By IIC Lakshya
15 Sep 2025
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One of the most valued and professional programs in commerce and law is the Company Secretary (CS). The nation of India is served by the Company Secretary Institute, the purpose of which is to instruct pupils regarding Corporate Governance, Compliance, and top-tier Management Advisory Solutions. The Company Secretary is a highly valuable instrument in measuring an organization's compliance, transparency, and operations to establish lawful and ethical operations.
In the pursuit of compliance, governance, and law, specialization in corporate law and the respective plethora of professions requires an appreciation of the CS course outline and materials. Let's discuss this thoroughly.
Watch this quick overview of the CS program before jumping on the blog!
A Company Secretary is regarded as a Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) as defined in the Companies Act, 2013. This means that under the law, a Company Secretary is no different from a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Managing Director about compliance and governance.
The CS programs are delineated into three major other sub categorized segments:
During the course of their studies, in addition to the necessary training, candidates who wish to apply for the position of Company Secretary are eligible to receive the Company Secretary certification.
The CS course begins with the Company Secretary Entrance Examination, also known as CSEET. There is a common belief that only students from professional courses and postgraduates, along with graduates, are exempt from this requirement of CSEET.
Syllabus for the CSEET:
Students can register for the Executive Programme after passing the CSEET. It is comprised of two modules and eight papers total.
In Module 1, the learner will study:
In Module 2:
In this level, students will learn the fundamentals of company law, tax law, security law, and the principles of management.
In this level, students learn advanced knowledge. This stage is termed the Professional Programme and has 3 modules and 9 papers, wherein some papers have electives.
Module 1:
Module 2:
Module 3:
In this course, the students should pay attention to the shifts in company law, tax rules, and the guidelines published by SEBI. This is because the syllabus covers the latest advancements in the laws of business relevant to them.
Students get to have real corporate experience before qualifying as a CS due to the incorporation of these activities.
The duration for completing the course, including the necessary tests and compulsory training, is estimated to be around 3 to 4 years. This is dependent on the number of attempts the student takes.
Indeed, the majority of the students pursue CS while completing their graduation, which is normally B.Com, BBA, or BA LLB, to maximize their time.
Becoming a company secretary allows you to work as a Corporate Advisor, Compliance Officer, Legal Expert, Risk Manager, or you may open your own firm.