Professional services exemption for practising accountants, company secretaries and cost accountants excludes specified certification and audit-related services. Professional services rendered by practising chartered accountants, practising company secretaries and practising cost accountants are exempt from service tax when provided in their professional capacity to clients, except for specified certification, auditing, accounting, valuation and regulatory compliance services which remain taxable. Services by these professionals that fall within other defined categories of taxable services, such as management consultancy or manpower recruitment, are not covered by the exemption.