A Company Secretary is the role of senior managerial/administrative in the company. A Company Secretary is responsible for establishing the compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that, the decisions of the Boards of Directors are implemented.
Private sector and Public sector both firms are known to hire the Company Secretaries. Company Secretaries plays a huge role in ensuring the smooth functioning of a company.
Compliance with Statutory requirements, Decision Making, Compliance with Regulatory Requirements, Compliance with Company Laws – these are some of the main duties of a Company Secretary.
Apart from that, CSs also play an important role in a company’s decision-making process. Such decisions are may be related to Finance, Operations, HR or other relevant sectors.
The ICSI stands for The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. ICSI is the professional body in India that Promotes, Regulates and Develops the profession of Company Secretary in India!
If you want to practice as a Company Secretary in India, then you must be registered as a member of ICSI Institute. In order to be considered as eligible for membership, a candidate has to pass all the three levels of examination prescribed by the ICSI (and also completed practical training).
As I mentioned before, the ICSI institute has set the three stages of examination for CS course. The three stages of CS course are –
Foundation Program
Executive Program
Professional Program
Eligibility Criteria associated with each stage is different. Here they are –
The eligibility for the CS Foundation Program it should be passed in (10 +2) or Equivalent.
The last date for submitting the application form for appearing in the CS Foundation Program examination
31 March for the December in the same year. (With late fee of Rs. 250/- until 9 April)
30 September for the June next year (with late fee of Rs. 250/- Until 10 October)
The eligibility for CS Executive can be applied only after passing the Foundation Program or any Graduation with any specialization background. The applicants should not under the age of 17.
The Important dates for the CS Executive Exams are:
28 February for arriving in both modules in December Exams in the same year
31st May for presenting in the single module in December Examination in the same year
31st August for presenting in both modules in June Exam in the next year
30th November for presenting in a single module in June Examination in the next year.
The eligibility for CS Professional Program can be applied only after passing the Executive Program of CS Course. The examination is conducted two times a year in June and December.
If you are a 10+2 passed student, then you must start with the foundation program and follow it with executive and professional programs.
If you are a Bachelor’s Degree holder, then you may choose to pursue an executive program and follow it with the professional program.
CS admission exams are held two times a year. Entrance exams are held in the month of June and December, each year.
Foundation program 31 March (for December examination in the same year) and 30 September (for June examination next year).
Executive program (both modules) 28 February (for December examination in the same year) and 31 August (for June examination next year).
Executive program (single module) 31 May (for December examination in the same year) and 30 November (for June examination next year).
CS Course Content and Exam Pattern
CS Foundation program consists of four papers.
CS Executive program consists of seven papers (divided into two modules).
CS Professional program consists of eight papers (divided into four modules).
Business Environment and Law
Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship
Business Economics
Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing
Company Law (Module 1)
Cost and Management Accounting (Module 1)
Economic and Commercial Laws (Module 1)
Tax Laws and Practice (Module 1)
Company Accounts and Auditing Practices (Module 2)
Capital Markets and Securities Laws (Module 2)
Industrial Labor and General Laws (Module 2)
Company Secretarial Practice (Module 1)
Drafting’s, Appearances and Pleadings (Module 1)
Financial, Treasury and Forex Management (Module 2)
Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency (Module 2)
Strategic Management, Alliances and International Trade (Module 3)
Advance Tax Laws and Practices (Module 3)
Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management (Module 4)
Governance, Business Ethics, and Sustainability (Module 4)
In below section, you can see the fee structure -
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Course |
CS |
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Full form |
Company Secretary |
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Eligibility |
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Duration |
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Fee Offered for CS |
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Course Type |
Certification |
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Starting Salary |
Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum |
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Similar Course |
CA, CMA |
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Employment Opportunities |
Assistance to the Board of Directors, Corporate Policymaker, Legal Advisor, Principal Secretary |