Career as a Company Secretary in India: Course, Salary and How to Begin

Legal, Governance & Regulatory

Updated

At a glance

A company secretary keeps a company legally compliant, running board meetings, filings and governance under the Companies Act, 2013. Most in India enter through the ICSI CS course.

A company secretary keeps a company compliant with the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules that apply to it, handling board meetings, statutory filings and governance. The qualification in India is the Company Secretary course run by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

Commerce students often compare the CS course with CA and law. CA is centred on accounting, audit and tax, law on legal practice, and CS on the rules that govern how a company is run and reported. Each path has a different time commitment, so compare them against your interests.

The career suits people who are careful with detail, comfortable with rules and able to keep confidences. Pay and progression depend on the employer, city and experience, so check current pay figures with ICSI and recruiters before you plan around them.

Minimum Qualification
Class 12 pass (check CSEET eligibility)
Typical Degree
ICSI Company Secretary course
Expected Entry Salary
Varies by employer; to be verified
Entry-level to Senior
Varies; to be verified
Job Demand Growth
Steady, driven by governance rules
Work Hours
Office hours; busy near filing deadlines
Places of Work
Listed companies, private firms, practising CS firms

What Does a Company Secretary Do?

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

  • Organises board and shareholder meetings, prepares agendas and notices, and records minutes.

  • Makes sure statutory returns and filings reach the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on time.

  • Advises directors on their duties and on compliance under the Companies Act, 2013.

  • Maintains statutory registers and records, including share transfers and shareholder details.

  • Coordinates with auditors, legal teams and senior management on compliance deadlines.

  • For listed companies, tracks stock exchange and SEBI disclosure and listing requirements.

  • Handles governance policies, investor queries and compliance reporting to the board.

Where They Work

Company secretaries work mainly in listed companies, large private groups, and unlisted companies that must meet statutory secretarial requirements. Public sector undertakings and subsidiaries of multinational companies in India also employ them for their secretarial and governance teams.

Practising company secretary firms are another major employer. These firms serve many client companies, handle secretarial audits and provide compliance services. A company secretary can also move into banking, NBFCs and other regulated businesses that need strong governance.

How to Become a Company Secretary in India?

After Class 12

Check eligibility for the ICSI CSEET (Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test), the entrance route to the CS course for students after Class 12. Registration details are published on icsi.edu, so read the current criteria before you apply.

Undergraduate

Many students study B.Com or another graduation alongside the CS course. Graduates may follow different entry routes, so confirm any exemption rules with ICSI.

Executive Programme

Clear the Executive Programme modules set by ICSI, which cover company law, governance and related commercial laws. The modules are taken in sequence and are tested through ICSI exams.

Professional Programme and Practical Training

Complete the Professional Programme, which takes advanced study further and includes practical training in a company or a practising firm. This stage prepares you for independent work.

Licence / Certification

After completing the course, apply for ICSI membership as an Associate Member (ACS). A certificate of practice is needed to practise independently as a company secretary.

First Job

Start as an assistant or executive company secretary in a listed company, a large unlisted company or a practising firm. Build experience towards Fellow membership (FCS) and senior governance roles.

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Eligibility and Subjects Required

Stream and Subject Requirements

  • Class 12 pass is the usual starting point for the CSEET route. Check ICSI's current criteria for stream requirements and exemptions.

  • Commerce is a common background for this course. Confirm whether other streams are accepted under the current ICSI scheme.

  • Strong reading and writing skills in English help with course material and exam answers.

  • Typical minimum marks are not confirmed in the research notes. Check ICSI for the current minimum percentage.

Minimum Qualification

  • Class 12 pass to register for the CSEET route (verify current rules).

  • A graduation is not always required for the CS course, but graduates may use exemptions for some stages (verify).

  • Practice and membership require completing the ICSI course. A certificate of practice is needed to practise independently.

Courses and Degrees for Company Secretary

  • Professional Qualification
    • CSEET entrance test [sitting schedule set by ICSI]
    • CS Executive Programme [duration to confirm with ICSI]
    • CS Professional Programme with practical training [duration to confirm with ICSI]
    Undergraduate Degrees
    • B.Com [3 years]
    • BBA [3 years]
    • BA LLB [5 years]
    Postgraduate Degrees
    • M.Com [2 years]
    • LLM in Corporate Law [1 year]
    Certifications & Short-term Courses
    • Corporate governance certificate courses [duration varies by provider]
    • Companies Act and compliance short courses [duration varies by provider]

Entrance Exams for Company Secretary

  • Exam
    CSEET (Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test)
    Level
    Entrance for students after Class 12
    Held
    Held in sessions set by ICSI; June 2026 session registration was announced (verify the current schedule)
    For Course
    ICSI Company Secretary course (entry to the Executive Programme)
    Website
    icsi.edu

Skills Required to Become a Company Secretary

Technical Skills

  • Companies Act, 2013 and corporate law basics
  • SEBI listing regulations for listed companies
  • Statutory filings on the MCA portal
  • Board and general meeting procedure, including Secretarial Standards
  • Drafting notices, agendas, resolutions and minutes
  • Compliance calendars and tracking tools
  • Reading basic financial statements

Soft Skills

  • Integrity and discretion
  • Attention to detail
  • Clear written communication
  • Managing tight deadlines
  • Influencing directors and senior leaders

Company Secretary Salary in India

0-3 years

Entry Level

Not confirmed in research; to be verified

  • Typical job titles: Executive Company Secretary, Assistant Company Secretary
  • Work: minutes, filings, meeting logistics and compliance checklists

4-8 years

Mid Level

Not confirmed in research; to be verified

  • Typical job titles: Company Secretary, Compliance Manager
  • Work: leads the secretarial function, advises on governance and manages audits

9+ years

Senior Level

Not confirmed in research; to be verified

  • Typical job titles: Group Company Secretary, Head of Legal and Secretarial
  • Work: board-level advice, listed company governance and regulatory engagement

Career Opportunities and Job Roles

Company Secretary

Manages the secretarial function of a listed or large unlisted company.

Assistant or Executive Company Secretary

Handles meetings, filings and statutory registers under a senior company secretary.

Practising Company Secretary

Runs a practice that offers secretarial audits and compliance services to client companies.

Compliance Officer

Tracks regulatory obligations across the business and reports gaps to management.

Corporate Lawyer

Advises on corporate transactions, contracts and legal risk.

Governance and Risk Manager

Designs board processes, governance policies and risk controls.

Scope and Future of Company Secretary in India

Demand for company secretaries follows the rules that companies must meet. The Companies Act, 2013 sets requirements for board meetings, registers and filings, and for certain classes of companies it requires a whole-time company secretary and secretarial audits. Listed companies also follow SEBI listing rules, so governance roles grow as those rules tighten. In 2026, Urban Company appointed a firm of secretarial auditors for a five-year term, which shows how listed companies rely on this work.

Growth is strongest in listed companies, large private groups and practising firms that serve many clients. Government digital platforms such as MCA21 have moved company filings online, which shifts the work towards accurate data and compliance tracking rather than paperwork.

Indian company secretaries have also built careers abroad. A 2022 profile in The Finance Story describes a company secretary from India who started from scratch in the UAE. Recognition of the Indian qualification varies by country, so check local rules before you move.

Is Company Secretary
the Right Career for You?

Company Secretary can be an exciting career, but the right choice depends on more than academic eligibility.

Interests

What excites you?

Aptitude

What are you good at?

Personality

How do you work?

Work Preferences

What kind of environment suits you?

Discover careers that match your interests, strengths and preferences.

See how well this career fits you

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Company Secretary: Frequently Asked Questions

What does a company secretary do?

A company secretary makes sure a company follows the Companies Act, 2013, its articles of association and any stock exchange or SEBI rules that apply to it. Day to day, this means preparing board and shareholder meeting papers, recording minutes, filing returns with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and keeping statutory registers up to date. Many also advise directors on their legal duties and governance policies.

Can I become a company secretary after Class 12?

Yes. The usual route is the ICSI Company Secretary course, which starts with the CSEET (Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test) for students who have completed Class 12. Check the current eligibility criteria on icsi.edu before you register, as rules and exemptions can change between sessions. Commerce students often start this route, but confirm that your stream is accepted.

Is CS better than CA?

Neither is better in general; they suit different interests. CA focuses on accounting, audit and tax, while CS focuses on corporate law, governance and compliance. A CA often works in audit firms or finance teams, and a CS often works inside listed companies or in a practising firm. Choose based on whether you enjoy numbers, rules or board-level processes, and compare course length and cost on ICSI and ICAI.

Can I become a company secretary after graduation?

Graduates can often join the ICSI course, but the entry route and any exemptions depend on your degree and the current ICSI scheme. Many students combine a B.Com or another degree with the CS course. Before you plan around this, check the exemption rules on icsi.edu, because they decide how many stages you need to clear.

How much does a company secretary earn in India?

Pay varies by employer, city, company size and experience, and listed companies usually pay more than small firms. For a current estimate, check recent salary surveys and job listings for company secretary roles in your city, since pay changes over time. Ask recruiters about the range for entry-level roles before you decide.

Do I need a law degree to become a company secretary?

No, a law degree is not required for the ICSI course. Legal knowledge is useful, though, because a company secretary deals with corporate law every day. Students with a commerce background learn the company law they need during the course.

Can a company secretary work abroad?

Yes, some Indian company secretaries have built careers abroad, including in the UAE. Recognition of the Indian qualification differs by country, so check local rules for the job you want. Experience in listed-company compliance and knowledge of the Companies Act help in any market.

Sources and Further Reading

Official and published pages this guide was researched from (facts last checked ). Fees, dates and cut-offs change every year, so confirm them on the official websites.

  1. MCA Home - Ministry of Corporate Affairsmca.gov.in

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