-Facts every aspirant should know
A company secretary, often abbreviated as "CS," is a key administrative professional within a company or corporation. The role of a company secretary varies depending on the country and the specific legal and regulatory requirements, but they generally play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the company and its compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Here's an overview of the company secretary's responsibilities and duties:
The company secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.
Despite the name, the role is not clerical or secretarial. The company secretary ensures that an organisation complies with relevant legislation and regulation, and keeps board members informed of their legal responsibilities. Company secretaries are the company's named representative on legal documents, and it is their responsibility to ensure that the company and its directors operate within the law. It is also their responsibility to register and communicate with shareholders, to ensure that dividends are paid and to maintain company records, such as lists of directors and shareholders, and annual accounts.
In many countries, private companies have traditionally been required by law to appoint one person as a company secretary, and this person will also usually be a senior board member.
In India, "The Institute of Company Secretaries of India" (ICSI)[ ]? regulates the profession of company secretaries . ICSI is a statutory professional body which has more than 50,000 associate members.
Chartered Secretaries are employed as chairs, chief executives and non-executive directors, as well as executives and company secretaries. Some chartered secretaries are also known in their own companies as corporate secretarial executives/managers or corporate secretarial directors.
Chartered Secretaries are the sixth highest paid employees in the UK according to the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (March 2010)
Many corporate secretaries of North American public companies are lawyers and some serve as their corporation's general counsel. While this can be helpful in the execution of their duties it can also create ambiguity as to what is legal advice, protected by privilege, and what is business advice
What is ICSI CS Exam?
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, constituted under Company Secretaries Act, 1980, is a government recognized body which produces Company Secretaries in India.
The course of Company Secretaryship was introduced in 1960 by the Company Law Board. The ICSI was created in 1968 which took over from the Company Law Board to conduct the exam. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) was then converted into a statutory body w.e.f. 1.1.1981 under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
The CS certification includes three levels of which one has to appear for three exams:
Every candidate, who are declared 'pass' in Professional Programme Examination in addition to acquiring practical experience, shall be required to undergo compulsory practical training for four months.
What is CSEET exam?
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) had discontinued the CS Foundation programme. The official notice issued regarding this on its website had mentioned that CS Foundation programme has been replaced with CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET). Students now have to take CSEET for registration to Executive Programme. Candidates who have completed Class 12 will be eligible to appear in CSEET. The exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Mode. Students will be exempted from qualifying CSEET if they have cleared ICAI and ICMAI final course.
ICSI CS Exam Highlights 2023
ICSI Exam Highlights |
|
Exam Name |
ICSI Exam |
Conducting Body |
Institute of Company Secretaries of India |
Exam Level |
National Level Exam |
Exam Frequency |
twice a year |
Exam Mode |
offline(updated) |
Exam Duration |
Three hours for each paper |
Language |
English |
Exam Purpose |
Training and Certifying Company Secretaries in India |
Course Offered |
CS |
No. of Test Cities |
58 cities in India |
Exam Helpdesk No. |
0120-6204999, 3314111 |
Exam Website |
www.icsi.edu |
ICSI Eligibility Criteria 2023
Executive Programme:
The following categories of students are exempted from qualifying CSEET and can seek registration directly to Executive Programme:
CS Foundation Programme passed students |
Exemption Fee: Nil |
ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) final course passed students |
Exemption Fee: Rs 5000 |
ICMAI (The Institute of Cost Accountants of India) final course |
Exemption Fee: Rs 5000 |
-Qualifying Cut off
Candidates need to secure an aggregate of 50% and minimum 40% in each subject in CSEET.
-Professional Programme
Professional Programme is the final level in Company Secretaryship. Candidates who have cleared their Foundation and Executive Programmes are eligible to undertake Professional Programme.
Eligibility:
The candidate is supposed to register for the Professional Programme nine months prior to the month in which the examination commences to be able to be admitted to the programme.
A candidate registered six months prior to the examination month may be allowed to appear in any one or two module(s) of the Professional Programme.
The candidate must have undergone postal or oral tuition for the modules in which he/she intends to appear in the examination.
Here’s an overview:
Candidate enrolled in |
Eligible to appear in |
June/July/August |
All modules of Professional Programmes Examination to be held in June next year. |
September/October/November |
Anyone or two modules of Professional Programme Examination to be held in June next year. |
December/January/February |
All modules of Professional Programme Examination to be held in December. |
March/April/May |
Anyone or two modules of Professional Programme Examination to be held in December. |
Qualifying cutoff:
For all Modules:
For one Module:
Revised schedule for ICSI CS June Session & CSEET
Candidates can check below the revised exam schedule for ICSI CS June session.
Exam events |
registration date |
Exam date |
|
CS Executive programme |
May 31, 2023(both module)
|
December 21 to 29, 2023. |
|
CS Professional programme |
single modules till August 16, 2023. both modules ended on May 31, 2023. |
December 21 to December 30, 2023 |
|
CS Foundation programme |
till August 16, 2023 (extended) for single module for both module last date is May 31,2023
|
December 27 – 28, 2023 | |
CSEET exam |
October 15, 2023. |
to be notified |
|
Declaration of CSEET result |
February 25, 2024 (Expected) |
It will be online available on official website.
|
Fee Structure:
Executive Programme
The revised fee structure for registration to Executive Programme is given below :
Details |
CSEET Passed |
CS Foundation passed |
ICAI final passed |
ICMAI Final passed |
Registration Fee |
2000 |
2000 |
2000 |
2000 |
Education Fee |
6500 |
6500 |
6500 |
6500 |
CSEET Exemption Fee |
Nil |
Nil |
5000 |
5000 |
Pre-Exam Test Fee |
1000 |
1000 |
1000 |
1000 |
One Day Orientation Prog. Fee |
600 |
600 |
600 |
600 |
Chartered Secretary Journal Subscription (Optional) for one year |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
Total |
10600 |
10600 |
10600 |
10600 |
Professional Programme
Course fee:
CS Professional Programme |
Rs 12000/- |
Examination fee:
Professional Programme |
Rs 1200 per module |
Late fee is Rs 250.
Subjects for CSEET
The following subjects will be covered under CS Executive Entrance Test:
Paper 1: Business Communication
Paper 2: Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning
Paper 3: Economic and Business Environment
Paper 4: Current Affairs, Presentation and Communication Skills