CS Professional Subjects 2023

Company secretaries, who are among the most valuable employees in any firm, are in charge of running the business efficiently. They serve as a crucial conduit between the many stakeholders, governing bodies, governments, and board members of an organization. Additionally, they are in charge of carrying out tasks including approving legal requirements, corresponding with multiple officials, keeping records, replying to board letters, etc. A company secretary’s position as an in-house legal expert, expert in corporate laws, capital markets, security regulations, and corporate governance calls for a specific set of abilities and a wide range of knowledge. As a result, various CS professional disciplines prepare students to enter the workforce. Let’s examine the various CS professional subject levels in this blog.

Since business secretaries are required to manage a variety of duties, there are several levels of courses and topics available to help train prospective candidates naturally. The CS professional disciplines are provided at the following levels: 

Foundation Course: The foundation courses are designed to give students the fundamental information and abilities they need. The initial stage in seeking a career as a business secretary, this level is required for prospective candidates. 

Executive Programme: This programme starts after finishing the foundation course, and admission is granted based on how well the student performed in the prior programme. Written tests and group discussions are used to evaluate potential applicants for this programme.

Professional Programme: This level is regarded as being among the hardest. Additionally, it is the last phase of education for aspiring corporate secretaries. The complicated subjects are typically broken down into three modules, the third of which offers two core subjects and one optional. Through this blog, we offer some background information on several topics.

The professional programme, which typically lasts 15 months, offers a variety of specialisations to prepare applicants for varied work responsibilities. The nine examinations in the CS professional programme are divided into three modules. Although different institutes may have subjects with different names or even subjects that are related, the CS professional subjects generally consist of:

Subjects in Module 1

• Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence 
• Advanced Company Law and Practice 
• Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency 

Subjects in Module 2

• Ethics, Governance and Sustainability 
• Financial, Treasury and Forex Management 
• Information Technology and Systems Audit 

Subjects in Module 3

• Drafting, Appearances and Pleadings 
• Advanced Tax Laws and Practice

Any of the electives from-

• Capital, Commodity and Money Market 
• Intellectual Property Rights- Law and Practice
• Banking Law and Practice 
• International Business- Law and Practices 
• Insurance Law and Practice
• Forensic Audit
• Direct Tax Law and Practice
• Labour Laws and Practice
• Valuations and Business

Professional CS courses train young students to become experts. Candidates begin earning as soon as the course is finished. The rigorous course material equips them with the skills necessary to function well in challenging circumstances. 

After discussing various CS education levels, let’s have a look at the various CS professional subjects in the new and old curricula. Take into account the updated CS professional syllabus:

Module 1 (3 Papers)

• Advanced Tax Laws
• Drafting, Pleading And Appearances
• Governance, Risk Management, Compliances And Ethics

Module 2 (3 Papers)

• Resolution Of Corporate Disputes
• Corporate Restructuring
• Secretarial Audit

Module 3 (3 Papers)

• Multidisciplinary Case Studies
• Corporate Fundings & Listings In Stock Exchanges
• Elective

List of elective subjects-

• Intellectual Property Rights – Laws And Practice
• Insolvency – Law And Practice
• Direct Tax Law & Practice
• Valuations & Business Modelling
• Labour Laws & Practice
• Insurance Law And Practice
• Banking Law And Practice
• Forensic Audit

Students can select their career path once they have finished the professional CS courses. This field of work offers a variety of employment profiles. There are several alternatives for employment profiles, including: 

• Company Registrar
• Corporate Policymaker 
• Principal Secretary 
• Chairman 
• Corporate Planner 
• Investor Capital Market Relations 
• Assistance to the Board of Directors 
• Legal Advisor 
• Managing Director
• Contents Coordinator 
• Administrative Secretary 
• Chief Administrative Officer 
• Administrative Assistant 

After listing several work profiles, let’s examine some industries in which these job profiles are effective. 

A prospective candidate for corporate secretary must pass three phases. The Foundation, Intermediate, and Final phases make up the three levels. Below are the eligibility requirements:

• Students are required to enrol in the ICSI Foundation Course after graduating from class 12. Over eight months, the course is spread out. Within three years of admission, you must meet the requirements for the course.
• Students may engage in the ICSI Intermediate Course after completing the ICSI Foundation Course. 
• Students are qualified to enrol in the final course of the ICSI course once they have completed the ICSI Intermediate course. 
• Training is the subsequent phase. Following completion of the last course level, students should participate in brief training. 
• To become an Associate member of ICAI, one must complete practical training during the intermediate level and after the final level. 
• Students who successfully finish their course are qualified to become Associate Company Secretaries.
• A company secretary’s primary career path doesn’t start until they are qualified as an Associate Company Secretary. 

Companies that hire company secretaries typically do so in the following industries: 

• Stock Exchanges 
• Financial Institutions
• Department of Company Affairs 
• Financial Management 
• Company Secretary Ship Consultancy Firms
• Company Law Boards
• Banks