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India · 2026 Edition · Updated 2026-05-30
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CS Executive 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

The Company Secretary (CS) Executive Programme is the second stage of the Company Secretaryship qualification conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). Under the ICSI New Syllabus 2022 it comprises 7 papers across 2 groups (modules) covering corporate and company law, securities and economic laws, accounting and financial management, tax, and industrial & labour laws. It prepares candidates for governance, secretarial and corporate-compliance roles, building on the CSEET/Foundation stage.

Year
2026
Subjects
7
Topics
112
Cost
Free

Tracked daily from https://www.icsi.edu/academic-portal/new-syllabus-2022/executive-programme/. See 2026 calendar →

📋 Exam Pattern

Under the ICSI New Syllabus 2022 the CS Executive Programme has 7 papers in 2 groups. Group 1: Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws (JIGL); Company Law & Practice; Setting Up of Business, Industrial & Labour Laws (SBILL); and Corporate Accounting & Financial Management (CAFM). Group 2: Capital Market & Securities Laws (CMSL); Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws (ECIPL); and Tax Laws and Practice. Each paper carries 100 marks. All papers except CAFM use a 20% case-based objective plus 80% descriptive pattern; CAFM is fully descriptive. To pass, a candidate must score at least 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate in each group. Exemptions carry forward for papers passed with 60%+ marks.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who have passed the CSEET (CS Executive Entrance Test) are eligible to register for the CS Executive Programme. Graduates and postgraduates (with at least 50% marks) and those who have passed the final of ICAI (CA) or ICMAI (CMA) are exempt from CSEET and may register directly. Final-year graduation students may register provisionally subject to submitting proof of passing.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 112 topics across 7 subjects

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Frequently Asked Questions — CS Executive

Everything you need to know about CS Executive. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

What is CS Executive and how does it work?
CS Executive (Company Secretary Executive) is the second level of the Company Secretary qualification conducted by ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India). The three levels are: Foundation → Executive → Professional. Students who have cleared CS Executive or graduates in any discipline can directly appear for CS Executive. The CS Executive programme covers corporate law, company accounts, tax law, and management accounting. After passing CS Executive, students must complete 15 months of practical training (articleship) before appearing for CS Professional. A Company Secretary is a legal compliance professional for companies — distinct from Chartered Accountants.
What is the CS Executive exam pattern?
CS Executive has two modules, each with 4 papers (8 papers total): Module 1 — Company Accounts & Auditing Practices, Tax &Labour Laws, Capital Markets & Corporate Laws; Module 2 — Corporate & Management Accounting, Securities Laws & Capital Markets, Economic & Commercial Laws. Exams are held twice a year (June and December). Each paper is of 100 marks (70 marks written + 30 marks practical/case study). Students must score 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate in each module to pass. Negative marking applies (0.25 per wrong answer for objective parts).
How should I prepare for CS Executive exams?
CS Executive has a low pass rate — typically 5–15% in each paper — making it one of the tougher professional exams. The key is focusing on the Company Accounts and Tax papers, which are the highest-scoring. ICSI study material (both Module-wise and Practice Manuals) is essential. MCQs and case studies carry significant weight, so practice previous year question papers thoroughly. Join a test series 2 months before exams to build speed. Many students take multiple attempts — the exam tests depth of legal knowledge rather than just memory.

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Exam Name CS Executive
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws, Company Law & Practice, Setting Up of Business, Industrial & Labour Laws, Corporate Accounting & Financial Management, Capital Market & Securities Laws, Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws, Tax Laws and Practice
Total Topics 112
Official Source https://www.icsi.edu/academic-portal/new-syllabus-2022/executive-programme/
Last Updated 2026-05-30