An Introduction to the Company Secretary Career Path

• Corporate governance and board advisor: Company Secretaries act as advisors to the board of directors on corporate governance matters. They help the board implement best practices for running the company ethically and effectively.

• Record keeping and meeting administration: One of the traditional duties of a Company Secretary is to organise key meetings (such as board meetings and shareholder meetings) and record the minutes (official notes) of those meetings. 

• Liaison and communication: A Company Secretary often serves as a link between the company and its stakeholders. They communicate with shareholders, regulators, and stock exchanges on behalf of the company. 

• Strategic roles: Beyond compliance, Company Secretaries are increasingly taking on strategic roles. They contribute to corporate planning and can be involved in areas like mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and risk management.

Why are Company Secretaries important in India?

The importance of Company Secretaries has grown in India’s rapidly expanding economy. With more companies being set up and stricter regulations coming into force, having a professional to navigate these requirements is essential. Company Secretaries play a key role in ensuring good governance and protecting the company’s reputation. In practical terms, if a company fails to comply with laws, it can face heavy penalties or legal action. A Company Secretary helps prevent such situations by keeping the company compliant and up-to-date with legal changes.

There is also a strong demand for qualified Company Secretaries. According to recent reports, India currently has over 70,000 qualified Company Secretaries, but needs many more. ICSI noted that as of early 2025, there were about 72,000 CS professionals in India, and the number is projected to reach around 100,000 by 2030 to meet rising demand.

It’s also worth noting that the Company Secretary profession in India has become quite inclusive. Both men and women are taking up this career in almost equal measure. As of 2025, about 49% of ICSI’s members are women, which shows that the field welcomes talent regardless of gender.

How to become a Company Secretary

Becoming a Company Secretary in India requires dedication and completing a series of professional exams and training. The entire process is administered by ICSI. Here is a step-by-step overview of how one can become a CS:

• Eligibility and entry: Students from any stream (Science, Commerce, or Arts) can pursue the Company Secretary course after completing Class 12 (10+2). If you start after Class 12, the first step is to clear an entry-level exam called the CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET). This entrance test evaluates your basic knowledge in areas like business communication, legal aptitude, logical reasoning, and economics. If you are a graduate (in any discipline except fine arts), you typically can skip the foundation stage – graduates are allowed to directly register for the next level (Executive Programme). In fact, ICSI has recently introduced provisions for direct registration of graduates into the CS Executive Programme to attract more talent into the field.

• CS Executive Programme: After clearing the CSEET (or if you are joining with a degree), the next stage is the Executive Programme. This is the intermediate level of the course. The Executive Programme covers in-depth subjects related to company law, management, accounting, economic and commercial laws, tax laws, and more. There are two modules at the Executive level comprising several papers (subjects). Students need to study and pass exams in each paper. The exam is rigorous – one must score at least 40% in each paper and 50% overall to pass. ICSI conducts these exams twice a year, in June and December, and you can attempt module-wise. Many students prepare through self-study or coaching classes while possibly pursuing college or other work simultaneously.

• CS Professional Programme: After passing all papers of the Executive level, you move to the final stage, the Professional Programme. This level delves into advanced topics like secretarial practices, corporate restructuring, financial management, compliance, ethics, and governance. It typically has multiple modules with around 8 or 9 papers in total. The Professional exams are also held twice a year. When you clear all the Professional level papers, you have completed the examination requirements of the CS course.

• Practical training: Passing the exams isn’t the only requirement. ICSI also mandates practical training to ensure new Company Secretaries have real-world experience. Under the current rules, a candidate must undergo around 15 to 24 months of practical training (often referred to as an internship or articleship). This training is usually done under a practicing Company Secretary or in the secretarial department of a company. The training period can vary (there have been recent modifications to the structure), but roughly one to two years of training is expected before one can qualify as a full-fledged Company Secretary.

• Membership and qualification: After completing the Professional level and the required training, you become eligible to be a member of ICSI. You can then apply for membership to get the designation “ACS” (Associate Company Secretary). New members are formally admitted and can use the letters ACS after their name, signifying they are qualified Company Secretaries. As members of the institute, they are expected to follow a code of conduct and also pursue continuing professional education to keep their knowledge up to date. With experience, some members later earn the “FCS” (Fellow) designation, but that comes after years of practice. For all practical purposes, once you have the ACS, you are a qualified Company Secretary and can be hired for CS roles or start your own practice.

Becoming a Company Secretary is challenging – the pass rates for each stage can be low, and many students take a few attempts to clear exams. On average, about 2,500 new members join ICSI each year, indicating that while thousands enroll, only a fraction qualify in a given year. The difficulty, however, is a reflection of the high standard of expertise required. Students are advised to study diligently and possibly seek coaching or study support. 

The good news is that ICSI has support systems in place: there are chapters of ICSI and study centres across India, including in the Northeast region. For example, ICSI has a chapter office in Guwahati that serves students from Assam, Nagaland, and surrounding areas. Exams are conducted in multiple centres, and resources like online classes and mentorship are increasingly available. This means students in Nagaland can pursue the CS course without having to relocate, taking exams at the nearest centre and accessing study materials remotely. 

Career opportunities

Once you become a qualified Company Secretary, a range of career opportunities opens up. Company Secretaries can either work as employees in organisations or practice independently as professionals offering their services. Here’s a look at what career paths are available:

• Corporate employment: Most commonly, Company Secretaries are employed by companies to take care of their compliance and governance needs. As an employee, a fresh Associate Company Secretary might start as a Junior or Assistant Company Secretary in a firm, often working under a more senior CS if it’s a big organisation. In this role, you would help with drafting meeting minutes, maintaining statutory registers, filing returns with regulators, and ensuring the day-to-day compliance tasks are done. With a few years of experience, one can rise to become the Company Secretary (the sole or head CS) of an organisation. 

• Practice (independent consultancy): Apart from working within companies, qualified Company Secretaries can choose to practice on their own or join a firm of Company Secretaries. A practicing Company Secretary is one who offers professional services to client companies. These services include things like incorporating new companies, filling out and certifying legal documents and forms, conducting secretarial audits of companies, and advising on corporate governance matters. Currently, out of the total CS professionals in India, only about 12,000 are in full-time practice.

• Specialised roles and other opportunities: Company Secretaries are not limited to traditional industries. They can work in consulting firms, law firms (for corporate law compliance), financial institutions, stock exchanges, and regulatory bodies. Some CS professionals develop specialisation in niche areas such as securities law compliance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property rights, or insolvency practice. In fact, the skill set of a CS overlaps with several domains. For example, with additional qualifications or certifications, a CS can act as an insolvency professional or a registered valuer under India’s insolvency and companies laws. Company Secretaries are also found in academic and training roles – many teach corporate law or governance in universities or professional institutes. The ICSI itself hires experienced members for its academic and regulatory roles.

  
  

Growth prospects

A common question students ask is, “How much does a Company Secretary earn?” In India, the salary of a Company Secretary is quite competitive. While actual figures can vary based on the city, industry, and one’s experience, we can look at general ranges and averages:

• Entry-level: According to internshala, for fresh Company Secretary graduates (ACS) with little to no experience, starting salaries typically range around INR 3–5 lakh per annum. This can depend on the size of the company and location – for instance, big cities or large corporations might offer higher starting pay compared to small towns or smaller firms. 

• Mid-career: As one gains experience (let’s say 5–10 years into the profession), the salary increases significantly. A mid-level Company Secretary in a good company could expect an average in the range of INR 8–10 lakhs per annum. The exact figure again depends on factors like whether you are the sole Company Secretary or part of a team and the complexity of the company’s operations.

• Senior and high-level: For very experienced professionals (over 10–15 years of experience), the earnings can be much higher. Senior Company Secretaries heading the secretarial department of large companies often earn in the range of INR 15 lakhs per annum and above. It’s not uncommon for the head CS of a big listed company to earn packages upwards of INR 20–30 lakhs a year (including bonuses and perks).

  
  

The future of Company Secretaries in India

The future looks promising for the Company Secretary profession, especially in India. As businesses expand and new companies form, the need for good governance and compliance becomes even more critical. ICSI’s projections of needing about 100,000 Company Secretaries by 2030. For today’s students, this means that by the time you finish the course and gain some experience, there will likely be ample opportunities waiting.

Moreover, the regulatory environment is evolving. New laws on data protection, increased reporting requirements for companies, and heightened scrutiny of corporate behaviour (for example, environmental and social governance) all imply that the role of a Company Secretary is expanding. 

For students in Nagaland and the Northeast, the Company Secretary career can be a gateway to participating in the wider Indian corporate sector. You might start locally or regionally, but as a qualified CS, you will have a credential recognised all over India and even abroad. In fact, Indian Company Secretaries are increasingly finding opportunities overseas as well, especially in areas of corporate governance and compliance in global firms. The ICSI is also part of international bodies and has been promoting the recognition of Indian CS qualifications in other countries.

For young students considering this path, if you have interests in law, business, and management, and you enjoy roles that carry responsibility, the CS profession might be an ideal fit.