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CS Foundation (CSEET)
CS Foundation (ICSI / CSEET)
Institute of Company Secretaries of India's Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET, replaced earlier CS Foundation). 4 papers: Business Communication, Legal Aptitude + Logical Reasoning, Economics + Business Environment, Current Affairs + Psychometric. Held 4 times yearly.
Updated 31 Aug 2026 ·Vacancy counts change every cycle — always confirm the exact number in the latest official notification before applying.
Sourced
Source: official exam authority notification · refreshed weekly. How this works →
Free CS Foundation (CSEET) preparation on Shishya
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CS Foundation (CSEET) eligibility
Verified against the official notification. Source ↗ · last reconciled 2026-05.
- Education
- Class 12 pass from a recognised board. CA / CMA Foundation pass + select graduates can also apply directly to CS Executive (skipping CSEET).
- Attempts
- Unlimited attempts (held 4 times yearly — January, May, July, November).
- Nationality
- Indian citizen + foreign nationals.
CS Foundation (CSEET) cutoffs
Historical cutoffs are a guide, not a prediction. Use them to set a realistic target, not to predict next year's exact number.
Passing criteria (ICSI rule)
out of 200 marks| Year | Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Per paper minimum | ≥ 40% |
| 2024 | Aggregate minimum | ≥ 50% |
| 2024 | Pass rate — recent cycles | ~50-60% (much higher than CA Foundation) |
Source: official ↗ · verified 2026-05.
CS Foundation (CSEET) paper analysis — what actually got asked
Topic-by-topic weightage averaged across 2022-2024 papers. Use this to decide where to invest study hours, not where to skim. Source ↗ · verified 2026-05.
Paper 1 — Business Communication (50 marks)
50/200 marks avg
English grammar + comprehension + business writing
~50 marks(25%)
Paper 2 — Legal Aptitude + Logical Reasoning (50 marks)
50/200 marks avg
Legal aptitude + critical reasoning
~50 marks(25%)
Paper 3 — Economic & Business Environment (50 marks)
50/200 marks avg
Indian economy + business environment + entrepreneurship
~50 marks(25%)
Paper 4 — Current Affairs + Presentation + Communication (50 marks)
50/200 marks avg
Current affairs + psychometric + viva voce
~50 marks(25%)
Takeaways for prep planning
- CSEET is structurally easier than CA Foundation — pass rate is 2-3x higher.
- Current affairs + business knowledge are the unexpected challenge — most candidates underestimate the breadth.
- ICSI's own e-learning + practice tests are sufficient; private coaching is rarely needed.
CS Foundation (CSEET) — Frequently asked questions
Is Shishya free for CS Foundation (CSEET) preparation?
How long is the CS Foundation (CSEET) exam?
Previous year papers
0 questions across all yearsWe are sourcing PYQs from the official notification PDFs. Coming soon.
Mock tests
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What can I get from CS Foundation (CSEET)?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Top achievers — National rank contenders
85–100% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Likely All-India rank holder (ICSI publishes top rankers)
- •ICSI President's Medal eligibility (subject to overall CS programme performance)
- •Premium articleship opportunities with NSE/BSE listed companies
- •National recognition at ICSI convocations and events
- •Fast-track career in corporate secretarial practice, compliance, or governance
- •Strong foundation for CS + MBA / CS + LLB dual qualification path
High distinction — Top 10%
75–84% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •High distinction certificate from ICSI
- •Strong candidacy for premium articleship firms (Big 4, top CS firms)
- •Likely eligible for ICSI national-level merit awards
- •Excellent foundation for clearing Executive Programme in first attempt
- •Profile suitable for early corporate compliance internships
- •Recognition in ICSI regional chapter newsletters
Distinction range
65–74% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Distinction certificate from ICSI (subject to 60%+ in individual papers)
- •Strong competitive edge for articleship positions
- •Well-positioned for CS Executive Programme fast-track completion
- •Eligible for ICSI merit awards and regional recognition
- •Solid base for corporate law, compliance, and secretarial practice career
Above average performance
55–64% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Strong foundation for CS Executive Programme
- •Good grasp of Business Environment, Business Communication & Management
- •Well-prepared for Company Law and Accounting subjects in Executive
- •Consider parallel articleship applications during Executive Programme
- •Eligible for merit scholarships from some ICSI regional chapters
Pass — Foundation cleared
40–54% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Below passing threshold
0–39% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
News & timeline
See older updates →Latest news
ICSI has opened registration for CSEET February 2027 session. The last date for registration is October 31, 2026. Candidates can register online through the official ICSI portal.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India has declared the result for CSEET June 2026 session. Candidates can check their results and download e-mark sheets from the official ICSI website.
ICSI is accepting empanelment of General Observers through the ICSI Observer Portal for CSEET October 2026 session from August 10 to August 31, 2026.
ICSI has implemented major restructuring of CSEET effective from June 2026 session. The exam is now conducted in offline pen-and-paper mode at centres, replacing the earlier remote proctored format. The new syllabus focuses on enhanced assessment framework and updated study material.
Important dates
CSEET October 2026 Enrollment Last Date (Without Late Fee)
passedFri, 7 Aug, 2026
CSEET October 2026 Enrollment Last Date (With Late Fee)
passedThu, 20 Aug, 2026
CSEET June 2026 result declared
passedSun, 23 Aug, 2026
Result available on ICSI website for download
✦CSEET October 2026 exam - Business Communication
20 days awayThu, 1 Oct, 2026
Centre-based pen & paper mode, timing 2:30 PM to 5:45 PM
✦CSEET October 2026 exam - Fundamentals of Accounting
22 days awaySat, 3 Oct, 2026
✦CSEET October 2026 exam - Economic and Business Environment
24 days awayMon, 5 Oct, 2026
✦CSEET October 2026 exam - Business Laws and Management
25 days awayTue, 6 Oct, 2026
CSEET February 2027 registration closes
50 days awaySat, 31 Oct, 2026
Last date for CSEET February 2027 session registration
CSEET October 2026 result (expected)
100 days awaySun, 20 Dec, 2026
Results typically declared 2-2.5 months after exam
✦CSEET February 2027 exam (expected)
148 days awaySat, 6 Feb, 2027
CSEET is conducted in June, October and February sessions annually
Syllabus
Tap any topic for its study notes + a 10-question topic test