Summary: The Council of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), at its meeting dated 28 August 2026, approved 12 important proposals covering professional standards and guidance, student eligibility and support, Chapter administration, infrastructure and recognition of examination achievers. Among the professional measures, the Council approved the Guidance Note on Securities and Exchange Board of India (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 (Revised Edition, 2026) and the ICSI Auditing Standards (CSAS-1 to CSAS-4), Revised Edition 2026. The latter covers the four ICSI Auditing Standards relating to Audit Engagement, Audit Process and Documentation, Forming of Opinion and Secretarial Audit. The Council also approved amendments to the ICSI Chapter Management Guidelines, 2024 and Standard Operating Procedures subsequent to the constitution of a New Evolving Chapter. On the education front, approval was given to the Exposure Draft of New Syllabus 2027, comprising the scheme of papers, Mode of Examination and Assessment Pattern, for stakeholder consultation.
A significant decision concerns the Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET): the eligibility criteria for registration are to be revised to permit provisional registration of students who have passed Class X/Matriculation. The Council also approved free ICSI Online Doubt Clearing Classes for Executive and Professional Programme students and constitution of the ICSI Students’ Benevolent Fund to provide financial assistance to registered students facing unforeseen emergencies. Other decisions include approval of a new logo for the Company Secretaries Benevolent Fund; acquisition of land for the Thiruvananthapuram Chapter; in-principle approval for acquisition of a plot/premise for the Ahmedabad Chapter subject to recommendations of the Western India Regional Council; and felicitation of the First, Second and Third All India Rank Holders of Executive and Professional Programme examinations at specified national events and press conferences. The source records these as Council approvals and does not specify implementation dates for the individual measures.
Institute of Company Secretaries of India
Important Decisions taken in the Meeting of the Council
dated 28 August, 2026
1. The Council approved the Guidance Note on Securities and Exchange Board of India (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 (Revised Edition, 2026).
2. The Council approved the ICSI Auditing Standards (CSAS-1 to CSAS- 4), Revised Edition 2026.
3. The Council approved the new Logo of Company Secretaries Benevolent Fund.
4. The Council approved the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) subsequent to the Constitution of New Evolving Chapter.
5. The Council accorded approval for amendments in the ICSI Chapter Management Guidelines, 2024.
6. The Council approved the Exposure Draft of New Syllabus 2027 comprising of scheme of papers, Mode of Examination and Assessment Pattern, for Stakeholder’ Consultation.
7. The Council approved the proposal for acquisition of land for Thiruvananthapuram Chapter.
8. The Council accorded in principle approval for the proposal for acquisition of plot/premise for Ahmedabad Chapter, subject to recommendations of Western India Regional Council.
9. The Council accorded approval for revision of the eligibility criteria for registration to the Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) by permitting provisional registration of students who have passed Class X/Matriculation.
10. The Council approved the proposal for offering the ICSI Online Doubt Clearing Classes to Executive and Professional Programme students, free of cost.
11. The Council accorded approval for constitution of the ICSI Students’ Benevolent Fund (SBF) for providing financial assistance to registered students facing unforeseen emergencies.
12. The Council accorded approval for felicitation of the First, Second and Third All India Rank Holders of the Executive and Professional Programme Examinations for the June Session during the National Convention of Company Secretaries and for the December Session during the National PCS Conference, as applicable, and further at the Press Conferences held during such Programmes.
