The ICSI CS Foundation program is the first level of the Company Secretary Course. It is controlled by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

What is CS Foundation?

• ICSI CS Foundation is primarily the Company Secretary Foundation 2018.
• The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), which controls the CS Foundation, is an organization that has been working towards constant development of company secretaries in the country.
• You will finish the first level of the Company Secretary Course when you clear the CS Foundation Program successfully.
• The ICSI grants degrees and memberships to candidates on the basis of their performance in the ICSI exam, which is conducted in three different stages. The first stage is the Foundation Course that includes a myriad of important subjects that form the base of the profession.

How to apply

Eligibility Criteria for CS Foundation

• If you have cleared the Senior Secondary (10+2) examination of a board/university constituted by law in India or any other exam that is recognised by the Central Government as equivalent thereto, you are eligible.
• Temporary admission is also given to you, if you have appeared for or enrolled in a Senior Secondary (10+2 or equivalent) exam. But you must provide proof of passing the examination within 6 months of giving the application.
• Admission is open throughout the year. You just need to send an application in the prescribed Form FC-1 along with the required documentary evidence in support of your date of birth and educational qualification.
• You must pass the Foundation examination within 3 years from the date of your admission.

Registration for CS Foundation

• Click on the online services icon on top of the ICSI website’s homepage
• Now, go to the ‘Students’ tab and click on ‘Student Registration’
• Select the list of documents as per your qualification and preference from the following options:PhotographSignatureBirth certificate (10th pass certificate)Roll number (if appearing)12th passing certificate/mark sheetCategory Certificate (if you belong to SC/ST or Physically Handicapped Category)
• Then select ‘Proceed to Registration’
• Click on the course type and select ‘Foundation Stage’
• Fill in other mandatory details
• Click on ‘Make Payment’ to complete the final stage of registration.

Application Fee for CS Foundation

Admit Card for CS Foundation

• CS Foundation admit cards are only available online
• The CS Foundation admit cards for the June 2018 exam were accessible after May 2018.
• ICSI usually releases the CS Foundation admit card/CS Foundation hall ticket close to 15 days before the exams.
• If you have applied for the ICSI CS Foundation program, you can download your admit card from the official website or http://icsi.indiaeducation.net/ with the help of your registration number.

Exam Schedule for CS Foundation

Update as soon as possible.

Syllabus for CS Foundation

Paper 1: Business Environment and Law

Part A: Business Environment

Part B: Business Laws

Paper 2: Business Management, Ethics and Entrepreneurship

Part D: Entrepreneurship

Paper 3: Business Economics

Part A: Economics

Part B: Elementary Statistics

Paper 4: Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing

Part A: Fundamentals of Accounting

Part B: Fundamentals of Auditing

Exam Pattern for CS Foundation

The Institute has taken a decision to discontinue the OMR based examination and has started the Computer Based Examination (CBE) since June 2014.

You will still continue to be assessed through multiple choice questions (MCQs). You will be given 4 options, of which one will be correct. There is no negative marking for the wrong answer.

Here is the marking scheme of Computer Based Examination:-

• The Computer-Based Exam will be conducted in all those cities in India and aboard, where the Institute’s existing examinations are currently held.
• The questions will be displayed on the computer screen both in English and Hindi.
• Subjects like Business Management, Communication and Ethics will have questions only in English.

How to prepare

Preparation Tips for CS Foundation

• Solve sample question papers: Sample question papers give you first-hand experience of the actual exam questions and help you better understand the topics, the quality expected, and also the skills needed.
• Read articles on diverse topics: The more you read, the more you will get a grasp on the comprehension section. It will also help you absorb contradictory subjects and become good at sifting through content.
• Practice, practice and more practice: Keep revising all the topics you’ve studied, otherwise, those concepts might get wiped off from your memory. It’s better to be safe than to forget everything you studied at the last minute.
• Improve your general awareness: The Indian and world atmosphere section in the exam focuses on your general knowledge. So, it’s important to keep a tab on the news dailies, magazines headlines, news channels and current affairs associated with national and international avenues.
• Work on speed and accuracy: Always try to solve model papers or previous years’ papers by maintaining a stipulated time-limit. It will help you develop both speed and accuracy that help immensely during the exams.