An overview of the Foundation Programme in Company Secretary!!

Be stronger than your excuses!!

Company secretary is a person who is responsible for the company's corporate governance. He is an expert in corporate law and works as a Secretarial Auditor, Compliance Officer, or part of the company's senior management. In addition to advising the board of directors, a Company Secretary may also be responsible for maintaining company records. In addition to managing tax returns and keeping records, these professionals advise the company's Board of Directors about legal regulations. 

The Company Secretaries Act of 1980 defines a 'Company Secretary'(CS) as a member of India's Institute of Company Secretaries. In order to become an ICSI member, candidates must complete a comprehensive three-level course on company secretaries.

Anyone can become the Company Secretary after completing the 10+2, and the following three levels:

• Foundation Programme 
• Executive Programme
• Professional Programme

Graduates can directly apply for the Executive Programme if they have completed their graduation.

Let us now check out the CS foundation details. 

CS Foundation Course Details:

For those who are wishing to become Company Secretary in future, the CS Foundation course serves as a fundamental education level. This course includes postal tuition and on the other hand, coaching lessons can be taken. The study guides and materials that students need are given to them right after they have been enrolled. Corporate law, labour law, legal aspects related to taxation and taxation procedure, auditing, accounting, financial analysis, among other topics, are discussed in this course. For students interested in becoming a Company Secretary or seeking a relevant position in a renowned organisation, this course may be highly beneficial.

CS Foundation Course Eligibility:

After completing the 12th board examination, any candidate can sit for the CS Foundation Programme examination. In this regard, a Company Secretary must have a minimum qualification of 10+2 or an equivalent examination in order to sit for the exam. Students from all streams are eligible, except those with fine arts backgrounds. Those who have taken the 12th board examination this year are also eligible to sit for this exam. In such cases, the students are required to show their 12th pass mark sheet or certificate within six months of taking the exam.

Applicants must first register with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (I.C.S.I.). This registration number is valid for three years from the date of registration. Candidate registration is available at any time of the year since the portal is always open. Exams are usually held every June and December. Candidate registration for each exam should be done at least nine months before the exam's scheduled date. This is due to the fact that this course can be completed in no less than 8 months, as has already been discussed once.

CS Foundation Syllabus:

ICSI has implemented a new syllabus for its Company Secretary Foundation Programme. In 2017, ICSI notification no. 4 changed the syllabus. There are four main subjects (papers) in this new revised syllabus and they are

1. Business Environment and Law: The study of the business environment encompasses all factors affecting businesses, forms of businesses, and organisations. Studying the Business Environment helps any organisation conduct business successfully with a dynamic approach. Businesses and professions are regulated by business laws.  Businesses and their interactions with people are regulated and governed by them.
2. Business Management, Ethics and Entrepreneurship: Ethics is the study of moral behaviour. Business management is the study of managerial functions such as planning, organising, staffing, and controlling. You will study business ethics, i.e., ethical dilemmas or ethical issues faced by organisations and ethical standards or practices to follow. By studying entrepreneurship, you gain a broad understanding of business organisations and an in-depth understanding of finance, marketing, IT, communication, and human resources.
3. Business Economics:It is a branch in applied economics which uses economic theory. It is also a quantitative method to analyse business enterprises and the factors that contribute to the diversity of organisational structures and the relationship between firms and labour markets, capital markets, and product markets.
4. Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing: Keeping records is the primary function of accounting, which is the basis of all accounting fundamentals. Information must be stored and retained in standard forms so it can be retrieved when needed. Auditing is based on the principles of confidentiality, integrity, objectivity, independence, skills and competence, documentation, planning, audit evidence, accounting system, and internal control. 

CS Entrance Exam Books

Duration:

It is possible for the period between registration and appearing at the main examination to exceed 8 months, since the main examination is conducted only every six months. 

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading the blog. It contains all the informative text for the aspirants who are seeking admission to the CS Foundation Programme. From the course details to the duration and eligibility, it has everything. If you find it useful please let us know and also suggest topics you would like to learn more about.

Best of Luck!!