The Company Secretary (CS) course is a professional course that has been introduced by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for those wishing to become a company secretary. The course includes three levels: foundation, executive, and professional.
The course for each level includes various aspects of law, management, finance, and governance. The syllabus for the CS course is updated to keep pace with the changing business environment and legal framework. This page has all the details about the CS course 2026.
ICSI CS Course Syllabus 2026
If you signed up for the ICSI CS Executive Program before 2017, you can now switch to the CS syllabus updated from 2022. The link to switch is now available. If you are interested in switching, be sure to familiarize yourself with the new course and the discount for each paper to start preparation.
Similarly, if you enroll in the ICSI CS professional program before 2017, you have the option to switch to a new course from 2022. Like the executive program, if you plan to switch, be sure to understand the new course and the discount for each paper. The final CS for ICSI CS professionals under the old course is scheduled for June 2026. ICSI sets courses for both executive and professional programs.
Candidates preparing for these exams should review important subjects. The updated CS syllabus includes the online Company Secretary Executive Admission Test (CSEET), Executive Program, and Professional Program.
CS Course Details
Check out the important details of the CS Course in the table below.
| Course Name | Company Secretary or CS Course |
| Admission Process | Entrance exam scores |
| Course fees |
|
| Qualification Required | Candidates must have passed their class 12th or equivalent from a recognised school board in India |
| Eligibility Criteria | CSEET Exam Eligibility: Passed class 12th or equivalent exam from a recognised school board |
| CS Executive Eligibility: CSEET or graduation/postgraduation/Passed CS Foundation program/Passed CA Final or ICMAI Final | |
| CS Professional Eligibility: Cleared CS Executive programme | |
| Entrance Exam | Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET), CS Foundational, CS Executive, CS Professional |
| Entrance Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Salary (Annual) | INR 3,00,000 - INR 15,00,000 |
| Skills Required | Strong Communication Skills, Time Management & Multi-Tasking, Expertise in Finance Law and Company Law, Analytical Skills, Eye To Detail, Corporate Compliance Procedure Knowledge, Attention to Detail, etc. |
| Job Profiles | Administrative Secretary, Corporate Planner, Corporate Policymaker, Chief Administrative Officer, Managing Director, Business Consultant, Member of Board of Directors, Legal Advisor, etc. |
| Top Recruiting Firms | Dell Technologies, TVS, Tata Steel, Aditya Birla Group, People Combine, Croma, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited, ACB Group of Companies, etc. |
Overview of CS Course
The CS course is divided into three main stages:
- CSEET (entrance)
- Executive program
- Professional program
Each stage is designed to make your knowledge step-by-step, with the final level focused on advanced and specialized subjects. Practical training and internships are also part of the journey to get students' hands-on experience.
CS Syllabus 2026 For Executive Exam (New)
Check the CS Executive Course 2026 (new) below to gain insight into the updated course.
| CS Exam Pattern for Executive Programme (New Syllabus) | ||
| Group Name/ Paper Number | Subject | Marks |
| 1.1 | Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws | 100 |
| 1.2 | Company Law & Practice Part 1—Company Law: Principles and Concepts | 60 |
| Part 2 - Company Administration & Meeting | 40 | |
| 1.3 | Setting Up of a Business, Industrial & Labour Laws Part 1 - Setting Up of a Business | 60 |
| Part 2—Industrial & Labour Laws | 40 | |
| 1.4 | Corporate Accounting and Financial Management Part 1 - Corporate Accounting | 60 |
| Part 2—Financial Management | 40 | |
| 2.5 | Capital Market & Securities Laws Part 1—Capital Market | 40 |
| Part 2—Securities Laws | 60 | |
| 2.6 | Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws Part 1—Economic & Commercial Laws | 60 |
| Part 2—Intellectual Property Laws | 40 | |
| 2.7 | Tax Laws & Practice Part 1—Direct Tax | 60 |
| Part 2—Indirect Tax | 40 | |
CS Syllabus 2026 for Professional Exam (New)
The updated course for the ICSI CS professional course will apply to candidates registering for the June 2026 examination session. Scroll down to search for details of the new CS professional syllabus 2026.
| ICSI CS Exam Pattern for Professional Programme | ||
| Group 1 | ||
| Paper Number | Subjects | Marks |
| 1 | Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)—Principles & Practice Part I—Governance and Sustainability | 65 |
| Part II – Risk Management | 20 | |
| Part III—Environment & Sustainability Reporting | 15 | |
| 2 | Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances Part I - Drafting and Conveyancing | 70 |
| Part II - Pleadings and Appearances | 30 | |
| 3 | Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence Part I—Compliance Management | 40 |
| Part II – Audit & Due Diligence | 60 | |
| 4 | Elective 1 (Select one Paper out of 4 Elective Papers) | |
| Group 2 | ||
| Paper Number | Subjects | Marks |
| 5 | Strategic Management & Corporate Finance Part I – Strategic Management | 40 |
| Part II – Corporate Finance | 60 | |
| 6 | Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency Part I – Corporate Restructuring | 40 |
| Part II – Valuation | 20 | |
| Part III – Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding up | 40 | |
| 7 | Elective 2 (Select one Paper out of 5 Elective Papers) | |
| Elective Subjects | ||
| Paper Number | Elective 1 | Elective 2 |
| 4.1 | CSR & Social Governance Part I – Corporate Social Responsibility (50 Marks) Part II – Social Governance (50 Marks) | Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation Part I – Arbitration & Conciliation (70 Marks) Part II – Mediation (30 Marks) |
| 4.2 | Internal and Forensic Audit Part I – Internal Audit (60 Marks) Part II – Forensic Audit (40 Marks) | Goods and Services Tax (GST) & Corporate Tax Planning Part I – Goods and Services Tax (GST) (70 Marks) Part II – Corporate Tax Planning (30 Marks) |
| 4.3 | Intellectual Property Rights—Law & Practice (100 Marks) | Labour Laws & Practice (100 Marks) |
| 4.4 | Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Cyber Security—Laws & Practice (100 Marks) | Banking & Insurance—Laws & Practice Part I – Banking Laws (50 Marks) Part II – Insurance Laws (50 Marks) |
| Insolvency and Bankruptcy—Law & Practice (100 Marks | ||
ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2026
Potential candidates who excel in the ICSI CS exam should familiarize themselves with the CS exam pattern. See the table below for the main highlights.
| ICSI CS Exam Pattern | |
| Features | Details |
| Mode of examination | Executive Programme: A combination of 20% case-based objective-type questions and 80% descriptive questions for all papers except Paper No. 4 (Corporate Accounting and Financial Management), which is entirely descriptive. |
| Professional Program: Descriptive questions only. | |
| Duration | Three hours for each paper |
| Marks | 100 marks for each paper |
Preparation Tips for ICSI CS Syllabus
Here are some preparation tips for the ICSI CS (Company Secretary) course:
- Understand the syllabus to familiarize yourself with the entire course for all three stages: Foundation, Executive, and Professional. Prefer high-load subjects and focus more on subjects where you have weak areas.
- Make a study plan. Develop a structured study plan, and allocate specific time slots for each subject. Be sure to cover both theoretical and practical subjects, allowing time for amendment. Stick to daily goals for stable progress.
- Conceptual clarity pays attention to CS subjects, especially in law; deep understanding and ideological clarity are required. Avoid learning the root. Use reference books recommended by ICSI and look at the bare acts for clarity in law-related subjects.
- Practice writing answers Writing practice is essential, especially for theoretical letters. Write in a clear, brief, and logical way. Practice previous years' question papers and fake tests.
- Stay updated on the amendment laws and rules, and keep changing. Ensure that you are updated on all recent amendments, especially for papers such as taxation, corporate law, and securities law.
Summary
The CS course syllabus is designed to make you a well-rounded governance professional. From basic corporate laws in CSEET to complex restructuring cases in professional programs, every level develops specialization in step with industry requirements.
Whether you are starting your CS trip or preparing for high levels, it is important for success to stay updated with the latest company secretary syllabus and to align your studies with the latest legal and regulatory changes. With hardworking preparation and attention, you will be well on your way to becoming a qualified company secretary.
