CS Executive · December 2025 · Paper 3
CS Executive Setting Up of Business, Industrial and Labour Laws December 2025: paper analysis
Our own analysis of the official paper, as of 12 October 2026. The questions and answers belong to ICSI; read them on ICSI's website.
Chapter-wise marks
Where the marks were in this paper (out of 100; internal-choice alternatives not double counted).
What each question tested
In our words, by question number. Open the official paper for the full question.
| Q | Marks | Tests | Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(a) | 3 | Time limit for filing LLP agreement after incorporation and its significance | Limited Liability Partnership |
| 1(b) | 3 | Key considerations before setting up a startup and seeking DPIIT recognition | Startups and its Registration |
| 1(c) | 3 | Remedy for delayed payments to MSME suppliers through facilitation council | Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
| 1(d) | 3 | Steps and considerations for setting up an overseas wholly owned subsidiary | Setting up of Business outside India and Issues Relating thereto |
| 1(e) | 3 | Environmental law compliances applicable to a manufacturing enterprise | Identifying Laws applicable to various Industries and their Initial Compliances |
| 2(a) | 3 | Eligibility criteria for a foreign company to open a branch office in India | Setting up of Branch Office, Liaison Office and Wholly Owned Subsidiary by Foreign Company |
| 2(b) | 3 | Doctrine of ultra vires: articles cannot extend objects beyond memorandum, ratification issue | Corporate Entities - Companies |
| 2(c) | 3 | Identifying a co-marketing style collaboration and benefits to each partner | Business Collaborations |
| 2(d) | 3 | Section 8 company: name without Limited suffix and permissible objects | Corporate Entities - Companies |
| 2(e) | 3 | Certification of LLP annual return by practising company secretary based on turnover thresholds | Limited Liability Partnership |
| 3(a) | 3 | Documents required for registration of a society | Non-Corporate Entities |
| 3(b) | 3 | Importance and objectives of labour laws | Constitution and Labour Laws |
| 3(c) | 3 | Conditions for converting a private company into LLP and effect of conversion | Conversion of Business Entities |
| 3(d) | 3 | Industrial licence requirement for defence and explosives manufacture and procedure | Various Initial Registrations and Licenses |
| 3(e) | 3 | Chit fund registration requirement and features of a chit scheme | Financial Services Organization |
| 4(a) | 3 | Factors relevant in choosing the form of business entity | Selection of Business Organization |
| 4(b) | 3 | Registration procedure under Shops and Establishments law | Various Initial Registrations and Licenses |
| 4(c) | 3 | Conditions for RBI grant of full payments bank licence | Financial Services Organization |
| 4(d) | 3 | Risks in forming a multidisciplinary professional firm | Business Collaborations |
| 4(e) | 3 | Benefits available to Udyam-registered enterprises | Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
| 4A(i) | 3 | Distinction between banks and NBFCs | Financial Services Organization |
| 4A(ii) | 3 | Distinction between public trust and private trust | Non-Corporate Entities |
| 4A(iii) | 3 | Distinction between partnership firm and LLP | Limited Liability Partnership |
| 4A(iv) | 3 | Distinction between entrepreneurship and a startup | Startups and its Registration |
| 4A(v) | 3 | Distinction between special purpose vehicle and a company | Corporate Entities - Companies |
| 5(a) | 5 | Termination on internal committee findings without separate departmental inquiry | Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 |
| 5(b) | 5 | Maternity leave entitlement where the child dies, and adoption-related benefit | The Code on Social Security, 2020 |
| 5(c) | 5 | Employer obligation to provide first-aid facilities irrespective of headcount thresholds | The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 |
| 5(d) | 5 | Principal employer liability for drinking water facility for contract labour | The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 |
| 6(a) | 5 | Government reference to tribunal during pending conciliation and tribunal continuing after time limit | The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 |
| 6(b) | 5 | Exempted establishments under provident fund law and transfer of accumulations on job change | The Code on Social Security, 2020 |
| 6(c) | 5 | Withholding gratuity for non-vacation of quarters and recovery mechanism | The Code on Social Security, 2020 |
| 6(d) | 5 | No right of apprentice to employment and obligations of employer | The Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| 6A(i) | 5 | Constitution and role of Local Committees | Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 |
| 6A(ii) | 5 | Specific duties of occupier relating to hazardous processes | The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 |
| 6A(iii) | 5 | Matters decided by the Employees Insurance Court | The Code on Social Security, 2020 |
| 6A(iv) | 5 | Key definitions including small and very small establishment | The Labour Laws (Simplification of Procedure for Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Act |
What stood out
- Part I (60 marks) is split into 3-mark parts, giving wide but shallow coverage of entity choice, LLP, startups, MSME, financial services and licensing.
- Part II (40 marks) concentrated on labour law, with the Code on Social Security, 2020 the most tested labour chapter at 4 entries including the 6A alternative.
- Questions on labour law still referred to legacy enactments such as the Factories Act and EPF Act in fact situations, so candidates need both legacy and Code provisions.
- Two case-based blocks (Q1 setting-up scenario and Q5 labour compliance scenario) carried 35 marks combined.
- The 4A alternative was entirely distinction-type questions, a recurring and scoring pattern for this paper.
Practise the chapters that carried the marks
The Code on Social Security, 2020, The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: study guides and practice questions in the CS Executive format.