ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Get Latest Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme for CS Executive, Professional
Institute of Company Secretaries of India Exam 2025 ( ICSI Exam )
Registration - 1 Aug '25 - 30 Nov '25
ICSI CS exam pattern 2025 is prescribed by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Earlier the authorities introduced the ICSI CS new syllabus (under 2022). The pattern of the examination remains same- the number of questions, marking scheme, and timing of the exam.
ICSI CS exam pattern mentions the exam duration, subjects, marking scheme, exam name, and medium of the examination to the candidates appearing for the exam. Candidates appearing for the CS Executive or CS Professional examination must check the exam pattern to become aware about the examination. Check the table below to know the ICSI CS exam pattern highlights:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Centre-based examination; Offline |
| Duration of Exam | Three hours for each paper |
| Marks | 100 marks for each paper |
| Language of Question Paper | English |
| Nature of questions | MCQs and Descriptive |
| Pre-Examination Requirement | Complete a Pre-Examination Test to become eligible to Enroll |
| First Examination Under New Syllabus 2022 |
|
| Last Attempt Under Old Syllabus 2017 |
|
ICSI CS examination is conducted in offline mode. Candidates who will register for CS Executive or CS Porfessional examination will have to report at the alloted ICSI CS exam centre on the day of examination. The examination will be a pen paper based. On release of the ICSI CS admit card, applicants can know the allotted exam centre to appear for the examination.
ICSI CS exam is conducted offline across various cities in India. Authorities released the list of ICSI CS exam centres for each session. The upcoming ICSI CS December 2025 examination will be held in offline mode from December 22, 2025 onwards. The ICSI CS admit card will be available for download from 10 days before the date of the examination. Candidates must note that the admit card is an important document which has to be carried on the day of the examination, without which candidates will not be permitted to enter the examination hall.
To appear for the ICSI CS Pre Examination Test (PET) candidates must refer the steps mentioned below:
Step 1- Visit the official website of ICSI
Step 2- Click on the 'E-learning' tab followed by Pre-Interview Test (PET) tab
Step 3- Select the examination to appear for
Step 4- Select the module
Step 5- Enter the login credentials- Your login ID is your registration number (without any slash sign) suffix with @icsi.edu for example- If your registration number is 1234567/10/2018 then your login ID will be 1234567102018 [at]icsi.edu and fefault password for first time login is Learn@1234
Step 6- Appear for the Pre-interview test online.
- ICSI CS 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights
- ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Executive Programme (New Syllabus)
- ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Professional Programme (New Syllabus)
- ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Professional Programme (Old Syllabus)
- ICSI CS 2025: Qualifying Marks
ICSI CS 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights
Refer to the table below to know the ICSI CS exam pattern for CS Executive and CS Professional:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Centre-based examination; Offline |
| Duration of Exam | Three hours for each paper |
| Marks | 100 marks for each paper |
| Language of Question Paper | English |
| Nature of questions | MCQs and Descriptive |
| Pre-Examination Requirement | Complete a Pre-Examination Test to become eligible to Enroll |
| First Examination Under New Syllabus 2022 |
|
| Last Attempt Under Old Syllabus 2017 |
|
Commonly asked questions
- A candidate is required to complete the Executive and the Professional examination within the registration period.
- In case, anyone wants to renew/extent the period he/she will be required to pay the requisite fee for the same.
- Student registration is valid for 5 years. A registered student shall be required to complete the Executive Programme and Professional Programme examinations within the normal valid registration period of five years.
No, there is no negative marking in CS Executive examination. CS Executive question paper will consist of description/subjective questions which will have no negative marking.
For objective type question, for every wrong answer 0.25 marks will be deducted and one mark will be given for every correct response.
ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Executive Programme (New Syllabus)
Candidates preparing for CS Executive exam must be thorough with the exam pattern. Refer below to know the CS Executive exam pattern 2024:
Group 1
| Paper Number |
Subjects |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws |
100 |
| 2 |
Company Law & Practice Part I – Company Law – Principles and Concepts |
60 |
| Part II – Company Administration & Meetings |
40 |
|
| 3 |
Setting Up of Business, Industrial & Labour Laws Part I – Setting Up of Business |
60 |
| Part II – Industrial & Labour Laws |
40 |
|
| 4 |
Corporate Accounting and Financial Management Part I – Corporate Accounting |
60 |
| Part II – Financial Management |
40 |
Group 2
| Paper Number |
Subjects |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Capital Market & Securities Laws Part I – Capital Market |
40 |
| Part II – Securities Laws |
60 |
|
| 6 |
Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws Part I – Economic & Commercial Laws |
60 |
| Part II – Intellectual Property Laws |
40 |
|
| 7 |
Tax Laws & Practice Part I - Direct Tax |
60 |
| Part II - Indirect Tax |
40 |
- Mode of Examination: Combination of both 20% case-based objective type questions and 80% descriptive questions at all papers at Executive Programme except Paper No. 4 i.e. Corporate Accounting and Financial Management which is 100% descriptive.
- Duration: 3 Hours (each paper)
- Marks: 100 Marks (each paper)
Switchover from Old Syllabus (2017) to New Syllabus (2022): Paperwise Exemption Details for Executive Programme
| Executive Programme | |
|---|---|
| Existing Syllabus (2017) | Paperwise Exemption Under New Syllabus (2022) |
| Module 1 | |
| Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws | Group 1, Paper 1 - Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws |
| Company Law | Group 1, Paper 2 - Company Law & Practice |
| Setting up of Business Entities and Closure | Group 1, Paper 3 - Setting up of Business, Industrial & Labour Laws |
| Tax Laws | Group 2, Paper 7 - Tax Laws & Practice |
| Module 2 | |
| Corporate and Management Accounting | Group 1, Paper 4 - Corporate Accounting and Financial Management |
| Securities Laws & Capital Markets | Group 2, Paper 5 - Capital Market & Securities Laws |
| Economic, Business and Commercial Laws | Group 2, Paper 6 - Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws |
| Financial and Strategic Management | Group 1, Paper 4 - Corporate Accounting and Financial Management |
Commonly asked questions
The ICSI CS Executive question paper will consist of both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Descriptive type questions. ICSI notified that CS Executive question paper will consist of 20% case-based objective type questions and 80% descriptive questions at all papers at Executive Programme except Paper No. 4 i.e. Corporate Accounting and Financial Management which is 100% descriptive.
ICSI CS Executive exam duration for each paper is three hours. CS Executive examination is divided into two groups. Gorup 1 consist of four papers whereas, group 2 consists of three papers. ICSI conducts each paper of each group on different days. ICSI CS Executive December 2025 time table has been released. The examination for CS Executive group 1 and group 2 will commence on December 22.
ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Professional Programme (New Syllabus)
Candidates preparing for CS Professional exam must be thorough with the exam pattern. Refer below to know the CS Professional exam pattern 2024:
Group 1
| Paper Number |
Subjects |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1
|
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice Part I – Governance and Sustainability |
65 |
| Part II – Risk Management |
20 |
|
| Part III- Environment & Sustainability Reporting |
15 |
|
| 2 |
Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances Part I - Drafting and Conveyancing |
70 |
| Part II - Pleadings and Appearances |
30 |
|
| 3 |
Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence Part I – Compliance Management |
40 |
| Part II – Audit & Due Diligence |
60 |
|
| 4 |
Elective 1 (Select one Paper out of 4 Elective Papers) |
|
Group 2
| Paper Number |
Subjects |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Strategic Management & Corporate Finance Part I – Strategic Management |
40 |
| Part II – Corporate Finance |
60 |
|
| 6
|
Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency Part I – Corporate Restructuring |
40 |
| Part II – Valuation |
20 |
|
| Part III – Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding up |
40 |
|
| 7 |
Elective 2 (Select one Paper out of 5 Elective Papers) |
|
- Mode of Examination: Descriptive
- For Elective Papers: Descriptive & Open Book
- Duration: 3 Hours (each paper)
- Marks: 100 Marks (each paper)
Elective Papers 1
| Paper Number | Elective Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | CSR & Social Governance Part I – Corporate Social Responsibility |
50 |
| Part II – Social Governance | 50 | |
| 4.2 | Internal and Forensic Audit Part I – Internal Audit |
60 |
| Part II – Forensic Audit | 40 | |
| 4.3 | Intellectual Property Rights – Law & Practice | 100 |
| 4.4 | Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Cyber Security – Laws & Practice | 100 |
Elective Papers 2
| Paper Number | Elective Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation Part I – Arbitration & Conciliation |
70 |
| Part II – Mediation | 30 | |
| 7.2 | Goods and Services Tax (GST) & Corporate Tax Planning Part I – Goods and Services Tax (GST) |
70 |
| Part II – Corporate Tax Planning | 30 | |
| 7.3 | Labour Laws & Practice | 100 |
| 7.4 | Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice Part I – Banking Laws |
50 |
| Part II – Insurance Laws | 50 | |
| 7.5 | Insolvency and Bankruptcy – Law & Practice | 100 |
Switchover from Old Syllabus (2017) to New Syllabus (2022): Paperwise Exemption Details for Professional Programme
| Professional Programme | |
|---|---|
| Existing Syllabus (2017) | Paperwise Exemption Under New Syllabus (2022) |
| Module 1 | |
| Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics | Group 1, Paper 1 - Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice |
| Advanced Tax Laws | No Exemption |
| Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances | Group 1, Paper 2 - Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances |
| Module 2 | |
| Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence | Group 1, Paper 3 - Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence |
| Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding-up | Group 2, Paper 6 - Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency |
| Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non-Compliances & Remedies | No Exemption |
| Module 3 | |
| Corporate Funding & Listings in Stock Exchanges | Group 2, Paper 5 - Strategic Management and Corporate Finance |
| Multidisciplinary Case Studies | No Exemption |
| Elective Paper | |
| Banking – Law & Practice |
Elective 2, Paper 7.4 - Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice |
| Insurance– Law & Practice | Elective 2, Paper 7.4 - Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice |
| Intellectual Property Rights– Laws and Practices |
Elective 1, Paper 4.3 - Intellectual Property Rights – Law & Practice |
| Forensic Audit | Elective 1, Paper 4.2 - Internal and Forensic Audit |
| Direct Tax Law & Practice | No Exemption |
| Labour Laws & Practice | Elective 2, Paper 7.3 - Labour Laws & Practice |
| Valuations & Business Modelling | No Exemption |
| Insolvency – Law and Practice | Elective 2, Paper 7.5 – Insolvency and BankruptcyLaw & Practice |
Commonly asked questions
Candidates can check the table below to knw the ICSI CS passing marks for CS Executive and Professional examination below:
ICSI CS Executive Qualifying Marks
Module | Papers | Parts | Marks | Qualifying Perecentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Module 1 | Paper 1. Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws | - | 100 | 40% |
Paper 2. Company Law | Part A. Company Law, Principles &Concepts | 50 | 40% | |
Part B: Company Administration and Meetings – Law and Practices | 40 | |||
Part C: Company Secretary as a Profession | 10 | |||
Paper 3. Setting up of Business Entities and Closure | Part A: Setting up of Business | 40 | 40% | |
Part B: Registration; Licenses & Compliances | 35 | |||
Part C :Insolvency; Winding up& Closure of Business | 25 | |||
Paper 4. Tax Laws | Part A: Direct Taxes | 50 | 40% | |
Part B: Indirect Taxes | 50 | |||
Module 2 | Paper 5. Corporate & Management Accounting | Part A: Corporate Accounting | 60 | 40% |
Part B: Management Accounting and Valuation | 40 | |||
Paper 6. Securities Laws & Capital Markets | Part A. Securities Laws | 70 | 40% | |
Part B. Capital Market & Intermediaries | 30 | |||
Paper 7. Economic, Business and Commercial Laws | Part A. Foreign Exchange Management &NBFCs | 40 | 40% | |
Part B. Competition Law | 25 | |||
Part C. Business & Commercial Laws | 35 | |||
Paper 8. Financial and Strategic Management | Part A. :Financial Management | 60 | 40% | |
Part B. Strategic Management | 40 |
ICSI CS Professional Passing Marks
Module | Paper | Marks | Qualifying Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
Module 1 | Paper 1. Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics | 50 | 40%
|
20 | |||
20 | |||
10 | |||
Paper 2. Advanced Tax Laws | 70 | 40% | |
30 | |||
Paper 3. Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances | 100 | 40% | |
Module 2 | Paper 4. Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence | 40 | 40% |
60 | |||
Paper 5. Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding-up | 50 | 40% | |
50 | |||
Paper 6. Resolution of Corporate Disputes,Non-Compliances& Remedies | 100 | 40% | |
Module 3 | Paper 7.Corporate Funding & Listings in Stock Exchanges | 60 | 40% |
40 | |||
Paper 8. Multidisciplinary Case Studies | 100 | 40% | |
Elective Paper 9: 9.1- Banking – Law & Practice 9.2- Insurance – Law & Practice 9.3- Intellectual Property Rights: Laws and Practices 9.4- Forensic Audit 9.5- Direct Tax Laws & Practice 9.6- Labour Laws& Practice 9.7- Valuations & Business Modelling 9.8- Insolvency – Law and Practice | 100 | 40% |
The duration of CS Professional exam for each paper is three hours. CS Professional exam is divided into two groups. The CS Professional group 1 consist of four papers whereas, second group consists of three papers. Candidates will have to attempt the questions of each paper within the given time duration. ICSI CS Professional December 2025 datesheet has been released.
ICSI CS Exam Pattern 2025: Professional Programme (Old Syllabus)
| Module | Paper | Parts | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module 1 | Paper 1. Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics | Part A. Governance | 50 |
| Part B. Risk Management | 20 | ||
| Part C. Compliance | 20 | ||
| Part D. Ethics & Sustainability | 10 | ||
| Paper 2. Advanced Tax Laws | Part A. Indirect Taxes | 70 | |
| Part B. Direct Tax & International Taxation | 30 | ||
| Paper 3. Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances | - | 100 | |
| Module 2 | Paper 4. Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence | Part A. Compliance Management | 40 |
| Part B. Secretarial Audit &Due Diligence | 60 | ||
| Paper 5. Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding-up | Part A. Corporate Restructuring | 50 | |
| Part B. Insolvency& Liquidation | 50 | ||
| Paper 6. Resolution of Corporate Disputes,Non-Compliances& Remedies | - | 100 | |
| Module 3 | Paper 7.Corporate Funding & Listings in Stock Exchanges | Part A. Corporate Funding | 60 |
| Part B. Listing | 40 | ||
| Paper 8. Multidisciplinary Case Studies | - | 100 | |
| Elective Paper 9: 9.1- Banking – Law & Practice 9.2- Insurance – Law & Practice 9.3- Intellectual Property Rights: Laws and Practices 9.4- Forensic Audit 9.5- Direct Tax Laws & Practice 9.6- Labour Laws& Practice 9.7- Valuations & Business Modelling 9.8- Insolvency – Law and Practice |
- | 100 |
Also Read:
ICSI CS 2025: Qualifying Marks
Qualifying marks for Executive / Professional examination is a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects.
Commonly asked questions
Institute of Company Secretaries of India releases ICSI CS question papers of past examinations- CS Executive and CS professional on its official website. CS previous year question papers can help candidates understand the structure of the exam, identify important topics, and help to know the type of questions asked. Check steps below to know how to download the ICSI CS previous year question papers for CS Executive and Professional examinations
Step1 - Visit the link provided- ICSI CS Question Paper
Step 2- Scroll down the page
Step 3- Search for the examination and paper to download the question paper
Step 4- Click on the 'Download' tab
Step 5- Screen will display the question paper in PDF fomat
Step 6- Save or take the print of question paper
ICSI Exam Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
ICSI CS Professional syllabus has been released online at icsi.edu. Candidates preparing for CS Professional exam can now donwload the CS Professional syllabus for Group 1, Group 2 and elective subjects. CS Professional December 2025 exam will commence on December 22, 2025. Candidates appearing for
N
Beginner-Level 5
Answered a month ago
Yes, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India has released the CS Executive syllabus. Candidates preparing for the ICSI CS Executive December 2025 can now check the detailed syllabus online. ICSI prescribes the CS Executive syllabus for both group 1 and group 2. Candidates must ensure to be tho
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
The ongoing events for ICSI CS exam are as follows;
- CSEET November 2025 registration ongoing till October 15, 2025
- CS June 2026 registrations for CS Executive & Professional (both groups) ongoing till November 30, 2025
- CS Executive, Professional December 2025 exam to commence from December 22, 2025
D
Beginner-Level 5
Answered a month ago
ICSI CS registrations for CSEET, CS Executive and CS Professional are open throughout the year. Check the table below to know the ICSI CS registration dates for three levels:
| Events | CSEET | ICSI CS Executive, Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Registration starts | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Last date to apply | 15-Oct-2025 | 30-Nov-2025 (both groups) 31-Jan-2026 (single group) |
| Exam Date | 08-Nov-2025 |
N
Beginner-Level 5
Explore more Accounting & Commerce exams with upcoming dates
CFA 2026 Early Registration Last Date (Level 1&2 May) 14 Oct '25 CSEET 2025 Registration- November Session 16 Jun '25 - 15 Oct '25 ICSI CS Professional Enrollment Dec 2025 (With Late Fee) Oct '25 - Oct '25 REVA PET 2025 payment of fee and enrollment 30 Sep '25 - 23 Oct '25
Is ICSI CS Professional syllabus released?