DETAILS ABOUT COMPANY SECRETARY (CS)

ℹ️Full Form

Company Secretary. The course is conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

✅Eligibility

The CS course has three levels, each with its own eligibility:

• Level 1: CSEET (CS Executive Entrance Test): Candidates who have passed or are appearing in the 10+2 (or equivalent) examination are eligible.
• Level 2: CS Executive: Must have passed CSEET. Direct entry is available for graduates/postgraduates with 50% marks or candidates who have passed CA/CMA Final.
• Level 3: CS Professional: Must have cleared the CS Executive Programme.

🎂Age Limit

There is **no age limit** for registering for the CS course.

📖Detailed Syllabus

• CSEET: Business Communication, Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning, Economic & Business Environment, and Current Affairs.
• CS Executive: In-depth study of Company Law, Jurisprudence, Setting up of Business Entities, Tax Laws, and Securities Laws & Capital Markets.
• CS Professional: Advanced and expert-level study of Corporate Restructuring, Governance & Ethics, Drafting, Secretarial Audit, and Due Diligence.

⚙️Selection/Completion Process

The path to becoming a CS is a multi-stage process:

1. Step 1: Pass CSEET. This is the qualifying entrance test.
2. Step 2: Clear the CS Executive Programme. This consists of two modules with multiple papers.
3. Step 3: Clear the CS Professional Programme. This is the final stage, consisting of three modules.
4. Step 4: Complete Practical Training. This includes a mandatory 21-month practical training with a company or a practicing CS and a Corporate Leadership Development Program (CLDP).
5. Step 5: Become an Associate Member of ICSI. After completing all stages, one can use the designation 'ACS' (Associate Company Secretary).

💰Starting Salary Potential

A qualified Company Secretary is a highly paid professional.

• Average Starting Salary: Approximately ₹6 Lakhs to ₹10 Lakhs per annum.
• Experienced CS (5-10 years): Can earn between ₹15 Lakhs to ₹30 Lakhs per annum. Top-level CS professionals (e.g., in a large listed company) can earn well over ₹1 Crore.

🏢Starting Post & Department

A newly qualified CS typically starts as an **Assistant Company Secretary** or a **Management Trainee**. They work in the Secretarial or Legal & Compliance department of a company. They can also start their own practice.

📋Job Profile

A Company Secretary is a Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) of a company and a strategic advisor to the board of directors. The role involves:

• Ensuring compliance with all corporate and securities laws.
• Acting as a bridge between the company's board, stakeholders, and regulatory authorities.
• Advising on corporate governance and best practices.
• Handling board meetings, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring.

🎁Facilities after Qualification (NA)

NA (This is a professional qualification, not a job with a specific employer).

🎯Scope

The scope for a Company Secretary is vast and continuously expanding due to increasing corporate regulations and governance standards. Every listed company and other specified companies are required by law to appoint a CS. They are vital for corporate functioning and hold high-level managerial positions. A CS can work in a company (in-practice) or start their own firm (as a Practicing Company Secretary).

🗓️Exam Dates & Frequency

• CSEET: Conducted **four times a year**, typically in January, May, July, and November.
• CS Executive & Professional: Conducted **twice a year**, in June and December.

📝How to Apply

Registration for all levels of the CS course is done online through the official ICSI website. Students must register with ICSI to be eligible to appear for the exams.

📊Exam Structure & Score Pattern

CSEET:

CS Executive & Professional:

These are descriptive exams (with some objective questions). Each paper is of 100 marks. A candidate needs to secure 40% in each paper and 50% in aggregate in each module to pass.

⏱️Duration of the Exam (NA)

NA (Duration varies by level and paper. Typically 3 hours per paper for Executive and Professional exams).

⏳Result Time

Results for the June and December exams are declared on a fixed schedule: **August 25th** for the June session and **February 25th** for the December session.

💸Fees

The fee structure involves a one-time registration fee for each level and a separate examination fee for each attempt. For instance, CSEET registration is around ₹1,500, and CS Executive registration is around ₹10,600. These are subject to change.

🌐Official Website

For all official notifications, registration, and syllabus details, always refer to the official ICSI website: www.icsi.edu