CS Course duration is 3 years. The whole course can be divided into 3 levels. The first level known as CS Foundation takes 8 months to complete. CS Executive is the second level and it takes 9 months to complete. The final Level of the CS course is the CS Professional which takes 15 months to complete.
Check: Company Secretary Course Details
CS Foundation has 4 papers which are Business Law and Environment, Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship, Business Economics, Accounting and Auditing. CS Executive has 8 subjects divided into 2 modules. CS Professional 8 subjects divided into 3 modules and there is 1 elective subject.
Table of Contents
CS Course Details
In the Company Secretary course, there are mainly three stages. These are CS Foundation, CS Executive, and CS Professional. All three stages need to be passed to qualify as a company secretary. The table shown below lists details of this course.
| Parameters | For CS Foundation | For CS Executive | For CS Professional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration | 8 months | 9 months | 15 months |
| Course Level | First | Second | Third |
| Eligibility | Passed 10+2 in any stream (expect Fine Arts) | After graduation or Post-graduation (except Fine Arts) and should have either cleared CS Foundation or CSEET | After qualifying CS Executive Exam |
| Course Fee | INR 4500 | INR 10600 to INR 15600 | INR 12000 |
| No. of Subjects | 4 subjects | 8 subjects (in two modules with 4 subjects in each module) | 9 subjects (in three modules with 3 subjects in each module) |
| Exam Fee | INR 1200 | INR 1200 for each module | INR 1200 for each module |
| Exam | Twice a year (June and December) | Twice a year (June and December) | Twice a year (June and December) |
| Top Institute for CS course | The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (I.C.S.I) | The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (I.C.S.I) | The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (I.C.S.I) |
CS course duration
The company secretary is a three-year professional course. This course provides understanding and knowledge regarding the company’s law, tax fillings, and ensuring the company’s compliance with all the legal aspects. Since it is a professional course, there are mainly three stages to complete it. Every stage has its duration and they are discussed below.
CS Foundation Duration
The Company Secretary Foundation course is the first level of all three levels in the journey of becoming a Company Secretary. The duration of the CS Foundation course is 8 months. In these 8 months, four subjects are covered. These courses are Business Environment and Law, Business Management, Ethics & Entrepreneurship, Business Economics, and Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing. However, the admission to CS Foundation course is valid for three years and the candidate needs to qualify for the CS Foundation exam within this time. There is a choice given to candidates if they clear the CSEET exam then they can directly pursue the CS executive course.
CS Executive Duration
The Company Secretary Executive course duration is 9 months. There are a total of eight subjects in the CS Executive course. These subjects are Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws, Corporate & Management Accounting, Setting up of Business Entities and Closure, Company Law, Tax Laws, Securities Laws & Capital Markets, Financial and Strategic Management, and Economic, Business and Commercial Laws. The entire syllabus takes around 9 months to complete.
CS Professional Duration
The duration of the Company Secretary Professional program is 15 months. There are a total of nine subjects in the CS Professional course. Out of 9 subjects, 8 are mandatory and 1 is an elective subject. The mandatory 8 subjects are Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics, Advanced Tax laws, Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances, Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence, Corporate Reconstructing, Insolvency, Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Liquidation and Winding-up, Non- Compliances and Remedies, Corporate Funding and Listing in Stock Exchanges, and Multidisciplinary Case Studies. The 8 elective subjects are Banking- Law, and Practice, Insurance- Law and Practice, Intellectual Property Rights- Laws and Practice, Forensic Audit, Direct Tax Laws and Practice, Labour Laws and Practice, Valuations and Business Modelling, and Insolvency- Law, and Practice.
Steps to Become a CS
The journey to becoming a Company Secretary has different levels. These phases are described below.
- Step 1: Register for the CS Foundation course by logging into the official website of ICSI.
- Step 2: Prepare for CS Foundation and qualify in all papers which is securing a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects in one sitting Or Qualify CSEET exam.
- Step 3: Register for the CS Executive course by again logging into the official website of ICSI.
- Step 4: Prepare for CS Executive and qualify in all papers which is securing a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects in one sitting.
- Step 5: 7 days Student Induction Program (SIP) (to be completed by the students within 6 months of registration to the Executive Program).
- Step 6: 8 days Executive Development Program (EDP).
- Step 7: Register for the CS Professional course by logging into the official website of ICSI.
- Step 8: Prepare for CS Professional and qualify in all papers which is securing a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects in one sitting.
- Step 9: After successfully passing these three levels, students need to undergo 15 months of practical training.
- Step 10: 15 days of training within a specialized agency such as the office of the Registrar of Companies, stock exchange, financial or banking institution.
- Step 11: 15 days Management Skills Orientation Program (MSOP) — after passing the Professional program.
- Step 12: The students will be required to complete 25 hours of the Professional Development Program (PDP).
- Step 13: After passing the CS Professional Program, the student may enroll as a Licentiate ICSI until the completion of training requirements.
CS Syllabus
The syllabus of the Company Secretary is very huge and comprehensive. There are four subjects in the CS Foundation program. There are eight subjects in the CS Executive program. There are nine subjects in the CS Professional program.
Syllabus for CS Foundation program
| Subjects | Detailed syllabus |
|---|---|
| Business Environment and Law | Business Environment, Forms of Business Organization, Scales of Business, Emerging Trends in Business, Business Functions, Introduction to Law, Elements of Company Law, Elements of Law relating to Partnership and LLP, Elements of Law relating to Contract, Elements of Law relating to Sale of Goods, Elements of Law relating to Negotiable Instruments, Elements of Information Technology Act, and Role of CS- Duties and Responsibilities, Areas of Practice. |
| Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship | Planning, Organizing, Human Resource Management, Direction and Coordination, Controlling, Recent Trends in Management, Business Ethics, Business Communication, Essentials of Good English, Essentials of Good English, Interdepartmental Communication, E Correspondence, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship-Creativity and Innovation, Growth and Challenges of Entrepreneurial Ventures, Social Entrepreneurship, and Government Initiatives for Business Development. |
| Business Economics | The Fundamentals of Economics, Basic Elements of Demand and Supply, Theory of Consumer Behaviour, Theory of Production and Costs, Analysis of Markets, Indian Economy- An Overview, Basic Elements of Money and Banking, Descriptive Statistics, and Mathematics of Finance and Elementary Probability. |
| Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing | Theoretical Framework, Accounting Process, Bank Reconciliation Statement, Depreciation Accounting, Preparation of Final Accounts for Sole Proprietors, Partnership Accounts, Introduction to Company Accounts, Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations, Computerized accounting environment, Auditing, and Audits and Auditor’s Reports. |
Syllabus for CS Executive program
| Subjects | Detailed Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws | Sources of Law, Constitution of India, Interpretation of Statutes, General Clauses Act, 1897, Administrative Laws, Law of Torts, Limitation Act, 1963, Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Special Courts, Tribunals under Companies Act & Other Legislations, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Indian Stamp Act, 1899, Registration Act, 1908, Right to Information Act, 2005, and Information Technology Act, 2000. |
| Company Law | Introduction to Company Law, Shares and Share Capital, Members and Shareholders, Debt Instruments, Charges, Distribution of Profits, Corporate Social Responsibility, Accounts, Audit and Auditors, Transparency and Disclosures, An overview of Inter-Corporate Loans, Investments, Guarantees and Security, Related Party Transactions, Registers and Records, An overview of Corporate Reorganization, Introduction to MCA 21 and filing in XBRL, Global Trends and Developments in Company Law, Board Constitution and its Powers, Directors, Key Managerial Personnel (KMP’s) and their Remuneration, Meetings of Board and its Committees, General Meetings, Virtual Meetings, Legal framework governing Company Secretaries, Secretarial Standards Board, and Mega Firms. |
| Setting up of Business Entities and Closure | Choice of Business Organization, Company, Charter documents of Companies, Legal status of Registered Companies, Limited Liability Partnership, Other forms of business organizations, Institutions Not For Profit & NGOs, Financial Services Organization, Start-ups, Joint Ventures, Setting up of Business outside India, Conversion of existing business entity, Various Initial Registrations and Licenses, Maintenance of Registers and Records, Identifying laws applicable to various Industries and their initial compliances, Intellectual Property laws, Compliances under Labour Laws, Compliances relating to Environmental laws, Dormant Company, Strike off and restoration of name of the company and LLP, and Insolvency Resolution process; Liquidation and Winding-up. |
| Tax Laws | Direct Taxes at a Glance, Basic concepts of Income Tax, Incomes which do not form part of Total Income, Computation of Income under Various Heads, Clubbing provisions and Set Off and / or Carry Forward of Losses, Deductions from Gross Total Income & Rebate and Relief, Computation of Total Income and Tax Liability of various entities, Classification and Tax Incidence on Companies, Procedural Compliance, Assessment, Appeals & Revision, Concept of Indirect Taxes at a glance, Basics of Goods and Services Tax ‘GST’, Concept of Time, Value & Place of Taxable Supply, Input Tax Credit & Computation of GST Liability, Procedural Compliance under GST, Basic overview on Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST), Union Territory Goods and Service tax (UTGST), and GST Compensation to States, and Overview of Customs Act. |
| Corporate & Management Accounting | Introduction to Financial Accounting, Introduction to Corporate Accounting, Accounting for Share Capital, Accounting for Debentures, Related Aspects of Company Accounts, Financial Statements Interpretation, Consolidation of Accounts as per Companies Act, 2013, Corporate Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Statements, Accounting Standards (AS), National and International Accounting Authorities, Adoption, Convergence and Interpretation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Accounting Standards in India, An Overview of Cost, Cost Accounting Records & Cost Audit under Companies Act, 2013, Budget, Budgeting and Budgetary Control, Ratio Analysis, Management Reporting (Management Information Systems), Decision Making Tools, Valuation Principles & Framework, Valuation of Shares, Business and Intangible Assets, Accounting for Share based payments (IndAS 102), Business and Intangible Assets, and Methods of Valuation. |
| Securities Laws & Capital Markets | Securities Contracts (Regulations) Act 1956, Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, Depositories Act, 1996, An Overview of SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009, An Overview of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, An Overview of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011, SEBI (Buyback of Securities) Regulations, 1998, SEBI (Delisting of Equity Shares) Regulations, 2009, An Overview of SEBI (Share Based Employee Benefits) Regulations, 2014, An Overview of SEBI (Issue of Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2002, SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015, Mutual Funds, Collective Investment Schemes, SEBI (Ombudsman) Regulations, 2003, Structure of Capital Market, and Securities Market Intermediaries. |
| Economic, Business, and Commercial Laws | Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, Foreign Exchange Transactions & Compliances, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, Foreign Direct Investments – Regulations & FDI Policy, Overseas Direct Investment, Liberalized Remittance Scheme, External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), Foreign Trade Policy & Procedure, Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, Competition Act, 2002, Consumer Protection Act, 1986, Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Transfer of Property Act, 1882, Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, Benami Transaction Prohibitions (Act), Prevention of Money Laundering, Indian Contracts Act, 1872, Specific Relief Act, 1963, Sale of Goods Act, 1930, Partnership Act, 1932, and Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881. |
| Financial and Strategic Management | Nature and Scope of Financial Management, Capital Budgeting, Capital Structure, Sources of raising long-term finance and Cost of Capital, Project Finance, Dividend Policy, Working Capital, Security Analysis, Portfolio Management, Introduction to Management, Introduction to Strategic Management, Business Policy and Formulation of Functional Strategy, Strategic Analysis and Planning, Strategic Implementation and Control, and Analyzing Strategic Edge. |
Syllabus for CS Professional Program
| Subjects | Detailed Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics | Conceptual Framework of Corporate Governance, Legislative Framework of Corporate Governance in India, Board Effectiveness, Board Processes through Secretarial Standards, Board Committees, Corporate Policies & Disclosures, Directors’ Training, Development and familiarization, Performance Evaluation of Board and Management, Role of promoter/controlling shareholder, redressal against Oppression and Mismanagement, Monitoring of group entities and subsidiaries, Accounting and Audit related issues, Related Party Transactions, Vigil Mechanism/ Whistle blower, Corporate Governance and Shareholders’ Rights, Corporate Governance and other Stakeholders, Governance and Compliance Risk, Corporate Governance Forums, Parameters of Better Governed Companies, Dealing with Investor Associations, Proxy Services Firms and Institutional Investors, Family Enterprise and Corporate Governance, Risk Identification, Mitigation and Audit, Compliance Management, Internal Control, Reporting, Website Management, Ethics & Business, Sustainability, Models / Approaches to measure Business Sustainability, and Indian and contemporary Laws relating to Anti-bribery. |
| Advanced Tax laws | An Overview on Goods and Services Tax ‘GST’, Supply, Input Tax Credit & Computation of GST Liability, Procedural Compliance under GST, Demand and Recovery, Advance Ruling, Appeals and Revision, Inspection, search, seizure, offenses & penalties, Compliance rating, anti-profiteering, GST practitioners, authorized representative, professional opportunities, Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST), Union Territory Goods and Service tax (UTGST), GST Compensation to States, Industry/ Sector Specific Analysis, Basic Concepts of Customs Law, Valuation & Assessment of Imported and Export Goods & Procedural Aspects, Arrival or Departure and Clearance of Goods, Warehousing, Duty Drawback, Baggage and Miscellaneous Provisions, Advance Ruling, Settlement Commission, Appellate Procedure, Offences and Penalties: Advance Ruling; Appeal and Revision; Offences and Penalties; Prosecution; Settlement of Cases, Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) to the extent relevant to Indirect tax, Corporate Tax Planning & Tax Management, Taxation of Companies, LLP and Non-resident, General Anti Avoidance Rules ‘GAAR’, Basics of International Taxation, Tax Treaties, and Income Tax Implication on specified transactions. |
| Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances | Judicial & Administrative framework, General Principles of Drafting and relevant Substantive Rules, Secretarial Practices & Drafting, Drafting and Conveyancing relating to Various Deeds and Agreements, Drafting of agreements, documents and deeds, Pleadings, Art of Writing Opinions, and Appearances & Art of Advocacy. |
| Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence | Compliance Framework, Compliances, Documentation & maintenance of records, Search and Status Report, KYC, Signing and Certification, Segment-wise Role of Company Secretaries, Audits, Secretarial Audit, Internal Audit & Performance Audit, Concepts and Principles of Other Audits, Audit Engagement, Audit Principles and Techniques, Audit Process and Documentation, Forming an Opinion & Reporting, Secretarial Audit – Fraud detection & Reporting, Quality Review, Values Ethics and Professional Conduct, Due Diligence, and Due Diligence. |
| Corporate Reconstructing, Insolvency, Liquidation and Winding-up | Types of Corporate Restructuring, Acquisition of Company/ Business, Planning & Strategy, Process of M&A transactions, Documentation–Merger & Amalgamation, Valuation of Business and Assets for Corporate Restructuring, Accounting in Corporate Restructuring—Concept and Accounting Treatment, Taxation & Stamp Duty aspects of Corporate Restructuring, Competition Act, Regulatory approvals of scheme, Appearance before NCLT / NCLAT, Fast Track Mergers, Cross Border Mergers, Insolvency, Petition for Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, Role, Functions and Duties of IP/ IRP/ RP, Resolution Strategies, Convening and Conduct of Meetings of Committee of Creditors, Preparation & Approval of Resolution Plan, Individual/ Firm Insolvency, Fresh Start Process, Debt Recovery & SARFAESI, Cross Border Insolvency, Liquidation on or after failing of RP, Voluntary Liquidation, and Winding-up by Tribunal under the Companies Act, 2013. |
| Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non- Compliances, and Remedies | Shareholders’ Democracy & Rights, Corporate Disputes, Fraud under Companies Act and IPC, Misrepresentation & Malpractices, Regulatory Action, Defaults, Adjudication, prosecutions and penalties under the Companies Act, Securities Laws, FEMA, COFEPOSA, Money Laundering, Competition Act, Labour Laws & Tax Laws, Fines, Penalties and Punishments under various laws, Civil and Criminal Trial Procedure and Process, Relief and Remedies, and Crisis management, Professional Liability, D & O Policy & other Risk and liability mitigation approaches. |
| Corporate Funding and Listing in Stock Exchanges | Indian Equity- Public Funding, Indian Equity- Private funding, Indian equity- Non Fund based, Debt Funding – Indian Non fund Based, Foreign Funding - Instruments & Institutions, Other Borrowings Tools, Non-Convertible Instruments- Non-Convertible Redeemable Preference Shares (NCRPs), Securitization, Listing–Indian Stock Exchanges, International Listing, Various Procedural requirements for issue of securities and Listing, Preparing a Company for an IPO and Governance requirements thereafter, Appraising the Board and other functions in the organizations regarding the Post IPO/Listing Governance changes, and Documentation & Compliances. |
| Multidisciplinary Case Studies | Case studies mainly on the following areas: 1. Corporate Laws including Company Law 2. Securities Laws 3. FEMA and other Economic and Business Legislations 4. Insolvency Law 5. Competition Law 6. Business Strategy and Management 7. Interpretation of Law 8. Governance Issues |
| Banking – Law & Practice | Overview of Indian Banking System, Regulatory Framework of Banks, Control over Organization of Banks, Regulation of Banking Business, Banking operations, IT in Banking, Payment and Collection of Cheques and Other Negotiable Instruments, Case Laws on Responsibility of Paying Bank, Case Laws on Responsibility of Collecting Bank, Various Government Schemes, Consumer Protection, Loans and Advances, Securities for Banker’s Loans, Documentation, Calculation of Interest and Annuities, Calculation of YTM, Foreign Exchange Arithmetic, Non Performing Assets, Final Accounts of Banking Companies, and Risk Management in Banks and Basel Accords. |
| Insurance – Law & Practice | Concept of Insurance : Risk Management, Regulatory Framework of Insurance Business in India, Life Insurance – Practices, Life Insurance – Underwriting, Applications of Life Insurance, Life Insurance – Finance, Health Insurance, General Insurance - Practices and Procedures, Fire & Consequential Loss Insurance, Marine Insurance, Agricultural Insurance, Agricultural Insurance, Liability Insurance, Liability Insurance, Liability Insurance, and Corporate Governance for Insurance Companies. |
| Intellectual Property Rights: Laws and Practices | Types of Intellectual Property- Origin and Development- An Overview, Role of International Institutions, Patents, Indian Patent Law, Patent Databases & Patent Information System, Preparation of Patent Documents, Process for Examination of Patent Application, Patent Infringement, Recent Developments in Patent System, Trademarks, Copyrights, Industrial Designs, Geographical Indications, Layout- Designs of Integrated Circuits, The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights, Protection of Trade Secrets, Key Business Concerns in Commercializing Intellectual Property Rights, and Case Laws, Case Studies and Practical Aspects. |
| Forensic Audit | Fraud and Audit, Audit and Investigations, Forensic Audit : Laws and Regulations, Forensic Audit and Indian Evidence Law, Cyber Forensics. |
| Direct Tax Laws & Practice | An Overview of Income Tax Act, 1961, Computation of Income under the head of Salary, Computation of Income under the head of House Property, Computation of Income - Profits and Gains from Business and Profession, Computation of Income under the head of Capital Gains, Computation of Income from Other Sources, Exemptions/Deduction, Clubbing provisions, Set Off and/or Carry Forward of Losses, Rebate and Relief, Computation of Total Income and Tax Liability, TDS/TCS, Returns, Refund & Recovery, Tax Planning & Tax Management, International Taxation – An Overview, and Recent Case Laws. |
| Labour Laws & Practice | Constitution and Labour Laws, International Labour Organization, Law of Welfare & Working Condition, Law of Industrial Relations, Law of Wages, Social Security Legislations, The Labour Laws (Simplification of Procedure for Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Act 1988, Labour Codes, and Industrial and Labour Laws Audit covering the above Acts and other Industry Specific Acts. |
| Valuations & Business Modelling | Overview of Business Valuation, Purpose of Valuation, International Valuation Standards Overview, Valuation guidance resources in India, Business Valuation Methods, Steps to establish the Business Worth, Valuation of Tangibles, Valuation of Intangibles, Accounting for share based payment, Valuation during Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuation of various magnitudes of Business Organizations, Valuation of Business during Distressed Sale, Introduction to Business Modelling, and Business Model Analysis: Facets of Analysis. |
| Law and Practice | Insolvency – Concepts and Evolution, Introduction to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, Insolvency Resolution of Corporate Persons, Insolvency Resolution of Corporate Persons, Fast Track Corporation Insolvency Resolution Process, Liquidation of Corporate Person, Liquidation of Corporate Person, Adjudication and Appeals for Corporate Persons, Debt Recovery and Securitization, Winding-Up by Tribunal, Cross Border Insolvency, Cross Border Insolvency, Bankruptcy Order for Individuals and Partnership firms, Bankruptcy for Individuals and Partnership Firms, Fresh Start Process, and Professional and Ethical Practices for Insolvency Practitioners. |
CS Course Duration: FAQs
Ques. Can I complete CS in 2 years?
Ans. No, CS cannot be completed in 2 years.
Ques. How many years are required for CS?
Ans. Minimum 3 years are required for the Company Secretary course.
Ques. Can CS be done in 1 year?
Ans. No, CS cannot be done in 1 year.
Ques. Is CS very difficult?
Ans. Yes, the company secretary course is one of the toughest courses in the commerce stream.
Ques. Is CS a lot of math?
Ans. CS majorly covers the commerce stream, so you won’t find a lot of math in it.
Ques. Is CS difficult for average students?
Ans. CS is a difficult course, however, students will complete preparation can crack it.
Ques. How many hours a company secretary student should study?
Ans. A company secretary student should make a time table keeping the study hour between 6 to 8 hours per day.
Ques. How to clear CS in first attempt?
Ans. One can clear CS in the first attempt by completing all subjects, preparing well, and practicing all the previous year papers.
Ques. What happens if you fail in CS?
Ans. If a candidate fails in the first attempt, then he/ she can prepare better and appear for the second attempt.
Ques. How many papers does CS have?
Ans. CS foundation has 4 papers, CS executive has 8 papers, and CS professional has 9 papers.
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