In a big move, Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has scrapped CS Foundation. Instead of it, CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) has been introduced. Now, through CSEET, candidates can directly get admission in CS Executive Programme. The first CSEET exam is due to be held in the month of May 2020. Interested candidates can apply by April 15, 2020.
The online registration for CSEET 2020 is open at icsi.edu. However, candidates can easily apply for the exam From Here.
Major changes and everything else you need to know about CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET)
It has been notified that CSEET will be held 4 times a year. It will be held in the month of January, May, July, and November.
These changes came after the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Regulations, 2020. Here are the 5 major changes that the aspirants should know.
1. No new CS Foundation registrations w.e.f February 03, 2020
No more registration for the Foundation course is accepted now. The aspirants instead need to register and appear for CSEET. The CSEET 2020 qualified candidates have to then register for the CS Executive course before the deadline.
On the other hand, the already registered candidates of the foundation course can continue to appear in the Foundation programme and its examinations until the expiry of the validity of their registrations. Once they pass the exam they can register for the Executive programme as per the existing process.
2. Introduction of the CSEET
CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) will be now a qualifying test for registration in the CS Executive programme. All the eligible students or CSEET have to register for the test. It will be held in a computer-based test format. There will be 2 stages of the test: online test and viva voce.
In the CBT candidates have to attempt 4 subjects, in 2 hours. In the exam, there will be 1 and 2 marks questions with no negative marking. The total marks in the test is 170.
The distribution of marks in the subjects is given in the table below:
| Subject | Questions | 1 marks + 2 marks ques | Total marks |
| Business Communication | 35 | 20 + 15 | 50 |
| Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning | 35 | 20 + 15 | 50 |
| Economic and Business Environment | 35 | 20 + 15 | 50 |
| Current Affairs | 15 | 10 + 5 | 20 |
| Total | 120 | – | 170 |
The viva voce, on the other hand, will be based on Presentation and Communication Skills and will have 30 marks. The viva will be held simultaneously with or immediately after the CBT. It will be through online mode using artificial intelligence (AI) or through recorded videos at the designated test centers.
3. Exception from CSEET
At one end, ICSI has made CSEET mandatory, on the other hand, a few students are exempted from this test if they fall under any of the criteria below
- Passed the CS Foundation Programme, or
- Passed the ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) Final course, or
- Have passed the ICMAI (The Institute of Cost Accountants of India) Final course.
However, category 2 and 3 students have to pay a CSEET exemption fee while registering for the executive course. The exemption fee applicable is Rs. 5000 for both the categories.
4. New Fee Structure of the CS Executive Programme
The fee structure hs been revised and the new fee structure can be checked from the image below:
5. “Extension of Registration” and “Continuation of Registration”
On the expiry of the validity of the registration, students of the executive and the professional course have to seek renewal through the “Registration Denovo” process.
On the other hand a new clause of “Continuation of Registration” is being introduced. This means the students have to keep their registration renewed from time to time even after they pass the Professional Programme stage. This is to be done until the completion of all the training requirements. Only then the students can become entitled to be enrolled as a member of the Institute. The fee to renew the registration will be Rs. 1000 per year.
To know all about the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 and the changes in details – click here.
Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a premier national professional body set under an Act of Parliament to regulate and develop the profession of Company Secretaries. Presently ICSI has over 11,000 members holding certificate of practice and around 3,00,000 students are presently pursuing the CS course by ICSI.
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