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Next step · Higher Education

CS

Professional qualification (ICSI)

Company Secretary is a professional qualification, not a university degree. It is awarded by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), a statutory body. The course covers company law, securities law, governance and compliance. You move through an entrance test (CSEET), the Executive Programme and the Professional Programme, along with practical training.

3
Stages
CSEET → Executive → Professional; Executive and Professional exams in June and December
~21 months1
Practical training
Long-term training under ICSI's training structure, plus short programmes

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~21 months
Practical training
ICSI training structure (2020), as reported · 2020
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~29–33%2
CS Professional pass rate
June 2026, by group (Group 1: 32.69%, Group 2: 29.49%)

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~29–33%
CS Professional pass rate
ICSI result press release (as reported) · 2026
What’s wrong?

No sign-in needed. Our team checks reports before any number changes.

How you get in

Pass CSEET, ICSI's entrance test, which you can take after Class 12 in any stream. Then register for the Executive Programme. Graduates who meet ICSI's conditions, and those who have passed the ICAI or ICMAI Final, can be exempt from CSEET and join the Executive Programme directly.

At a glance

  • Every listed company, and other companies above a set paid-up capital, must have a whole-time company secretary.
  • The work is close to law; many CSs also take an LLB.
  • Pass rates for the Executive and Professional levels are low, and repeat attempts are common.
  • Since 2021, UGC treats the CS qualification as equivalent to a postgraduate degree (for example, for NET and PhD).

In numbers

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