ICSI plans initiatives to boost job skills of aspirants

Apex body of company secretaries ICSI plans to come up with initiatives to help enhance job skills of aspirants who fail to clear the company secretary examination.
The plan comes against the backdrop of a significant number of individuals enrolling for company secretary course. About four lakh students are pursuing the company secretaries programme at various levels.
ICSI President Mamta Binani told PTI that the institute is looking at having initiatives that would help aspirants who are unable to clear the examination boost their employability skills.
"The idea is to improve their skills and make them more employable," she said, adding that it is at a very initial stage.

For graduates, the course has two levels -- intermediate and final -- while those who have passed plus-two examination can start with the foundation programme.
There are around 42,000 company secretaries.

Binani, who took over as ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) President last month, said there has been a lot of changes in terms of regulations in recent times.
According to her, there is a lot to "unlearn, relearn and learn again and people (members) are on their toes".
Under the Companies Act, 2013 -- whose most provisions came into force from April 2014 -- company secretaries have increased responsibility with respect to ensuring that firms are in compliance with various norms.

A company secretary is a key managerial personnel and advises a company's board of directors on best practices in corporate governance.
Set up under an Act of Parliament, ICSI is headquartered in the national capital and has four regional offices.