and Remedies, Corporate Funding and Listings in Stock Exchanges, Multidisciplinary Case Studies, Elective (One Paper), Banking – Law & Practice, Insurance – Law & Practice, Intellectual Property Rights – Laws and Practices, Labour Laws & Practice, Valuations & Business Modelling, Insolvency – Law and Practice.

Syllabus

The syllabus for the ICSI exams includes topics from the respective levels of the Foundation, Executive, and Professional programs. Specific details can be found in the official prospectus released by ICSI.

Preparation Tips

1. Understand the Syllabus: Go through the syllabus thoroughly and focus on the important topics.
2. Practice Previous Year Papers: Solve previous year question papers to get an idea of the exam pattern and difficulty level.
3. Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to assess your preparation and improve your speed and accuracy.
4. Study Plan: Create a study plan and stick to it. Allocate time for each subject and revise regularly.
5. Stay Updated: Keep yourself updated with the latest exam notifications and changes in the exam pattern.

  ICSI, ICSI Exam, Institute of Company Secretaries of India