THE LAST PREPARATION STRATEGY For CS Students

As time gap reduces for Final exams, students get worried for their last round of preparations. And the biggest curiosity they have is “HOW TO PREPARE CS EXAMS DURING THE LAST MONTH”.

It is believed that last month of any Exam Preparation is the crucial period of whole journey. If a student does well in this time, he will surely ensure a good result and achieve success in Exams. No matter, how much a student studied throughout the year but in the few days before the examination, he should try best to study and prepare for the exam papers.

We are here to with some of helpful tips and effective ways to know about how to prepare for your final exams in last one month before final exams.

1. Proper Time Management
Having just month? So you need to manage the remaining time for preparations and revision of the subjects. There is need to create a balanced study plan schedule so that you will be able to study all the subjects within a given time limit. Don’t mix up all the subjects at once. For this, make a time table of all the tasks you have to do.
It is advised to prepare a checklist and keep a track of what you’ve revised.

2. Look at your Notes for revision
A professional course has vast syllabus of subjects and it becomes difficult to revise all before examinations in such limited time. Look at your notes and prepare points for the important topics which will help you to recall everything in an easy way for Exam Preparation. 
Pick up your brief notes subject wise and start reading as reading it for the final preparation can help you remember all the main points and write good answers.

3. “Take maximum from Test Series or solve Previous Years Question Papers”
This is proving to be most effective preparation tips when you are rushing out of time at your final preparations. This will help you not only to know the format of the exam paper but show you what your preparation till now is. While preparing during the last month for exams, practicing test series and sets give us an idea about the type of questions asked in the examinations and will get you to know the exam time limit within which you need to finish.

4. No Cramming Before the Exam
Many of the students have a habit of Cramming topics. This is totally the wrong way! It is always suggested that no new topics shall be touched before the exam as you may tend to forget the things you have already remembered. Before the examination, if you are learning something new, it is just like Cramming. Cramming will make you forget what you have already learned.

5. Reallocate your studies by categorizing Subjects
Professional courses consist of various subjects that can be categorized as some are memory-based; some are problem-solving; some are interpretation-based. For most effective way to prepare last month and learning, you should alternate between each subject categories in a long period of study time. This is one of the best methods among how to cover your study in a month.

6. Work on presentation
Your answer sheets need to be presented in a proper way as it has more chances of getting good scores in the subjects. So, also practice writing better answers before the exams so that you may get used to writing good answers. Utilize some of your time to get the maximum result out with a good presentation.

7. Revision within 24 hours
The three R’s which are very important to remember are Review, Recap and Reinforce in last 24 hours before your examination. It is said that if you failed to do so, you failed to remember 80% portion of the topic you’ve read.
Thus, revise it within 24hours of time in order to let retain all you have read in your mind for a long time.

8. Don’t panic while preparing for the exams
For sure have huge syllabus to cover up, a lot of burden of expectations and many more things but don’t let stress to rule over you and effect your preparations. Stay calm and take you back to what you have read and what will do it.

9. Your health is also important
It is very important to maintain a good healthy even if you have less time for exams. Have good breakfast, healthy lunch & a light dinner which shall keep mind alert and active the whole day long. Remember that a good food is essential for optimal thinking.

10. Explain your answers to others
There is great advantage in studies when you explain your answers to the questions put before you. One side this helps you in memorizing the things you read better and the other side it can make you know any weak area were you are lagging behind & need improvement.

With these some of the final exams last month study tips you can score much better in exams.  All the best for your exams!

CS Training under Firm or PCS or Companies

As per regulation of ICSI (as amended from time to time) a student is required to complete Practical experience and Training requirement in such a manner and mode as may be determined by the Institute. Presently Practical training for twenty one months after completion of Executive Development Programme has been determined that is required to be done:

 In a company that has a company secretary in whole time employment or in any other company that qualifies the criteria as may be determined by the Institute. OR
 Under a Practicing Company Secretary that qualifies such criteria as may be notified by the Institute. OR
 In any institution or any other body corporate or entity that satisfy such condition as may be determined by the Institute.

The executive passed students, on whom the older training structure is applicable; they may start their training within 06 months i.e. on or before 3.8.2020 under earlier/modified training structure. Afterwards they will be automatically shifted to new training structure as determined under New Regulation, 2020

ICSI has issued the types of various entities eligible for imparting training and they are:

 Company
 Company limited by Guarantee
 MCA and its Offices
 Law Firm
 LLP
 Govt Bodies
 Banks
 Financial Institutions
 Universities
 Practising
 Company Secretary (PCS)

Training under law Firms

A student can undergo his CS Training in a law firm that is of 5 years old and having minimum 5 partners which shall impart training up to 3years/2years/one year or 21months in accordance with the provisions of Company Secretaries Regulation 1982 (as amended from time to time) and in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Council from time to time. Two trainees per partner subject to maximum 20 trainees in one law firm are allowed for undergoing training under law firms.

The best firms for CS training are registered with ICSI to impart training to the students ensuring to provide a good training environment to the trainees with adequate work exposure during the training and some of the well known firms are Chandrasekaran Associates, RSJ Associates, Singh & Associates, Nishi Talwar & Associates, MA & Associates, Khyati Shah & Co.

CS Training in a Company

Students of CS course can undergo CS Training in a Company whether public or private; listed or unlisted having paid up share capital of Rupees fifty lacs or more as well as under Company limited by Guarantee having gross annual receipt of Rs 1 crore or more as per last audited financial report.

A student who wish to undergo training under company can apply to the training section of the ICSI in Form (ST-10) mentioning the name of companies as per his preference along with EDP Certificate. List of companies for imparting 3years/2years/one year or 21months training registered for imparting training with the Institute is available on the website of the Institute.

“A student is required to undergo Practical training for twenty one months after completion of Executive Development Programme in a company that has a company secretary in whole time employment or any other company that satisfies such criteria as may be specified by the Institute.” – As per new regulation 2020.

Best company for CS training are registered with ICSI to impart training to the students while some of the well known companies for imparting training to the students are Corporate Professionals Capital Pvt. Ltd, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Cummins India Limited, Hindustan Salts Limited, NHDC Ltd and Godfrey Phillips India Limited.

Scope of work in CS Training

Getting registered for practical training in a company gives an opportunity to a student to work with different departments. Hence the area of work in CS training in a company includes getting involved and working with various departments particularly:

 Secretarial that includes handles board meetings, drafting minutes, support in shares issue & Legal section
 Finance & Accounts which includes making costing estimates, Management Accounting, internal audit & assessment of duty and taxation
 Administration which includes general administration, marketing, handling industrial
& public Relations, personnel and material Management etc

Articleship with a Practicing Company Secretary gives an exposure to work for even a small to a big company. The area of work in CS training in a firm involves project planning which includes promotion, formation and incorporation of companies, raising of financial resources, corporate restructuring, foreign collaborations and joint ventures abroad,
corporate laws advisory services companies act, state laws, tax planning and management income tax, issue of certificates under various statutes companies act/stock exchanges and personnel matters.

While CS training comparison under a company and a firm, a student is need to consider what his outlook for future is and based on the exposure, time management for studies and the career opportunities, the decision of undergoing training under a firm, company or a practicing company secretary shall be taken.

For variety of exposure and better placement & career opportunities, CS students always look for CS training in metro cities as there are number of well known companies, firms and practicing company secretaries that offer the most diverse work and build a strength to face new challenges in corporate and other sectors.

Now, this also need selection of the metro cities, in which training shall be opted. Students who wish to make their professional career in Industries can go for Gurgaon, Jaipur, Noida, Chandigarh and Jamshedpur. While those students who wish to practice in their future can look for the best firms at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Banglore and Delhi.

Comparison of Training under a firm And Company

 Summary: ICSI training structures has been defined by ICSI from time and CS students are required to undergo in the same manner and under different organization, firms, PCS and companies. It is believed that training period of any student is the most essential period where the ultimate motive of a student is to learn maximum and acquire knowledge and experience. Opting to commence training under Company or Firm depends mostly of the
future outlook of the student itself.

ICSI CS Traning Structure

Important aspects of CS training Structure (both old and new) as per ICSI regulations CS course training details
Every student who undergoes CS course is required to acquire the practical experience and training requirements for obtaining membership of ICSI. After applicability of new regulation w.e.f from 03.02.2020, the training structure is:

i. 21 months long term practical training after passing the Executive Programme and completion of the one month EDP
ii. Executive Development Programme (EDP) that is of one month; consisting of 15 days class room mode and 15 days e-EDP after passing the Executive progarmme Examination.
iii. Corporate Leadership Development Programme (CLDP) of not less than 30 days but not exceeding 60 days after passing Professional progarmme Examination and completing training requirements.

Commencement of Training procedure

21months Management Training with the Company After passing Intermediate/Executive Programme, students are eligible to commence 21 months training. Procedure should be followed for undergoing 21 months Management
Training with the company as under:

i. Students are required to apply to the Institute (Training Section) in the prescribed CS training form ST 10 mentioning their choices of companies along with EDP Certificate.
ii. Institute will be forwarding the sponsorship letter (biodata letter) to the companies as requirement by them with a copy of it to the concerned student also.
iii. The student should contact the particular company after receipt of the letter from the Institute and seek for an appointment with regard to an interview
iv. The company after selection of student would forward appointment letter mentioning the date of commencement of the student training to the Institute for their records.
v. A final sponsorship letter shall be forwarded by the institute to the company with a copy of the same to the particular student also.

21month Apprenticeship training with Company Secretary in Practice

A student may undergo 21 months apprenticeship training after passing CS Executive Programme with a Practicing Company Secretary registered with ICSI for providing training as per the procedure specified: -

i) Before commencement of training, the student is required to apply for the issue of sponsorship letter in the prescribed training form available in the ICSI website.

ii) After getting the sponsorship letter from the Institute, a contract for apprenticeship training (CS training agreement) in the prescribed format (as per the Apprenticeship Training Guidelines, 1982 as modified from time to time) is required to be made between the PCS and the student on non-judicial stamp paper of appropriate value
applicable to different state, in duplicate. One copy of the contract is required to be kept with both the parties.

iii) On execution of contract for apprenticeship, within 15 day, the Company Secretary in Practice/ student is required to submit:

 A copy of contract
 The details as prescribed in Part A & B relating to employer and trainee
 Copy of completion certificates of both EDP and Executive Programme.
 Registration fee of Rs. 50/- (Rupees fifty only)

iv) Thereafter the Institute after taking the training on record will issue 21 months apprenticeship training registration letter to the Company Secretary in Practice with a copy to the student.

CS training amendment

There have been many amendments in the training structure of CS course. Major changes were made in the year 2014, 2016 and 2020. “Modified Training Structure” was introduced w.e.f. 1st April, 2014 and it was applicable to:

 A student who has been registered to the Executive Programme on or after 1st April 2014; and
 A student who has been registered on or before 31st March 2014, to the Executive Programme and opts for the modified training structure in place of the earlier training structure.

The major changes were in Long term internship with specified entities, where the changes were as under:

CS training after foundation: After passing the CS foundation programme, three years on registration to Executive Programme
CS training after executive: After passing CS Executive programme, two years.
CS training after professional: After passing CS Professional programme, one year.

With the introduction of new regulation in the year 2020, CS training period under Long term Practical Training was changed to Twenty one (21) months (only after completion of one month EDP and passing of Executive Programme).

For executive passed students, which are falling under the older training structure may start their training within 06 months i.e. on or before 3.8.2020 under earlier/modified training structure. Afterwards they will be shifted to new training structure under New Regulation, 2020 automatically.

CS 15 days training that was required to be completed under specialized agency as per old training structure has been discontinued as per the new regulation applicable from 03.02.2020.

CS MSOP training that was applicable to the students registered in CS Executive Programme on or before 31.03.2014 and students registered in CS Executive Programme on or after 01.04.2014 was dispensed with and it is not applicable under new regulation w.e.f 3.02.2020.

The detailed applicability can be accessed at
https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/status_applicability_various_training_students.pdf available at ICSI site.

CS training applicability
ICSI has announced that from 03.02.2020 new training structure is effective. The earlier and modified training structure shall be closed from 03.08.2020. The students who fall under earlier and modified training structure can switch over to New training Structure.

CS training stipend

CS training exemption

If a candidate is having working experience of desired duration as per the Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982(as amended), he can seek exemption in the prescribed manner in CS training form st10 to the institute. The detailed guidelines can be accessed by the students who wish to claim exemptions and are required to submit the requisite
documents as per that.

https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/Guidelines%20for%20claiming%20Exemption%20%20from%20long%20term%20training.pdf

Students can also find details related

ICSI CS Professional Programme Registration Details

CS Professional registration details

CS Professional Pogramme is the last stage in the Company secretary course and the eligibility for CS professional registration is that it can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course.

CS Professional registration validity

The registration to the regular stage of CS Course (consisting of Executive Programme & Professional Programme stages) is valid for a period of five years.

Students whose registrations have expired, but not passed Professional Programme Examinations, may seek Registration de-novo within five years of termination of their earlier registration.

With the introduction of new regulation 2020, “continuation of registration” has been introduced. Student can go through the details by following the link https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/Detailed_notification_continuation_of_reg_prof pass_stud.pdf available at ICSI site.

For more clarification of the students related to registration as per new regulation ICSI has
issued FAQ that can be accessed on https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/FAQ_NEW_REGULATIONS_INCLUDING_CSEET.pdf

Pursuing CS Course after passing other professional courses & graduation

Arts, Science, Commerce Graduates/ Post Graduates (excluding Fine Arts) are eligible for admission to CS course and CS professional registration after graduation can be done after the student has passed the CS executive Programme of ICSI course.

Also CS Professional registration after CPT can be done after the student has passed the CS
executive Programme of ICSI course.

CS professional registration dates
The cut off dates for CS Professional programme registration is as under:

With regard to registrations for December, 2020 Examinations, the CS professional registration important dates has been announced. The Cut- off- Date for registration in Professional programme is 31 st May, 2020 for appearing in both the modules in December, 2020.

CS professional registration fees
The registration fees for CS professional programme after passing executive programme is
as under:
Education Fee: Rs. 12000.00
Pre-Examination Test Fee Rs. 1000.00
Total Rs. 13000.00

However concessions in fees for registration to CS Professional programme are provided to following category of candidates:

Procedure for CS professional registration CS Professional registration form is available throughout the year. A candidate can register online at ICSI site. The procedure for the same is as under:

1. Login to Online Services at www.icsi.edu.
2. Insert username and password.
3. Click Student and then select My Account
4. Click Professional Registration under “Payment Request” option
5. Select optional subject
6. Make Payment of Rs 12,000/- through Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking/challan.

7. You are successfully admitted in Professional Programme
8. For all successful payment an acknowledgement is generated (Very important)

CS Professional registration documents required Since the basic documents are already uploaded by the students at the time of their CS executive programme registration, so there are no such essential CS Professional registration documents to be uploaded at the time of registration. Only the student is required to upload the mark sheet copies of the CS Executive Programme.

CS Professional exam registration

The Receipt of CS Professional Examination Enrollment application (for appearing in June, 2020 Examination) is 25.03.2020 and the students can enroll for examinations at https://smash.icsi.in and follow the important instructions available on https://smash.icsi.in/Documents/User-Manual-for-Enrollment.pdf. ICSI has also issued
guidelines with respect to examination enrollment for June, 2020 session of examinations
which can be followed at https://smash.icsi.in/Documents/GuidelinesforStudents.pdf.