Introduction: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), striving for professional excellence and under the oversight of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has ushered in its Professional Programme New Syllabus 2022. Effective from August 1, 2023, this latest curriculum aims to fortify the knowledge base and skill set of aspiring company secretaries.
Breakdown of the New Syllabus 2022:
- Applicability:
- Those registered up to July 31, 2023, will be evaluated under the 2017 Syllabus.
- Enrollments from August 1, 2023, will fall under the 2022 Syllabus.
- Existing students under the 2017 Syllabus can opt for the 2022 Syllabus.
- Paper Nomenclature: The syllabus is divided into two groups:
- Group 1 comprises subjects like Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice, and Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances.
- Group 2 includes subjects like Strategic Management & Corporate Finance, and Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency.
- Elective Papers: Each group offers elective papers like CSR & Social Governance, Internal and Forensic Audit, and Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation, among others.
- Key Highlights:
- First examination under the new syllabus is in June 2024.
- Last chance for the 2017 syllabus examination is December 2024.
- Enrollments under the new syllabus after August 1, 2023, mandate the completion of a Pre-Exam Test.
- Switchover Process: Existing students under the 2017 syllabus can transition to the new one from November 21, 2023. This process necessitates payment of a pretest fee, along with the completion of a Pre-Exam Test.
- Paper Exemption Scheme: Transitioning students can avail exemptions based on the 2017 syllabus. For instance, those who have studied Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics will be exempted from the Environmental, Social & Governance paper in the 2022 syllabus.
Conclusion: The ICSI’s emphasis on revamping its syllabus resonates with the changing corporate landscape. By introducing contemporary subjects and a clear transition pathway, the institute ensures that its students are well-prepared to navigate the complex world of corporate governance and compliance. For any queries, students are encouraged to reach out to the support portal or directly to Mr. A K Srivastava, the Joint Secretary (Student Services).
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THE INSTITUTE OF
Company Secretaries of India
IN PURSUIT OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Statutory body under an Act of Parliament
(Under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
Professional Programme New Syllabus 2022
w.e.f. 1st August 2023
The Institute has launched Professional Programme Registration under the new syllabus (2022), effective from August 1, 2023.
Detailed information about the objectives of each paper, topics and subtopics covered, are available on the Institute’s official website at below mentioned link: https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/ICSI%20New%20Syllabus%202022.pdf
Applicability of syllabus :
| *Student(s) registered up to 31st July 2023 | Will be examined under old Syllabus (2017). |
| Student(s) registered on or after 1st August 2023 | Will be examined under New Syllabus (2022) |
*Students who have registered up to 31st July 2023 under old syllabus (2017), they have the option to switchover to new syllabus (2022).
Nomenclature:
There are seven subjects (splits in two groups) under the new syllabus 2022 viz.
| Paper No. | Group 1 | Paper No. | Group 2 |
| 1 | Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice (Paper code 531) | 5 | Strategic Management & Corporate Finance (Paper code 535) |
| 2 | Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances (Paper code 532) | 6 | Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency (Paper code 536) |
| 3 | Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence (Paper code 533) | 7 | Elective 2 (Select one Paper out of 5 Elective Papers) |
| 4 | Elective 1 (Select one Paper out of 4 Elective Papers) |
ELECTIVE PAPERS
(Select any one paper each from Elective 1 (Group 1)and Elective 2(group 2) respectively)
| Paper No. | Elective 1 (Group 1) |
Paper No. | Elective 2 (Group 2) |
| 4.1 | CSR & Social Governance (Paper code 541) |
7.1 | Arbitration, Mediation &
Conciliation (Paper code 551) |
| 4.2 | Internal and Forensic Audit (Paper code 542) |
7.2 | Goods and Services Tax (GST) &
Corporate Tax Planning (Paper code 552) |
| 4.3 | Intellectual Property Rights – Law &
Practice (Paper code 543) |
7.3 | Labour Laws & Practice (Paper code 553) |
| 4.4 | Artificial Intelligence, Data
Analytics and Cyber Security – Laws & Practice (Paper code 544) |
7.4 | Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice (Paper code 554) |
| 7.5 | Insolvency and Bankruptcy – Law
& Practice (Paper code 555) |
Paperware Exemption on the basis of Higher Qualification:
Details of qualification based exemption is available at Institute website www.icsi.edu or at the following url : https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/ATTENTION_STUDENTS_RECIPROCAL_EXEMPTION NEW_SYLLABUS_2022.pdf
Focal Points of New syllabus
- First Examination under ICSI New Syllabus 2022 for professional programme students will be conducted in June 2024
- Last attempt for appearing under syllabus 2017 syllabus is December 2024.
- Students who have taken registration under New Syllabus 2022 of Professional Programme w.e.f. 1st August 2023 shall be required to successfully complete a Pre-Exam Test before enrolling for the CS main examinations.
Switchover Process from 2017 Syllabus to 2022 Syllabus:
Students who have registered up to 31st July 2023 under old syllabus (2017), they have the option to switchover to new syllabus (2022)
| Activation of Switchover | 21st November 2023 |
Process to switchover to New syllabus is available at the following url :
https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/User%20Manual%20forSwitchOver.pdf
- Students switching over from Old Syllabus 2017 to New Syllabus 2022 of Professional Programme shall also required to pay pretest fee again under syllabus 2022 & have to successfully complete a Pre-Exam Test to become eligible before enrolling for the main examinations.
- Steps to Remit Pretest Fee after Switchover from 2017 to 2022 syllabus
https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/ProcessRemitPretestFeeUnderSyllabus2022.pdf
- The process for completing the Pre-Examination Test
https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/Pre-Examination_FAQ_160621.pdf
- FAQ on Switchover for Executive & Professional Programme From Syllabus 2017 to Syllabus 2022
https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/Executive_FAQ_SW_23022023.pdf
- Study Materials under New Syllabus 2022, if required, will have to be purchased by students from the sale centers of the Institute at HQ/ROs/COs, subject to availability of stock against payment of requisite cost or via E-cart option available at Institute’s website:
https://smash.icsi.edu/Scripts/ECart/Default/ECartSearchOnlineBooks.aspx
- Reverse switchover is not permissible
Scheme of Paper wise Exemption:
Corresponding Exemptions from 2017 Syllabus to 2022 Syllabus (Applicable for Switchover Students)
| PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME (2017 SYLLABUS) | PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME (2022 SYLLABUS) | ||
| 431 | Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics (Module 1) | 531 | Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice (Group 1) |
| 432 | Advanced Tax Laws (Module 1) | No Exemption | |
| 433 | Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances (Module 1) | 532 | Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances (Group 1) |
| 434 | Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence (Module 2) | 533 | Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence (Group 1) |
| 435 | Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation &Winding- up (Module 2) | 536 | Corporate Restructuring, Valuation & Insolvency (Group 2) |
| 436 | Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non- Compliances & Remedies (Module 2) | No Exemption | |
| 437 | Corporate Funding & Listings in Stock Exchanges (Module 3) | 535 | Strategic Management and Corporate Finance (Group 2) |
| 438 | Multidisciplinary Case Studies (Module 3) | No Exemption | |
ELECTIVE PAPER
| Existing Syllabus (2017) (Module 3) |
New Syllabus (2022) | ||
| 441 | Banking – Law & Practice | 554 | Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice (Elective of Group 2) |
| 442 | Insurance– Law & Practice | 554 | Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice (Elective of Group 2) |
| 443 | Intellectual Property Rights– Laws and Practices | 543 | Intellectual Property Rights – Law & Practice (Elective of Group 1) |
| 444 | Forensic Audit | 542 | Internal and Forensic Audit (Elective of Group 1) |
| 445 | Direct Tax Law & Practice | No Exemption | |
| 446 | Labour Laws & Practice | 553 | Labour Laws & Practice (Elective of Group 2) |
| 447 | Valuations & Business Modelling | No Exemption | |
| 448 | Insolvency – Law and Practice | 555 | Insolvency & Bankruptcy- Law & Practice (Elective of Group 2) |
For any clarification/ information on the matter, students may please submit their query at support portal: https://support.icsi.edu
A K Srivastava
Joint Secretary (Student Services)
Date : 22nd August 2023
