The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has introduced a major change in the curriculum of ICSI CS programme. The institute has discontinued the CS Foundation programme. The programme has been replaced with CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET). Now, CSEET will be a mandatory qualifying test for registration to Executive Programme for all categories of students. However, exemption has been given to few categories.
The existing Foundation programme students will be allowed to appear in the exam till the expiry of the validity of their registration. Such students after passing the Foundation programme may register for Executive programme as per the existing process.
Graduate or postgraduate candidates who were other-wise eligible to seek registration directly to the Executive programme will also have to qualify the CSEET to become eligible for registration to the Programme.
The new curriculum was proposed by ICSI in September which is implemented this year. The aim is to ensure students have the requisite level of aptitude and skills to become successful professionals.
The ICSI will conduct the first CSEET in May and hold the subsequent tests in July, November and January. The tentative schedule of CSEET throughout the year is given below.
| Month of Examination | CSEET Registrations | CS Executive Entrance Test | Last Date of Result Declaration | Last date to register into CS Executive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | January 21 to April 15, | On a saturday close to May 10, | By May 20, | May 31 (for CS Executive both modules in December session in the same year) |
| July | May 21 to June 15 | On a Saturday close to July 10, | By July 20, | July 31 (for any one module of CS Executive in December session in the same year) |
| November | July 21 to October 15, | On a Saturday close to November 10, | By November 20, | November 30 (for CS Executive both modules in June session in the next year) |
| January | November 21 to December 15 | On a Saturday close to January 10 | By January 20 | January 31 (for any one module of CS Executive in June session in the next year) |
The cutoff dates for registration to Executive Programme and Professional Programme for appearing in ICSI CS examinations held in June and December every year are given below:
| Session of CS Executive / Professional Examinations | No. of Module(s) in which a Student can appear in the Examinations | Cutoff date for Registration to Executive / Professional Programme |
|---|---|---|
| June | All Modules | November 30 (previous year) |
| Any One Module | January 31 (same year) | |
| December | All Modules | May 31 (same year) |
| Any One Module | July 31 (same year) |
| Details | Fee (in Rs) |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee for all | 2,000 |
| Education Fee | 6,500 |
| CSEET Exemption Fee | CSEET passed & CS Foundation passed- Nil ICAI Final passed & ICMAI Final passed- 5,000 |
| Pre-Exam Test Fee | 1,000 |
| One Day Orientation Prog. Fee | 600 |
| Chartered Secretary Journal Subscription (Optional) for one year | 500 |
| Total | 10,600 |
The CSEET will be an online Computer-based Test. The test will comprise Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), audio clips, video clips, and descriptive questions. The duration of CSEET will be135 minutes (120 Minutes for MCQ test and 15 minutes for Viva-Voce). There is no negative marking. The following subjects will be covered under CSEET.
Candidates need to secure an aggregate of 50% and 40% in each subject in CSEET.
The provisional registration to Executive Programme is discontinued. ICSI has introduced ‘Continuation of Registration’ according to which the students are required to keep their registration renewed from time to time even after passing Professional Programme. The fee for this is Rs 1000 per year
Introduction and Features; Concepts of Vision & Mission Statements; Types of Environment-Internal to the Enterprise(Value System, Management Structure and Nature, Human Resource, Company Image and Brand Value, Physical Assets, Facilities, Research & Development, Intangibles, Competitive Advantage),External to the Enterprise (MicroSuppliers, Customers, Market Intermediaries; Macro- Demography, Natural, Legal & Political, Technological, Economy, Competition, Sociocultural and International); Business Environment with reference to Global Integration; Comparative Analysis of Business Environment: India and Other Countries
Concept and Features in relation to following business modelsSole Proprietorship; Partnership; Company; Statutory Bodies and Corporations; HUF and Family Business; Cooperatives, Societies and Trusts; Limited Liability Partnership; OPCs; Other Forms of Organizations.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Large Scale Enterprises and Public Enterprises; MNCs
Concepts, Advantages and Limitations-Franchising, Aggregators, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) & Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO); E-Commerce, Digital Economy
Strategic- Planning, Budgetary Control, R&D, Location of a Business, Factors affecting Location, Decision Making and Government Policy; Supply Chain-Objectives, Importance, Limitations, Steps, Various Production Processes; FinanceNature, Scope, Significance of Financial Management, Financial Planning (Management Decisions – Sources of Funds, Investment of Funds, Distribution of Profits); MarketingConcept, Difference between Marketing and Selling, Marketing Mix, Functions of Marketing; Human Resources- Nature, Objectives, Significance; Services- Legal, Secretarial, Accounting, Administration, Information and Communication Technology; Social Functions.
Meaning of Law and its Significance; Relevance of Law to Modern Civilized Society; Sources of Law; Legal Terminology and Maxims; Understanding Citation of Cases
Meaning and Nature of Company; Promotion and Incorporation of a Company; Familiarization with the Concept of Board of Directors, Shareholders and Company Meetings; Company Secretary; E-Governance
Nature of Partnership and Similar Organizations- Co-Ownership, HUF; Partnership Deed; Rights and Liabilities of Partners- New Admitted, Retiring and Deceased Partners; Implied Authority of Partners and its Scope; Registration of Firms; Dissolution of Firms and of the Partnership; Limited Liability Partnership Act.
Meaning of Contract; Essentials of a Valid Contract; Nature and Performance of Contract; Termination and Discharge of Contract; Indemnity and Guarantee; Bailment and Pledge; Law of Agency
Essentials of a Contract of Sale; Sale Distinguished from Agreement to Sell, Bailment, Contract for Work and Labour and Hire-Purchase; Conditions and Warranties; Transfer of Title by Non-Owners; Doctrine of Caveat Emptor; Performance of the Contract of Sale; Rights of Unpaid Seller.
Definition of a Negotiable Instrument; Instruments Negotiable by Law and by Custom; Types of Negotiable Instruments; Parties to a Negotiable Instrument- Duties, Rights, Liabilities and Discharge; Material Alteration; Crossing of Cheques; Payment and Collection of Cheques and Demand Drafts; Presumption of Law as to Negotiable Instruments.
Cyberspace; Cyber laws; Scope of Cyber Laws; Classification of Cyber Crime; Information Technology Act 2000; Regulation of Certifying Authorities; Adjudication.
Introduction; Role of Company Secretary under Companies Act, 2013- Role of Company Secretary in Employment, Role of Company Secretary in Practice; Recognition to Company Secretary in Practice under Various Laws.
Meaning, Objectives, Importance; Nature of Management- Science, Art, Profession; Evolution of Management; Management FunctionsPlanning, Organising, Personnel Management, Directing and Control; Principles of Management- Fayol and Taylor Principles; Managerial Skills; Task and Responsibilities of Professional Manager
Concept, Features, Importance, Limitations; Planning process; Types of Plans- Objectives, Strategy, Policy, Procedures, Method, Rule, Budget; Plan vsProgramme- Policies and Procedures; Decision making
Concept, Features, Importance, Limitations; Organising process; Types of Organisation; Structure of Organisation; Centralisation and DeCentralisation; Delegation; Growth in Organisation
Concept, Features, Importance, Limitations; Recruitment processSelection; Training and Development- Methods; Functions of Personnel Manager; Performance Management; Appraisal Methods; Human Resource Planning,; Talent Management; Organization Development
Direction: Concept, Features, Importance, Limitations; Elements of Directing- Supervision, Motivation, Leadership, Communication; CoOrdination-Concept, Features, Importance, Limitations; Co-Ordination Types- Internal and External; Co-Ordination- the Essence of Management
Concept, Features, Importance, Limitations; Control process; Essentials of a Good Control System; Techniques of ControlTraditional and Non-Traditional Control devices; Relationship between Planning and Controlling
Change Management; Crisis Management; Total Quality Management; Risk Management; Global Practices
Overview of Ethics in Business; Elements; Ethical principles in Business- Indian and Ancient Indian Perspective
Concept, features, importance, limitations; means of CommunicationWritten, Oral, Visual, Audio Visual; Principles and Essentials of Business Communication; Process of Communication; Barriers to Communication
Grammar and Usage; enriching vocabulary, words- multiple meaning, single word for a group of words, choice of words, words frequently misspelt, punctuations, prefix and suffix, parts of speech, articles; synonyms and antonyms, tenses, idioms and phrases; foreign words and phrases commonly used; abbreviations and numerals; pronunciation, Latin, French and Roman words used in abbreviated form; Legal Terminologies- idioms and phrases
Introduction; Meaning of Business Correspondence; Importance of Business Correspondence; Essential Qualities of a Good Business Letter; Parts of a Business Letter; Types of Business Letters; Human Resource; Purchase; Sales; Accounts
Internal memos; messages through Electronic Media; Public Notices and Invitations; Representations to Trade Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Public Authorities
Concept of E-Correspondence: Web, Internet; Concept of e-mailHistory of E-mail, Features; Electronic Mail System- optimizing personal e-mail use, proper E-mail Correspondence, E-Mail Etiquette; Advantages and Disadvantages of E-mail; Intranet- Benefits of Intranet, Purpose of Intranet
Four Key elements of Entrepreneurship; Traits of an Entrepreneur; Characteristics of an Entrepreneur; Who is an Entrepreneur; Why Entrepreneurship; Types of Entrepreneur
Creativity and Innovation in an Entrepreneurial organisation; Tools for Environment Scanning- SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis, Porters approach to Industry Analysis; Environmental Scanning Process; Types of Environmental Scanning; Market Assessment; Assessment of Business Opportunities- Developing Effective Business Plans, identification and evaluation of the opportunity, Determination of the required Resources, management of the resulting enterprise
Entrepreneurial opportunities in contemporary business environment; Strategic Planning for emerging venture- Financing the entrepreneurial Business, Resource Assessment- Financial and NonFinancial; Fixed and Working Capital Requirement; Funds flow; Sources and means of Finance; Managing the growing Business Effecting Change, Modernization, Expansion and Diversification
Introduction; Definition of Social Entrepreneurship; Who is a Social Entrepreneur; how to identify a Social Entrepreneurship Opportunity; Creating a social business model; Funding social ventures; Strategies for success; Challenges for the Indian Social Enterprise Sector
Skill India; Ease of Business; Start Up India; Stand Up India
The Economic Problem-Scarcity and Choice; Nature and Scope Positive and Normative Economics, Micro and Macro Economics; Central Problems of an Economy; Production Possibility Curve; Opportunity Cost; Working of Economic Systems; Economic Cycles
Demand- Meaning, Demand Schedule, Individual and Market Demand Curve, Determinants of Demand, Law of Demand, Changes in Demand; Supply- Meaning, Supply Schedule, Individual and Market Supply Curve, Determinants of Supply, Law of Supply, Changes in Supply; Equilibrium of Demand and Supply- Determination of Equilibrium Price and Quantity, Effect of a shift in Demand or Supply; Elasticity of Demand and Supply
Cardinal Utility Approach-Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility, Law of Equi-Marginal Utility; Indifference Curve Approach- Indifference Curves, Properties of Indifference Curves, Budget Line, Consumer’s Equilibrium
Theory of Production- Factors of Production, Basic Concepts, Production Function, Law of Variable Proportions, Returns to Scale; Producer’s Equilibrium- Least-Cost Factor Combination and Output Maximisation for a given Level of Outlay; Theory of Costs- Basic Concepts, Short-run Total Cost Curves- Fixed and Variable, Short-run Average and Marginal Cost Curves, Relationship between Average and Marginal Cost Curve, Average and Marginal Cost Curves in the Longrun
Basic Concepts of Revenue, Revenue Curves, Relationship between Average and Marginal Revenue Curve; Concept of Market and Main Forms of Market; Equilibrium of the Firm- Meaning, Objectives of the Firm, Total Revenue-Total Cost Approach, Marginal Revenue-Marginal Cost Approach; Price and Output Determination under Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly.
Basic Characteristics of the Indian Economy; Major Issues of Development; Development Experience and Recent Trends in Indian Economy; Indian Economy in Comparison to Major Economies of the World
Concept of Money-Its Functions, Quantity Theory of Money, Credit Creation; Central Bank (Reserve Bank of India)-Role and Functions; Commercial Banks-Role and Functions; Basic Elements of E-Banking; Monetary Policy in India
Statistics- Definition, Functions, Scope, Application in Business, Law of Statistics, Limitations of Statistics; Collection and Presentation of Statistical Data-Primary and Secondary Data, Classification and Tabulation, Frequency Distribution, Cross Tabulation; Diagrams and Graphs; Measures of Central Tendency-Mean, Median, Mode; Measures of Dispersion-Mean Deviation, Standard Deviation, Range, Coefficient of Variation; Bi-variate Analysis–Covariance, Coefficient of Correlation.
Mathematics of Finance-Simple Interest, Compound Interest; Time Value of Money-Compounding & Discounting, Present Value & Future Value of an Annuity; Probability- Random Experiments, Sample Spaces, Events and Probability, Approaches to Probability- Classical & Empirical; Expected Value.
Meaning and Scope of Accounting; Accounting Concepts; Accounting Principles, Conventions and Standards – Concepts, Objectives, Benefits; Accounting Policies; Accounting as a Measurement Discipline Valuation Principles, Accounting Estimates
Documents & Books of Accounts- Invoice, Vouchers, Debit & Credit Notes, Day books, Journals, Ledgers and Trial Balance; Capital and Revenue- Expenditures and Receipts; Contingent Assets and Contingent Liabilities; Rectification of Errors
Meaning; Causes of difference between Bank Book Balance and Balance as per Bank Pass Book /Bank Statement; Need of Bank Reconciliation Statement; Procedure for Preparation of Bank Reconciliation Statement
Brief of various Methods; Computation and Accounting Treatment of Depreciation (Straight line and Diminishing Balance Method); Change in Depreciation Methods
Preparation of Profit & Loss Account; Balance Sheet
Goodwill- Nature of Goodwill and Factors Affecting Goodwill; Methods of Valuation- Average Profit, Super Profit and Capitalization Methods; Treatment of Goodwill; Final Accounts of Partnership FirmsAdmission of a Partner, Retirement/Death of a Partner, Dissolution of a Partnership Firm;
Issue of Shares and Debentures; Forfeiture of Shares; Re-Issue of Forfeited Shares; Redemption of Preference Shares
Receipt and Payment Accounts; Income and Expenditure Accounts
Basic Utility of SAP, TALLY, ERP
Concepts and Objectives; Principles of Auditing; Types of Audit; Evidence in Auditing; Audit Programmes
Internal Audit; Statutory Auditor- Appointment, Qualification, Rights and Duties; Secretarial Audit- An Overview; Cost Audit- An Overview; Reporting Types, Meaning, Contents,