The Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) serves as the introductory platform for individuals seeking to embark on a career in company secretarial (CS) practices. It is designed for newcomers to the field and provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles underlying corporate law, business governance, and secretarial practices, thereby establishing a solid foundation for further study and professional development.
Passing the CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) is mandatory for all candidates to register for the CS Executive Programme, except for a few exempted categories of candidates.
CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) shall be conducted on a single day as per the following:
Computer-Based Test of 120 Minutes consisting of four parts, viz.
Business Communication;
Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning
Economic and Business Environment &
Current Affairs and Quantitative Aptitude
CSEET ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
A candidate passed/appearing in the Senior Secondary (10+2) Examination or equivalent thereto is eligible to appear in the CSEET.
Exemptions:-
Candidates who have passed the Final Examination of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and/or The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) are exempted from CSEET and shall pay ₹5,000 (Rupees Five Thousand Only) towards exemption fee at the time of Registration to the CS Executive Programme.
CSEET REGISTRATION STEPS
The CSEET is the entry-level course for students who have completed their 12th standard (except fine arts students). The registration steps for the CSEET are:
Step 1: Visit the ICSI website and go to student registration.
Step 2: Select the “CSEET” and fill in the required details.
Step 3: Upload the necessary documents, like the 10th and 12th mark sheets.
Step 4: Pay the recommended registration fee.
Step 5: Apply and keep a printout for future reference.
REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CSEET
While registering for any of the CSEET, students need to submit the following documents:
10th and 12th mark sheets or certificates
Aadhaar card or any government-issued ID
Passport-size photograph
Signature scanned copy
CSEET SYLLABUS
The ICSI CSEET (CS Executive Entrance Test) syllabus for 2025 covers four papers: Business Communication, Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning, Economic and Business Environment, and Current Affairs & Quantitative Aptitude. Each paper is worth 50 marks, and the total marks for the exam are 200, with 35 questions per paper.
Paper 1: Business Communication:
This paper focuses on communication skills relevant to a professional setting, including concepts like communication principles, process, modes, and networks. It also covers aspects like enriching vocabulary, common errors in English, and comprehension.
SL No.
TOPIC
SUB-TOPIC
1.
Essentials of Good English
Concept of Communication, Meaning, and Significance of Good Communication
Business Communication- Principles and Process Means of Communication- Written, Oral, Visual, Audiovisual Choice of Modes of Communication, Communication Networks- Vertical, Circuit, Chain, Wheel, Star Commonly used Mediums of Digital Communication are Email, SMS, Voice mail, Multimedia, Teleconferencing, Mobile Phone Conversation, Video Conferencing, etc. Listening Skills- Types, Purpose, Steps to Effective Listening, Barriers to Effective Listening, and Ways to Overcome the Barriers. Barriers to Effective Communication and Ways to Overcome the Barriers
2.
Communication
English Grammar and its usage: nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, interjections, Voice, Articles, Tenses, prefixes and suffixes, punctuation, etc.
Enriching Vocabulary-Choice of words, Synonyms, and Antonyms. Common errors in English. Words with multiple meanings
One word substitution, Words frequently misspelt, Homophones, Idioms, and phrases
Proverbs, Abbreviations, Para jumbles, Sentence completion, Sentence arrangement, Sentence correction, foreign words and phrases commonly used, Comprehension of passage, and the art of Summarizing
3.
Business Correspondence
Terms defined under various laws, Rules, and regulations, including financial and Non-Financial terms and expressions.
4.
Common Business Terminologies
Terms defined under various laws, Rules, and regulations, including financial and non-financial terms and expressions
Paper 2: Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning:
This paper delves into legal understanding for CS candidates, as well as logical reasoning abilities.
SL No.
TOPIC
SUB-TOPIC
PART A: LEGAL APTITUDE (25 MARKS)
1.
Indian Constitution
Preamble, Citizenship, Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy State under Constitution, President and Governors, Council of Ministers and Prime Minister, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Supreme Court and High Courts, Landmark Amendment in Constitution, List of subjects-Centre, State and Concurrent
2.
Elements of General Laws (Indian Contract Act and Law of Torts)
Part A: Law of Contract, Offer, Acceptance, Consideration, and Competency to Contract. Agreement, Types of Contract: Void, Voidable, Unenforceable, Performance of Contract, Frustration of Contract, Quasi Contract, Breach of Contract, and Remedies
Part B: Law of Torts, Basics of Torts, Specific Defenses, Nuisance and Negligence, Strict, Absolute and Vicarious Liability, Trespass, Malicious Prosecution
3.
Elements of Company Secretaries Legislation
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India - Vision, Mission, Motto and Core Values of the Institute, Company Secretary under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
Functions of the Company Secretary under the Companies Act, 2013
Role of the Company Secretary in Employment
Role of Company Secretary in Practice
4.
Elements of Company Law
Meaning and Nature of Company, Types of Companies, Incorporation of a Company, Types of Capital, Board of Directors -(Concept, Appointment and Removal of Directors), Board Meetings & Shareholders Meetings, Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Ethics, Ethical Dilemma
5.
Legal Reasoning
Legal Fundamentals and Terms, Legal Problems – Reading and understanding a case, Legal Terminology and Maxims, Legal Reasoning-Reasoning by Analogy, Inductive and Deductive Reasoning, Questions of Fact (or factual issues), Questions of Law (or legal issues), Landmark Judgments of Supreme Court and High Court, Reading Comprehension
PART B: LOGICAL REASONING (25 MARKS)
6.
Logical Reasoning
Calendars, Cause and Effect Reasoning, Clocks, Coding and Decoding, Deriving Conclusions from Passages, Drawing Inferences, Number Test, Sequence and Series, Statement and Assumptions
7.
Verbal Reasoning
Alphabet Test, Alpha Numeric Sequence Puzzle, Analogy, Assertion and Reason, Blood Relations, Decision Making, Inserting Missing Characters, Logical Sequence Test, Logical Venn Diagram, Number, Ranking and Time Sequence Test, Syllogism, Truth Tellers and Liars
8.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Analytical Reasoning, Classification, Completion of Incomplete Pattern, Figure Matrix, Grouping of Identical Figures, Mirror Image, Rule Detection, Numeric and Alphabet Series
Paper 3: Economic and Business Environment:
This paper examines the economic and business conditions, including topics like the Indian Economy and business-related concepts.
SL No.
TOPIC
SUB-TOPIC
PART A: ECONOMICS (25 MARKS)
1.
Basics of Demand and Supply and Forms of Market Competition
Theory of Demand and Supply, Equilibrium Price, Elasticity of Demand and Supply, and other related concepts, Increase and Decrease in Demand and Expansion and Contraction of Demand, Forms of Market Competition- Monopoly, Duopoly, Oligopoly, Perfect Competition, and Monopolistic Competition
2.
National Income Accounting and Related Concepts
Meaning and methods to compute National Income, Key variables of National Income (GNP, GDP, NNP, NDP, etc.)
3.
Indian Union Budget
Key terminologies/heads covered under the budget, Revenue and Capital Budget, Major components of Revenue and Capital Budget, Meaning of Fiscal Deficit, Components/ Variables covered under Fiscal Deficit
4.
Indian Financial Markets
Overview of Indian Financial Ecosystem, Key facets of Indian financial system, Growth of Financial Institutions, Public and private sector banks, Industrial Finance Corporation of India Small Industries Development Bank of India, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks, Non-Banking Finance Companies, Basics of Capital Market: Types of Shares and Debentures Financial assistance scenario for Small and Medium Enterprises and Start-Ups.
5.
Indian Economy
Primary (Agriculture and allied activities), Secondary (Manufacturing), Tertiary (Services), Current scenario of agriculture and allied activities in India, Agricultural and Industrial Policies of India, Current scenario of services sector in India, Balance of Payments, Components of Balance of Payments, Favorable and Unfavorable Balance of Trade, Foreign Investments in India- Types and Flows
PART B: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT (25 MARKS)
6.
Entrepreneurship Scenario
Government initiatives to foster entrepreneurship, Need for entrepreneurship in India, Bottlenecks in entrepreneurial growth
7.
Business Environment
Overview of Business Environment, Features and factors influencing business environment, Types of environments: Economic environment, Socio-cultural environment, Political environment, Legal and Technological environment, Ease of Doing Business Index by World Bank for India and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for States
8.
Key Government Institutions
Basic awareness about various institutions and regulatory bodies in India such as NITI Aayog, MCA, SEBI, RBI, IBBI, CCI, NCLT/NCLAT etc.
Paper 4: Current Affairs & Quantitative Aptitude:
This paper assesses awareness of current events, along with proficiency in communication and presentation skills.
SL No.
TOPIC
SUB-TOPIC
PART A: CURRENT AFFAIRS (25 MARKS)
1.
Current Affairs
Current affairs of national and international importance relating to:∙ International bodies (ASEAN, BRICS, SAARC, G-20, BIMSTEC, etc.) ∙ Organizations like, RBI, NABARD, CCI, IBBI, IMF, OECD, ADB, World Bank, etc. ∙ Summits and conferences ∙ Current development in Banking and Finance (digital banking, govt. initiatives, financial inclusion, etc.) ∙ Current development in stock markets ∙ Recent important judgments passed by Supreme Court and High Courts of India, Tribunals ∙ Current affairs related to CS Institute/Profession and regulatory bodies ∙ Current updates on environment, biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development ∙ Latest developments in science and technology, IT, Computers and Space science ∙ Business personalities and leaders ∙ Committees and appointments ∙ Art and culture ∙ Books and their authors ∙ Awards and honours ∙Sports ∙ Current political scenario ∙ Initiatives/ schemes of the government ∙ Language and national symbols ∙ Governance and ethics ∙ International diplomacy
PART B: QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE (25 MARKS)
2.
Number System
Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationship between numbers
3.
Fundamental arithmetical operations
Percentages, Ratios and Proportions, Square Roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss
FAQs
How much is the CSEET registration fee?
The registration fee for CSEET is ₹. 2000/- (Rupees Two Thousand Only) including CSEET (Guide 1 & 2) per student per appearance.
CSEET classes (optional) advance fee is ₹ 1,000/-. Students can remit advance fees towards CSEET classes by the Regional/Chapter offices of ICSI at the time of CSEET Registration
What is the CSEET passing criteria?
A candidate must score at least 40% in each paper and an overall aggregate of 50% to pass.
What is the duration of CSEET?
CSEET study duration is 4 months
How will the CSEET be conducted? Will it be conducted from Test Centres or at Home?
CSEET shall be conducted through REMOTE Proctored mode instead of conducting the same from Test Centres. Candidates are allowed to appear for the test through a laptop/desktop from home or such other convenient and isolated place. Candidates shall not be allowed to appear through a smart smartphone (mobile)/ tablet, etc.
If I pass the CSEET, what will be the validity of the CSEET Result?
The CSEET Result will be valid for one year from the date of declaration. After the validity period expires, candidates will have to reappear and pass the CSEET if they wish to register for the Executive Programme.
Will there be any negative marking?
There will be no negative marking for wrong answers.
