There is no doubt that the career of the company secretary (CS) is a career that guarantees work satisfaction with a high salary. While being a company secretary is a matter of pride, financially too it provides security as the salary that one gets is no less than the salary received by those joining other professional courses. It is a prestigious position, which has a huge demand in the country. 

A candidate can easily succeed if he/she plans and prepares for CS exam with good study references.

The company secretary is an expert in corporate and security laws and acts as a bridge between the company and its board of directors, shareholders and government and regulatory authorities. CS is the person who is constantly researching the right and wrong for the interests of the company. While he/she is a corporate planner, he is also the strategic manager of the company. 

The company secretary acts as a pivot between the company, shareholders, directors and the government. Simply put, this person is an external affairs monitor of the company. Under the Companies Act, the Security Act, and EXIM Policy, only the company secretary has the right to issue certificates.

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is the only institution in the country to conduct a course of company secretary. 12^th passed students from any subject group can register for the foundation course. Students who have completed a Bachelor's degree can register for the executive program after passing the pre-exam.

It is noteworthy that earlier undergraduate students were directly registered for the executive program without any entrance examination. But now this system has been abolished. Now registration is done for the executive program only after the pre-exam. Only the students who clear the executive program can register for the third stage i.e. professional program. This is followed by 15 months of training.

To become a company secretary one has to go through three levels. The first step of the course is a foundation course. After passing the foundation course; you step on the foot of the executive course. After passing the executive course, you reach the final stage i.e. professional course. 

The foundation program consists of four papers. The first paper is of Business Environment and Law, the second paper is of Business Management, Ethics and Entrepreneurship, the third paper is of Business Economics and the fourth paper is Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing.

The executive program consists of two modules. Each module consists of 4 papers. The first paper in the first module is of Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws. The second paper is of Company Law. The third paper is of the Setting up of Business Entities and Closure. The fourth paper is of Tax Laws.

 
The first paper in the second module is Corporate and Management Accounting. The second paper is the Securities Laws and Capital Market. The third paper is Economics, Business, and Commercial Laws. The fourth paper is Financial and Strategic Management. Thus, a total of eight papers have to be cleared in the executive program.

It is noteworthy that a new syllabus has recently been released in the professional program. According to the new syllabus, the professional program will have three modules. Each module will have three papers i.e. a total of nine papers will have to be cleared in the professional program. The first paper in module one would be Governance, Risk Management, Compliance, and Ethics. The second paper is Advanced Tax Laws. The third paper is Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances.

The first paper in module two is the Secretarial Audit. The second paper is of Corporate Restructuring. The third paper is the Resolution of Corporate Disputes. 

The first paper in module three is Corporate Funding and Listing in Stock Exchanges. The second paper is related to Multi-disciplinary Case Studies. The third paper will be for one of the eight subjects selected by the student. Students can choose this topic according to their interests. This paper would be an open book examination type. Eight subjects available for selection - Banking Law and Practice, Insurance Law and Practice, Intellectual Property Rights Laws and Practices, Forensic Audit, Direct Tax Law and Practice, Labour Laws and Practice, Valuations and Business Modelling and Insolvency - Laws and Practice.

Examination of Foundation and Executive Courses is conducted twice a year i.e. in June and December. This examination can be attempted in either Hindi or English medium. After eight months of registration in the foundation course, a candidate can appear for the exam.

The executive course is divided into two semesters. On passing it, you get admission to a professional course. The professional course is divided into three groups. Training in a financial company or institution which is at least 15-month is also necessary for a company secretary. This training can be done after taking an executive course or even after a professional course, depending on the convenience and capability. After 12th, a company secretary course can be completed in three and a half years. While after graduation, the course can be completed in two and a half years.

It is not necessary to do classes daily for the company secretary; the study material sent to you is such that you will not feel that it is a correspondence course. Apart from this, you also have the option to do classes, where you can prepare for the exam in the context of subject experts. At present, there is a system of online study through the internet, where you can find the solution to your problem sitting at home on any topic related to the subject.

While you have to work hard to become a company secretary, you should not waver at any stage. Do not let the continuity decrease from beginning to end.

It has been seen many times that most of the candidates are so frightened by the failure of one time that many of them do not even think about trying for the second time. So once you have decided that you want to become a company secretary, and then go ahead continuously by making a planned effort. Your willpower, determination, and self-confidence are the elements that will surely bring take you to the destination one day.

If you follow the rules of 3D - Dedication, Determination, and Devotion, then no one can stop you from achieving success.

• Continuous practice is essential – Well planned preparation and hard work are required to succeed in CS exam. In this exam, students can achieve success by making a strategy and practicing regularly.
• Understand the exam pattern- Before taking the CS exam, understand well what the syllabus of this exam is and on what basis questions are asked. For this, solve the papers of previous years.
• Follow a good strategy - After knowing the pattern, make a strategy for it. In which you should identify which topic or topics you are having difficulty in and in which field you are strong. Based on that, give time to different subjects and get ready for exam preparation.
• Time Management - Include every topic in time management. Pay more attention and time to the topic or paper you are weak in.
• Make notes - When you prepare for CS exam, make notes of it, so that you will remember things well and it will be very easy during revision. While making notes, keep writing topics as pointwise.
• Take the help of Career Disha notes - Regularly study books and notes by Career Disha and monthly magazine for competitive exams Pratiyogita Nirdeshika. 

If you prepare for the CS examination with good study references, then you will definitely get success in it.