CS Professional Exam Blueprint

1080 minDuration
50Passing Score
1Languages
Practice CS Professional on QuizForge

Credential type: professional designation earned by examination · verified on the issuer's site September 25, 2026 issuer page

What This Exam Validates

The CS Professional program, certified by the ICSI, evaluates expertise across six core domains. It covers advanced company law, secretarial audit, corporate restructuring, insolvency, business laws, governance, and legal drafting. This certification is for professionals managing complex corporate affairs, compliance, and legal strategy. It requires candidates to demonstrate expert knowledge across all six papers to succeed in their professional practice. The curriculum ensures that candidates possess the skills to navigate the regulatory environment of modern corporate governance and legal compliance while managing the 1080 minutes of total examination time.

Who Should Take This Exam

This certification is for individuals pursuing a career as a Company Secretary. It is suitable for those managing corporate legal compliance, restructuring, and governance who need to demonstrate expert-level knowledge in these specific regulatory and procedural areas to advance their professional standing.

Skills You Should Be Ready to Demonstrate

How to Prepare

Review the official study material provided by the ICSI for each of the six papers. Focus on legislative changes and regulatory updates. Practice with past question papers and mock tests to understand the exam format. Ensure you are familiar with the specific legal frameworks for each domain, as the exam requires expert-level knowledge. Consistent study and application of these legal principles are needed for success in this professional certification program.

Domain Study Guidance

Paper 1: Advanced Company Law and Practice (Meetings, Resolutions, NCLT, Cross-Border): Study Guidance

This domain covers the complex legal and procedural aspects of corporate meetings, the passing of resolutions, and NCLT proceedings, while also addressing the regulatory requirements for cross-border transactions and international legal frameworks within the corporate sector.

Paper 2: Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence: Study Guidance

This section focuses on the audit of secretarial records, the implementation of compliance management systems, and the precise execution of due diligence processes required to maintain high standards of corporate integrity and regulatory adherence for all entities.

Paper 3: Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation and Winding-Up: Study Guidance

This domain addresses the intricate legal and financial processes involved in corporate restructuring, the application of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and the formal procedures for liquidation and winding-up of corporate entities under the current legal framework.

Paper 4: Economic, Business and Commercial Laws (Competition Act, IPR, Consumer Protection): Study Guidance

This area covers economic, business, and commercial laws, including the Competition Act, Intellectual Property Rights, and various consumer protection regulations that govern modern business operations and fair trade practices in the current competitive market environment.

Paper 5: Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics: Study Guidance

This domain examines the fundamental principles of corporate governance, the development of effective risk management frameworks, and the application of ethical business practices to ensure long-term sustainability and transparency within the corporate sector for all stakeholders.

Paper 6: Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances (Legal Drafting, Court Practice, ADR): Study Guidance

This section focuses on the technical skills of legal drafting, the preparation of pleadings, court practice, and the utilization of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve conflicts efficiently within the legal and corporate landscape for professionals.

Exam-Day Guidance

The exam consists of 6 papers, each weighted at 16.7 percent. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 50. Manage your time effectively across the 1080 minutes total duration to address all required sections and demonstrate your professional expertise.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the exam?

The official documentation provided by the ICSI does not specify the exact number of questions that will appear on the CS Professional exam, so candidates should prepare for a broad assessment of their knowledge across all six papers.

What is the passing score?

To successfully complete the certification, candidates are required to achieve a passing score of 50 in each of the papers, reflecting the standards expected of professional company secretaries in the current regulatory environment.

How long is the exam?

The total duration for the CS Professional exam is 1080 minutes, which is distributed across the various papers to ensure that candidates have sufficient time to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a professional setting.

What is the exam fee?

The exam fee is 2250 per module. The program is divided into two modules, with Module I containing 3 papers and Module II containing 3 papers, requiring separate registration for each module to participate.

Sources and Verification

Verified 2026-08-30

How this page was made

This editorial was developed by analyzing official ICSI certification pages, study materials, and regulatory documentation to provide a factual, accurate, and reliable overview of the current CS Professional program requirements and examination standards for all prospective candidates.

Exam Domains

1 Paper 1: Advanced Company Law and Practice (Meetings, Resolutions, NCLT, Cross-Border) 17%
2 Paper 2: Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence 17%
3 Paper 3: Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation and Winding-Up 17%
4 Paper 4: Economic, Business and Commercial Laws (Competition Act, IPR, Consumer Protection) 17%
5 Paper 5: Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics 17%
6 Paper 6: Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances (Legal Drafting, Court Practice, ADR) 17%

Exam Details

Online ProctoringNot available
ID RequirementsICSI Student Registration Number + valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence)
RenewalNot required -- CS membership is for lifetime; practising members require Certificate of Practice with annual renewal and CPD compliance
PrerequisitesCS Executive (both modules) cleared; enrolled in Professional Programme with ICSI (recommended)
Retake PolicyExams held in June and December; no limit on attempts; exemption in any paper scored ≥60% is valid for next 3 sittings
LanguagesEnglish

Official Study Resources

study materialICSI Official Study Material (free)
practice examICSI Past Question Papers (free)
mock testICSI Mock Test Papers (free)