Company Secretary (CS) Exam

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) conducts the Company Secretary (CS) Examination, which is a three-stage professional course that equips individuals with the knowledge and skills required to become company secretaries. The syllabus and pattern of the exam differ for each stage:

1. Foundation Programme:

⚫ Syllabus: The Foundation Programme syllabus covers subjects like Business Environment, Forms of Business Organization, Elements of Law, Business Communication, Ethics, and Information Technology.
⚫ Pattern: The Foundation Programme exam is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted twice a year in June and December. It consists of four papers: Business Environment and Entrepreneurship (BE&E), Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning (LAR), Economic and Statistical Analysis (ESA), and Current Affairs and General Knowledge (CAGM). Each paper is of 100 marks and has a duration of two hours.

2. Executive Programme:

⚫ Syllabus: The Executive Programme syllabus is divided into two modules. Module I covers subjects like Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws, Company Law, Setting up of Business Entities and Closure, and Tax Laws. Module II covers Corporate & Management Accounting, Securities Laws & Capital Markets, Economic, Business and Commercial Laws, and Financial and Strategic Management.
⚫ Pattern: The Executive Programme exam is also a CBT conducted twice a year in June and December. Each module consists of four papers. Each paper is of 100 marks and has a duration of three hours. There is negative marking for Module II papers only.

3. Professional Programme:

⚫ Syllabus: The Professional Programme syllabus is divided into three modules. Module I covers subjects like Advanced Company Law and Practice, Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence, and Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency. Module II covers Information Technology and Systems Audit, Financial, Treasury and Forex Management, and Ethics, Governance and Sustainability. Module III covers Advanced Tax Laws and Practice, Drafting, Appearances and Pleadings, and one elective subject chosen from the five offered.
⚫ Pattern: The Professional Programme exam is a pen-and-paper based exam conducted once a year in December. Each module consists of three papers, except Module III which has two papers and one elective paper. Each paper is of 100 marks and has a duration of three hours. There is no negative marking.

It's important to note that the syllabus and pattern of the CS Exam are subject to change from time to time. Therefore, it's always recommended to refer to the latest official notifications from the ICSI for the most up-to-date information.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
⚫ ICSI website: https://www.icsi.edu/
⚫ ICSI CS Exam Syllabus: https://www.icsi.edu/new-syllabus/
⚫ ICSI CS Exam Pattern: https://www.icsi.edu/WebModules/AboutUs/Courses/CS_Course_01042014.htm