CS: Courses, Full Form, New Syllabus, Fees, Eligibility, Exam Date, Salary, Scope

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Sounak Banerjee

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Company Secretary is a 3-year course that trains students to handle the legal aspects of a firm including tax returns and record keeping. The Company Secretary is directly involved in a company’s strategy, decision-making, and ensuring all the activities comply with legal, ethical and regulatory requirements. 

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) trains and regulates Company Secretaries in India under the Company Secretaries Act, of 1980. There are more than 65,000 members and around 2,50,000 students on the roll of ICSI. As per the new UGC guidelines, CS Exam is equivalent to a postgraduate degree. Students have the option to pursue higher studies in the field of research.

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Company Secretary Course fee is INR 3600 for CS Foundation, INR 7000 for CS Executive, and INR 12,000 for CS Professional Course. Company Secretary Course duration is 8 months for CS Foundation, 9 months for CS executive, and 15 months for CS Professional.

The CS Foundation exam has been replaced by the CSEET exam. Students who wish to pursue Company Secretary Course after graduation are exempted from passing the CSEET. 

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Company Secretary Course Details

Check out the Company Secretay course details below.

Course Name Company Secretary Course (C.S)
CS Admission Process Merit in the Entrance Exam
CS Total Course fee Foundation Program: INR 3,600
Executive Program: INR 7,000
Professional Program: INR 12,000
CS Qualification Required Candidates must pass their 10+2 exams
CS Eligibility Foundation program Eligibility: 10+2 examination
Executive program Eligibility: CSEET or Graduation/ foundation program
Professional program Eligibility- Executive program
CS Exam CSEET or Company Secretary Executive Entrance test
CS Entrance Exam Mode Online (Computer-Based Test)
CS Salary INR 2,50,000 – INR 8,00,000
Course Levels Foundation Course, Executive Course, and Professional Course
Skills Required Communication Skills, Expertise in Company law, Compliance, Attention to Detail, Time Management & Multi-Tasking, etc.
CS Jobs Chief Financial Officer, Audit Manager, Revenue ManagerInvestment Banker, Marketing Manager, Stock Broker, Budget Analyst
Top Recruiting Companies Tata Steel, TVS, Aditya Birla Group, Dell Technologies, People Combine, Croma, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited, ACB Group of Companies, etc.

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What is a Company Secretary?

The CS course or Company Secretary course is specially designed for students coming from a commerce background. However, students from any field, completing their 12 standards have access to this course. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India offers the course to be a Company Secretary (C.S). The course is available via distance learning, and with the setup of this course, the profession of being a Company Secretary (C.S) came.

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Candidates aspiring to seek admission to this program, in this institute, need to crack the CSEET or Company Secretary Executive Entrance test. The exam is conducted on a national level. There are overall four Company Secretary programs, which the candidates can pursue to be a secretary of a company, namely, Foundation Programme, Executive Programme, Professional Programme, and Management Training.

Check: How to become a Cost Accountant

Why Study Company Secretary Course?

Pursuing the Company Secretary course, helps the individual to be a company secretary of a particular organization. The benefits of studying the Company Secretary course are -

  • By pursuing the Company Secretary course, one gets trained to perform every role and responsibility of a Company secretary.
  • Candidates can pursue this subject at any age after 17, and there is no age restriction for being a company secretary as well.
  • Candidates can have flexible working hours, and work under low stress.
  • Good compensation is another benefit of being a Company Secretary (C.S). The average salary of a Company Secretary in India is 6 lakhs per annum.
  • The Company Secretary job is highly satisfying. Being a secretary of a particular organization is a good and respected job, with a high salary and comparatively low stress.

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When to Study Company Secretary?

  • Candidates completing their 12 standards, and looking to get into a good commerce field can apply for the Company Secretary (C.S).
  • Also, candidates should be above 17 years of age in that year of admission to the Company Secretary course.
  • Candidates appearing for their 12th board exam can also apply for the Company Secretary (C.S).

Who should study Company Secretary?

  • Students coming from a commerce background, and aspiring to choose a renowned field in this area, should definitely go for the Company Secretary (C.S).
  • Candidates having good mental strength, as well as strong convincing power can apply for the Company Secretary course, as these two things are highly required in the profession of a Company Secretary.
  • There are also some desirable skill sets, that the candidates must possess to pursue this course. Among these include strong communication skills, time management, and multitasking, should be an expert in the company law, work as a meticulous planner, and should have a good command of spoken and written English.

How to Become a Company Secretary?

Candidates aspiring to become a Company Secretary (C.S), need to appear for the CSET exam. Students who have completed their 10+2 are eligible to pursue this course. There are three-course levels in this exam, namely the foundation course, executive course, and professional course. 

Candidates have to first enroll in the Foundation course, which is course level one. After passing, students have to register themselves for the Executive course, and then the Professional program. There is a final management training round after completing the Professional level. Accomplishing that, candidates will be officially certified as a Company Secretary (C.S) graduate. The Company Secretary's salary in India is 6 lakhs per year.

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Company Secretary: Course Levels

Company Secretary has 3-course levels namely, Foundation Programme, Executive Programme, and Professional Programme.

Levels Description Duration Fees (INR)
CS Foundation Programme It is the first level among the Company Secretary courses and the path to becoming a Company Secretary. This course is provided by the ICSI and is a mixture of optional coaching and postal tuition classes. 8 Months 3,600
CS Executive Programme The Executive Programme is the second level of becoming a certified Company Secretary (C.S). Candidates coming from any stream can pursue this course, except fine arts. 9 Months 7,000
CS Professional Programme Candidates can only pursue this course if they have successfully cleared the executive program under the Company Secretary course. 10 Months 12,000

CS Foundation

The CS foundation course trains students in various areas including entrepreneurship, management, business environment, ethics, accounting, and economics. Check out the eligibility, course duration, course fee, syllabus, and entrance exams for the foundation course for the Company Secretary.

Check: CA Foundation Course

CS Foundation: Eligibility

Students must meet the CS Foundation Eligibility in order to sit for CS Foundation Exam. The eligibility criteria are mentioned below:

  • Candidates aspiring to take up the foundation course under the Company Secretary (C.S) program, need to come through their 10+2 entrance exams.
  • Candidates should successfully pass their 12th exams from a recognized educational institute or equivalent to it, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

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CS Foundation: Duration

The Company Secretary course duration is of 3 years, which is parallel to a postgraduate degree. The first level of the Company Secretary course, i.e., the foundation program is 8 months long. 

See Also: CS Foundation Duration

CS Foundation: Fee Structure 

Candidates pursuing the CS foundation program, need to give both the admission and tuition fees. The fees for both these are INR 1200, and INR 2400 respectively. The total course fee for this course is INR 3600. See Also: CS Foundation Fees

Description Fees (INR)
Admission Fees 1200
Examination Form Fee 875
Tuition Fees 2400
Total Course Fee 4475

CS Foundation Syllabus

Check the CS Foundation syllabus below.

Paper Subjects
Paper 1 Business Law and Environment
Paper 2 Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship
Paper 3 Business Economics
Paper 4 Accounting and Auditing

CS Foundation Exam Dates

For the CS Foundation course, there is a CS Foundation entrance exam, where there will be 4 papers, based on the syllabus mentioned above. Each paper will have 100 marks, combining for a total of 400. The total number of questions for the test will be 250 MCQs, which the candidates need to complete in 90 minutes. It is a CBT exam. Learn More: CS Foundation Exam Dates

Check out the important entrance exam dates for the 2023 CS foundation exam, below.

Paper Exam Date Time
Paper-1: Business Environment and Law December 27, 2023 9.30 A.M.to 11 A.M.
Paper-2 Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship December 27, 2023 4.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M.
Paper-3: Business Economics December 28, 2023 9.30 A.M. to 11.00 A.M.
Paper-4: Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing December 28, 2023 4.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M.

CS Executive Course

The CS executive course involves various areas mainly regarding the law. This includes commercial law, company law, general law, tax law, accounts and audit practice, and securities law. Check out the eligibility, course duration, course fee, syllabus, and entrance exams, for the executive program in the Company Secretary course.

Check: CS Executive Lectures

CS Executive: Eligibility 

CS Executive Eligibility criteria must be met in order to sit for this examination. The CS Executive Eligibility criteria are mentioned below:

  • CSEET Exam is a mandatory qualifying test for all categories of students for registration to the Executive Programme except for a few exempted categories.
  • Candidates must have completed Class 12 to be eligible for CSEET.
  • Also, the age bar of the candidates should be above 17.

The following categories of students are exempted from qualifying for CSEET and can seek registration directly to the Executive Programme:

CS Foundation Programme passed students Exemption Fee: Nil 
ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) final course passed students Exemption Fee: INR 5000
ICMAI (The Institute of Cost Accountants of India) final course passed by students Exemption Fee: INR 5000

Exam Schedule for ICSI CSEET 2023

Events January Session June Session
CSEET 2023 Registration Opens  October 16, 2022 January 10, 2023
Last date of CSEET Registration December 15, 2022 April 19, 2023
CSEET Admit Card 2023 December 28, 2022 April 2023 - May 2023
CSEET Examination 2023 January 7, 2023 May 6, 2023

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CS Executive: Duration

Company Secretary course duration for the Executive program lasts for 9 months. Registration for the CS Executive program began on November 30, 2023, for the June session of 2023 (both modules). ICSI CS Executive program registration is open throughout the year for the exam conducted in June and December. Check: CS Executive Duration

CS Executive: Fee Structure 

The fee structure for the CS executive program differs from the earlier one, and the total course fee is higher in this instance. The registration fee for the CS executive course is INR 1500, while there is another fee for the foundation examination exemption, which is INR 500. The tuition fee for this course is INR 5000, and the total course fee stands at INR 7000. Learn More: CS Executive Fees    

Description Fees (INR)
Registration 1500
Tuition Fee 5000
Examination Form fee 1800
Examination Fee 500
Total 8,800

CS Executive: Syllabus 

In the CS executive course syllabus, there will be two modules, namely I and II. In each module, there will be 4 papers. In module I, there will be the topics of Interpretation, Jurisprudence, and General laws, in paper I, company law in paper II, setting up of business entities, and closure and tax laws in the last two papers.

See Also: CS Executive Detailed Syllabus

On the other hand, in module II, the paper I will consist of corporate and management accounting, and Paper II will consist of securities laws and capital markets. In the last two papers, there will be Business, Economics and Commercial Law, and financial and strategic management respectively.

Modules Syllabus
Module I Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws
Company Law
Setting up of Business Entities and Closure
Tax Laws
Module II Corporate & Management Accounting
Securities Laws & Capital Markets
Economic, Business, and Commercial Laws
Financial and Strategic Management

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CS Executive Exams Dates

To be eligible for the CS executive course, candidates have to come through the CSEET exam, i.e., CS Executive Entrance Test. Candidates having a UG or PG degree are eligible to apply for this entrance.

Exam Events June Session December Session
Registration Date Up to Nov 30, 2023 (Both Module)
Up to Jan 31, 2023 (Single Module)
May 31, 2023 (Both Module)
July 31, 2023 (Single Module)
CS Executive Exam Dates June 1 to June 10, 2023 December 21, 2023 to December 29, 2023
CS Executive Result declaration date August 25, 2023 February 2024

CS Professional Course

The CS professional course is the final level of the CS program. Check out the eligibility, duration, course fee, syllabus, and entrance exams, below.

CS Professional Eligibility

For candidates seeking admission for the CS Professional course, it is mandatory for them to come through the CS executive program successfully.

Check: CS Professional Eligibility

CS Professional: Duration

The final course in the CS program is the professional course. The company secretary program lasts for three years, where the first two courses combine a duration of 15 months. The cs professional course is equal to the duration of the first two, i.e. 15 months as well. 

See Also: CS Professional Duration

CS Professional: Fee Structure 

The course fee for the cs professional course is the highest and certainly bigger than the first two. The registration fee for the same is INR 1500. Candidates have to pay the fee for both exemptions from the foundation and exemption from the executive program exam, which is INR 500 for both. Lastly, the tuition fee for this course is INR 9500, and combining all these, the total course fee stands at INR 12,000.

Description Fees (INR)
Examination Form Fee 2250
Registration Fee 1500
Tuition Fee 9500
Total 13,250

CS Professional: Syllabus

In the CS Professional course, there will be three modules, and each module will consist of three papers. See Also: CS Professional Syllabus

Module Syllabus
Module I Governance, Risk Management, Compliances, and Ethics
Advanced Tax laws
Drafting, Pleadings, and Appearances
Module II Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management, and Due Diligence
Corporate Reconstructing, Insolvency, Liquidation, and Winding-up
Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non- Compliances, and Remedies
Module III Corporate Funding and Listing in Stock Exchanges
Multidisciplinary Case Studies
Elective(1 out of below 8 subjects) Banking- Law, and Practice
Insurance- Law and Practice
Intellectual Property Rights- Laws and Practice
Forensic Audit
Direct Tax Laws and Practice
Labour Laws and Practice
Valuations and Business Modelling
Insolvency- Law, and Practice

CS Professional Exam Dates

CS Professional exams take place twice a year. This takes place mostly in the months of June and December. The CS Professional Exam Results are released after 1 month of the exam. 

Exam Events June Dates December Dates
CS Professional Form submission - February 7 to May 31, 2023
CS Professional Admit Card 10-12 days before the Exam To be Announced
CS Professional Exam Date June 1 to June 10, 2023 To be Announced
CS Professional Result August 25, 2023 To be Announced

Company Secretary Training

There is some training which the students need to undergo, to complete the company secretary course. The total time to complete this training course is around 20 months approx. Check these in detail below.

Type of Training Description Duration
SIP or Student Introduction Programme Students need to pursue this training within 6 months after applying for the CS executive program, to be eligible to sit for the exams for both modules. 7 days
EDP or Executive Development Programme This training course is the most pursued among all, which the students can get into after coming through the cs training program before the 15 months of training. 8 days
Compulsory Computer Training Programme All the students have to pursue this course to get eligible for the cs executive program. 70 hours
PDP or Professional Development Programme Candidates have to pursue this training course for a period of 15 months of training. 25 hours
Specialized Agency Training Students can pursue this course after completing EDP or SIP or passing the professional program, and by completing the 15 months of training. 15 days
MSOP or Management Skills Orientation Programme This training course can be pursued if the student has been partially or fully exempted from training and has registered the documents needed to fulfill the regulation of 1982. 15 days
Professional or Management Training Candidates can pursue this course with the completion of the CS Executive or CS professional program. Students must complete their training with the companies which are registered with the Company Secretary in Practice or the ICSI Institute. 15 months
Practical Training Candidates can only pursue this training course, only if they have completed the cs professional program. Also, they are eligible to do this training only if they are exempted from undergoing the 12 months of training under the 1982 companies secretaries regulation. 3 months

Company Secretary Course Comparison

Check out the course comparison of CA with CS and CMA.

CS vs CA

Check out the comparison between the company secretary course and chartered accountancy course, below.

Parameters Company Secretary Chartered Accountant
About The CS or Company Secretary course is a 3-year degree equivalent to a bachelor's program. The CA or chartered accountancy course is a 5-year program, offered by the ICAI. Like the Company Secretary course, this also has 3 levels. 
Education Required Qualifying 10+2 exams 10+2 with a minimum 60% aggregate
Skills Required Communication Skills, Expertise in Company law, Compliance, Attention to Detail, Time Management & Multi-Tasking, etc. IT proficiency, general business interest and awareness, numeracy, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, methodical approach, etc.
Average Salary INR 6 lakhs INR 7 lakhs
Eligibility Passing class 12 in any stream (commerce students will be preferred) Passing class 12 with a commerce background.

CS vs CMA

Check out the course comparison between the CS course and the certified management accountant course, in the tabulation form, below.

Parameters Company Secretary Certified Management Accountant
About The CS or Company Secretary course is a 3-year degree equivalent to a bachelor's program. CMA course is a 3 to a 4-year program, in the financial management, and management accounting fields.
Education Required Qualifying 10+2 exams Bachelor’s degree
Skills Required Communication Skills, Expertise in Company law, Compliance, Attention to Detail, Time Management & Multi-Tasking, etc. Planning and Budgeting, Cost Management, External Financial Reporting, Risk Management, Internal Controls, Investment Decision, Performance Management, etc.
Average Salary INR 6 lakhs INR 1.35 lakhs
Eligibility Passing class 12 in any stream (commerce students will be preferred) Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks.

Duty of a Company Secretary

The roles and responsibilities of a company secretary are as follows - 

  • Company secretaries are the compliance officers and give suggestions as in-house legal experts.
  • They also play their role as a chief advisor to the board of directors in corporate governance.
  • A company secretary is an expert in corporate laws, capital markets, and securities laws.
  • They are also responsible for the regulatory compliance of an organization.
  • They also play a significant role in corporate planning and as a strategic manager.

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Company Secretary Jobs

Check out the jobs which you can look for, with a CS graduate degree. Learn More: CS Jobs

Job Profile Job Description Average Salary
Business Consultant Business consultants are responsible for working in the marketing areas, along with management, finance, human resources, and accounting. They do the work of improving various operations of a company. They assess various weaknesses present in a company and suggest business solutions. INR 994,119
Operations Manager Operations managers do the work of supervising, hiring and training employees in both large and small-scale organizations. They are also responsible for strategizing process improvements, managing quality assurance, etc. Their major work is to keep up and increase the efficiency of an agency, business, or organization. INR 764,401
Investment Banker Investment bankers assist individuals or any business organization in raising capital and administering financial consultancy services to them. They help new firms to go public by being intermediaries between the investors and the security issuers. Check Here
Finance Consultant Financial consultants help their clients in forming a battle financial plan for their overall well-being. They are a sort of advisor who conducts an audit of your present financial condition and plan to assist you in pursuing your future goals. INR 628,854
Legal Advisor

Legal advisors are usually lawyers who provide legal advice and services to individuals or organizations. They specialize in a specific field of law and help the client prevent any legal implications or consequences. They are generally hired by individuals or corporations. Government offices also hire legal advisors to counsel police chiefs and other law enforcement managers.

Check Here
Stock Broker Stockbrokers are responsible for facilitating the selling and buying of stocks at the stock markets. They do it on behalf of the investors. Check Here

Company Secretary Salary

Check out the salaries of a company secretary in different countries and cities below.

Job Role Experience Wise Salary Average Annual Salary
Budget Analyst Check Salary Check Salary
Stock Broker Check Salary Check Salary
Marketing Manager Check Salary Check Salary
Investment Banker Check Salary Check Salary
Revenue Manager Check Salary Check Salary
Audit Manager Check Salary Check Salary
Chief Financial Officer Check Salary Check Salary

CS Salary Country Wise

Check out the country-wise salary for the company secretary profession for different countries in the world, below.

Country Salary (per annum)
India INR 600,000 
Canada INR 12,000,000
United Kingdom INR 60,00,000
Australia INR 11,000,000
United States INR 29,00,000

CS Salary City Wise 

Check out the city-wise salary for the company secretary profession, for different cities in India, below.

Cities Salary (per annum)
Kolkata INR 5,00,000
Mumbai INR 8,00,000
Bangalore INR 7,00,000
Pune INR 5,00,000
Chennai INR 830,000
New Delhi INR 6,00,000

Company Secretary FAQs

Ques: What is the expected salary of a company secretary?

Ans: Candidates can earn an average of INR 4.1 lakhs per annum as a fresher, being a company secretary of an organization.

Ques: If I study company secretary in India, can I get a job abroad as a company secretary?

Ans: Yes. Anyone having a CS degree from ICSI, as well as having a minimum of 3 to 4 years of experience in this field, offers numerous opportunities in abroad countries. Among these include, Singapore, UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc.

Ques: Is the position of company secretary a good career GG?

Ans: The job of a CS is a high-level job in all administrative and organizational matters. This includes company law, security markets, various corporate strategies, and cases. Apart from the roles and responsibilities of a company secretary, they can expect an average salary of INR 25,000 to 40,000 monthly in India.

Ques: What are some good online CS (company secretary) coaching classes?

Ans: Some of the best CS (company secretary) coaching classes in India are -

  • Edu-Ex
  • SuperProfs
  • Vignan CA Institute
  • ACE Tutorials
  • Deep Gyan Classes
  • GOLS CS Coaching
  • Takshila Learning, etc.

Ques: How difficult is it to become a company secretary?

Ans: To become a CS, aspirants have to come through the Company Secretary program, which is certainly very difficult. It is recommended that students should apply for the CS executive program, and CS professional program, from a recognized university by the ICSI.

Ques: How does one become a company secretary?

Ans: Candidates must be eligible, and apply for the CS course at first. There are three-course levels for the CS program, namely the foundation course, executive course, and professional course. Passing all these three courses, a candidate will be officially certified as a company secretary.

Ques: What is the scope of a CS (company secretary) course in India?

Ans: The future scope of pursuing the CS course in India is numerous. Candidates can earn a handsome amount of compensation. The job roles which aspirants can look for by pursuing this course are Operations Manager, Business Consultant, Marketing Manager, Stock Broker, Investment Banker, Finance Consultant, etc.

Ques: What is the duration of the Company Secretary Course?

Ans: The CS program has 3-course levels, namely foundation course, executive course, and professional course. The foundation course is 8 months, the executive course is 7 months, and the professional course is 15 months, combining the course duration to be 3 years.

Ques: What qualifications do you need to be a Company Secretary?

Ans: To become a company secretary, you need to have a professional degree in law, business, accountancy, or public administration. Also, you need to have working experience in business areas such as credit control, accounts, pensions, personnel, etc.

Ques: What is the salary of CS?

Ans: The average starting salary of a company secretary is INR 3 lakhs, and the salary of a senior-level experienced company secretary ranges from INR 9,00,000 – 12,00,000.

Ques: Is CS easier than CA?

Ans: The CS course is primarily much easier than the CA course. The chartered accountancy course is considered one of the toughest courses in India. The CS course is overall not that easy but comparatively easier than the CA.

Ques: Which degree is best with CS?

Ans: There are multiple degrees that candidates can have along with the CS degree. Mentionable among these are - 

  • CS with CA
  • CS with LLB
  • CS with MBA in Finance, etc.

Ques: Who Earns More CA or CS?

Ans: Individuals having a CA degree earn much more than individuals having a CS degree. The average salary of a company secretary is 6 lakhs in India, whereas the average salary of a CA in India is around 8 lakhs.

Ques: What is the maximum salary of CS?

Ans: The highest salary of a company secretary salary in India has been reportedly INR 54 lakhs. Also, candidates having a significant amount of experience are able to earn more than INR 42 lakhs per year.

Ques: What is the salary of a CS fresher?

Ans: The salary of a CS fresher in India can range up to INR 3 to 3.5 lakhs per annum. It can also be above 4.1 lakh per annum if the fresher candidate has good working skills.

Ques: Can an average student crack CS?

Ans: Yes. Cracking the CS is not a big deal. Candidates have to earn a total of 60% in the theoretical paper and 40% marks in the practical paper.

Ques: Can I delete CS on the first attempt?

Ans: Company secretary users can delete their CS first data or request which is an export to their data.

Ques: What is the CS syllabus?

Ans: The company secretary course is mainly based on law subjects. It has three different course levels, including foundation, executive, and professional courses. The CS program mainly deals with subjects including Corporate laws, company laws, business laws, risk management, and finance management.

Ques: Can I do self-study for CS?

Ans: Yes. Individuals can execute the study of CS programs themselves. This includes a few hours of self-study, following the books, and preparing the syllabus given by the ICSI. Also, attending classroom coaching, online video lectures, etc.

Ques: Can I clear CS without coaching?

Ans: Yes. It is possible to clear the CS course, without taking coaching classes. However, in that case, it is necessary for you to put effort into your studies for at least 5 to 6 hours a day.

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