By IIC Lakshya
15 Sep 2025
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In India, the course on Company Secretary (CS) offered by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is one of the cheapest and most highly revered professional qualifications. The ICSI is one of the few professional institutions that has a fee structure of a few hundred rupees, which caters to the demands of its students. Unlike other professional programmes, which demand a substantial amount of money, the CS course is structured in a fee system that aims to provide financial support to a large section of people. However, most of the aspirants do not understand the detailed fee structure for registration, examinations, and even the other expenses that are involved at every level.
In this fee guide, aspirants will find a detailed account of arrangements for the CS course structure, including the registration fee, exam fee, training expenses, and other specific elements that the candidates are likely to encounter.
The fee structure of the CS course is reasonable and aims to achieve the least possible cost while maintaining high academic standards. Within the self-study and CS coaching modes available, a Company Secretary in India is still considered to have the lowest possible cost at a professional level. The total amount is equivalent to self-study: ₹50,000 - ₹70,000, coaching: ~₹150,000.
Particularly, the CS course is structured in three levels.
Moreover, practical training is a requirement that students undertake, whereby they will not be able to obtain the CS membership. During this training, students are expected to incur other payments to be paid additionally. The amount of money paid is dependent on the level of study, and it can also change according to the exemptions, category of the students, and scholarships from ICSI.
Students who have finished their 12th grade have to complete and pay for a mandatory examination called the CSEET. For every attempt a candidate makes to pass the exam, there is a registration fee of 1000 rupees. Discounts are available for SC/ST individuals and North East physically disadvantaged students. Additional discounts are periodically made available for students who have achieved a high grade point average.
Students who have failed the CS Executive Entrance Test have to pay the exam fees if they wish to have another attempt.
Clearing the CSEET or graduating allows individuals to register for the Executive Programme. Those available for registration are charged a fee of 10600 rupees.
Final costs associated with the registration exam and all passing for professional stage students average around ₹20,000-₹22,000.
Other than the registration and the exam fees, students have to undergo training and skill enhancement programmes:
There is study material, coaching classes, and online lectures, which can range from ₹20,000–₹60,000 based on the institute.
In comparison to the UK or even Singapore, the ICSI CS qualification is one of the most affordable global qualifications, which is why the fees are surprisingly low. Other than that, I bet you had no idea that the CS course fees in India are among the lowest for a professional course in corporate law and governance across the globe.
On summing the registration, exam fees, training, and other additional costs, the total amount to complete CS comes out to be between:
Surprisingly, the CS Course is one of the cheapest among other professional qualifications available, especially MBAs or even CAs.
About ₹50,000-₹1.5 lakhs, it is the all-encompassing cost to complete the CS course, which includes CS registration, examination fees, along categorized training.
Yes, the legislative authority, ICSI, allows payment in instalments, especially for executive and professional programmes. Official documents can be reviewed by students for additional information.
Yes, fee discounts for SC/ST, students from other northeastern states, and any other special needs students are granted by ICSI. Scholarships are also awarded to students of outstanding academic merit.