UXL Exams
UXL Exams
CSEET
Company Secretary
Your gateway into the Company Secretary profession.
CSEET
CSEET is the entry-level examination for the CS professional programme offered by ICSI. Clearing it qualifies you to register for CS Executive. It does not award a standalone certificate, designation, or membership. From June 2026, CSEET has been significantly restructured — it is now an offline, centre-based exam conducted over four days with a mix of subjective and OMR-based papers, replacing the earlier single-day remote-proctored online format.
- Students who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 from any recognised board and want a career in corporate law, governance, or compliance
- Those who do not yet hold a graduation degree — graduates can bypass CSEET entirely and enter CS Executive directly
- Anyone aiming for roles at the intersection of law, business, and regulatory affairs, and wanting to start immediately after school
One of the most accessible certifications in India.
The minimum qualification required to appear for the CSEET is a Class 12 pass from any recognised board. There is no stream restriction - science, commerce, and arts students are all eligible. There is no age limit prescribed by ICSI. The course is open to Indian nationals; NRIs may also apply, subject to ICSI's applicable guidelines.
Nationality: The course is open to Indian nationals; NRIs may also apply, subject to ICSI's applicable guidelines.
- 1No prior background in law, finance, or commerce is required
- 2Examinations are conducted in English; basic English proficiency is expected
- 3No work experience is needed to begin - the mandatory 21 months of practical training is a separate requirement that can be completed at any point, including after clearing all professional exams
- 4Registration must be completed through ICSI's official portal at icsi.edu
There are no paper-wise exemptions at the CSEET level. CSEET is a single examination and must be cleared in its entirety. Performance-based exemptions (for scoring 60 or above in individual papers) apply at the Executive and Professional levels, not at CSEET.
CA Final (ICAI): Exempt from CSEET; ₹5,000 exemption fee applies for CS Executive registration
CMA Final (ICMAI): Exempt from CSEET; ₹5,000 exemption fee applies for CS Executive registration
Graduate / Post-Graduate (any stream except Fine Arts): Direct entry to CS Executive — CSEET not required
Candidates who cleared the old ICSI Foundation Examination: Direct entry to CS Executive without CSEET
Pattern, marking & retake policy.
Offline — pen-and-paper, centre-based exam at designated ICSI test centres across India. This is a significant change from the earlier remote-proctored online format, which ended with the January 2026 session.
Papers 1–3: 3 hours each (subjective). Paper 4: 2 hours (OMR-based). Each paper includes 15 minutes of reading time before writing begins. Exams are conducted from 2:30 PM to 5:45 PM (Papers 1–3) and 2:30 PM to 4:45 PM (Paper 4).
CSEET is conducted three times a year under the new pattern. ICSI reserves June 5–7 for contingencies in the June session.
- Minimum 40% marks in each individual paper
- Minimum 50% aggregate across all four papers combined
- Both conditions must be met at the same time - clearing one without the other does not constitute a pass. There are no category-wise cut-offs beyond the above. There is no negative marking.
- There is no cap on the total number of attempts for CSEET. There is no mandatory cooling-off period between attempts - a candidate who does not clear one session can apply for the very next session. Each session requires a fresh exam form submission and payment of the exam fee.
How to register for CSEET.
No offline registration route exists; all registration must be completed through the online portal. Candidates without internet access may visit an ICSI office or recognised guidance centre for assistance. All documents should be uploaded in a clear, legible scanned format. ICSI may request original documents for verification at any point during or after the examination.
Source: Direct from ICSI portal
What you get & how to stay current.
- CSEET does not award a standalone certificate, credential, or professional designation. Clearing CSEET grants eligibility only to register for the CS Executive; it does not confer any title, qualification suffix (such as "CS" or "ACS"), or professional membership.
- Clearing both groups of CS Executives.
- Clearing both groups of CS professionals.
- Completing the mandatory 21 months of practical training.
- Being admitted as an Associate Member (ACS) or Fellow Member (FCS) of ICSI.
- Candidates should not list "CSEET passed" on their resumes as a qualification; it is simply a prerequisite for progressing to the next level.
Renewal, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements, and annual membership fees do not apply at the CSEET level. These obligations apply only to full ICSI members — those who have completed all three levels and obtained membership.
CSEET is a single examination with no mandatory minimum time to completion. A candidate who clears all four papers in their first attempt (on their first session of registration) technically completes the CSEET requirement. However, candidates who do not clear on their first attempt may require multiple sessions.
Registration is valid for 5 years from the date of first registration. This means a candidate has five years from their registration date to clear CSEET. If CSEET is not cleared within this window, the registration expires, and the candidate must apply for Registration De Novo — a fresh registration with a new fee (prescribed by ICSI) — to continue. Failing to apply for Registration De Novo results in the cancellation of registration benefits; the candidate would then need to start the entire process anew, re-submitting all documents and paying registration fees again.
In practice, many candidates clear CSEET within one to two attempts, particularly those with a strong educational foundation in commerce or business studies. The three-times-yearly examination schedule (February, June, October) allows candidates to plan multiple attempts within a calendar year if needed.
Where this certification takes you.
CSEET vs. close alternatives.
Key Differences: CS is the only qualification exclusively focused on corporate governance and compliance. CA requires audit and accounting specialisation; CS does not. LLB leads to law practice and litigation; CS leads to corporate compliance and governance. CS is more affordable than CA and LLB post-graduation.
Yes. CSEET is fully compatible with pursuing studies while working. There are no mandatory attendance requirements. The exam is conducted three times a year (February, June, and October under the revised pattern), giving candidates flexibility to schedule attempts around college semesters or work commitments. ICSI officially permits the mandatory 21 months of practical training to be completed at any point - including after clearing all professional exams - removing the biggest scheduling constraint from the overall programme.
Official resources & links.
All resources are hosted directly by ICSI. Past papers from 2020 onwards are available for free download along with official suggested answers and practice manuals for each level.
Key update categories to track via ICSI Announcements:
Historical Timeline: The January 2026 exam session marked the final administration of CSEET under the old remote-proctored online format. Any student who appeared in January 2026 or earlier took the MCQ-based, single-day, online examination.
June 2026 Restructuring: Effective June 2026, CSEET transitioned to a new offline, centre-based examination format conducted over four consecutive days. This represents the most significant structural change to CSEET since its introduction, aligning the foundation level with the professional standards expected at higher levels.
Examination Schedule Changes: CSEET changed from a four-times-yearly schedule to a three-times-yearly schedule beginning June 2026. The new schedule is: February, June, and October each year. Each session offers equivalent opportunities; there is no "preferred" season to attempt.
Fee Structure Revision (effective February 2026): Registration fee: ₹7,500 (one-time); Enrollment/exam fee: ₹1,500 per session. These fees apply to all candidates registering from February 2026 onwards.
Clear CSEET in one to two attempts.
In practice, many candidates clear CSEET within one to two attempts, particularly those with a strong educational foundation in commerce or business studies.