ICSI Amnesty Scheme: 1,000 Dropouts Rejoin CS Course

Up to 1,000 students have rejoined the company secretary examination process thanks to an amnesty scheme launched by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). This initiative aims to bridge the significant demand-supply gap for corporate governance experts in India.

Key Scheme Details & CS Shortage

ICSI National President Pawan Chandak announced the scheme at a national conference in Pune. The program targets students who previously halted their studies due to financial constraints or other career opportunities.

• The amnesty scheme, launched in January 2026, is active until June 30, 2026, with a potential extension after a July council meeting.
• Rejoining students can resume at their corresponding level and may retain exemptions for high scores.
• Only about 80,800 company secretaries have been produced since 1967, compared to 1.6 million registered companies requiring their expertise.
• Approximately 17,000 CS professionals are in Maharashtra, with 25,000 in the broader western region.

CS Course Structure & Success Rates

The Company Secretary course has three main stages designed to develop experts in legal compliance and corporate governance:

• CSEET (CS Executive Entrance Test): For Class 12 graduates.
• Executive Programme: Can be joined directly after graduation.
• Professional Programme: The final stage, leading to ICSI membership.

Examinations for the Executive and Professional Programmes are held in June and December, while CSEET exams occur in February, June, and October.

• The Professional Programme sees a pass percentage of around 10%.
• Executive and Entrance levels have pass rates ranging from 25% to 50%.
• Annually, about 5,000 students clear the final stage out of 40,000 to 45,000 aspirants.