The Institute of Company Secretaries of India Announces New Initiatives, Academic Collaborations and Governance Frameworks

Chennai, 17th May 2026: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has unveiled a series of significant initiatives, conferences, governance frameworks, academic collaborations, and student-centric programs aimed at strengthening corporate governance, professional excellence, sustainability, and global outreach.

The Southern India Regional Council of the ICSI will organize a two-day Tamil Nadu State Conference on 16–17 May 2026 in Chennai. The conference, themed “Metamorphosis: Sector Specific Governance Architect”, will bring together thought leaders, governance professionals, and industry experts to deliberate on evolving sector-specific governance architectures across the five southern states of India through insightful panel discussions.

Speaking at the Tamil Nadu State Conference 2026 themed “Metamorphosis: Sector Specific Governance Architect”, CS Pawan G. Chandak, President of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, highlighted the growing demand for Company Secretaries in India and emphasized the expanding opportunities in the profession. He stated that India currently requires nearly 10,000 additional Company Secretaries to meet the increasing governance and compliance demands across sectors. He further noted that the country is projected to require approximately 1.5 lakh Company Secretaries by 2047, reflecting the rapid growth of the corporate and regulatory ecosystem.

Sharing data related to Tamil Nadu, CS Chandak said that the State has around 14,000 registered students, of which more than 8,000 students are from Chennai. In terms of membership strength, Tamil Nadu has nearly 4,000 members, including 2,671 members in Chennai alone. Highlighting the increasing participation of women in the profession, he added that India currently has around 80,000 Company Secretaries, of which nearly 35,000 are women professionals, demonstrating the profession’s growing inclusivity and diversity.

Further strengthening professional discourse, the ICSI will host the 27th National Conference of Practising Company Secretaries on 13–14 June 2026 in Pune. Organized under the theme “Company Secretaries as Leaders: AI, ESG & Stewardship”, the conference will focus on the expanding role of Practising Company Secretaries in a rapidly evolving corporate ecosystem driven by innovation, artificial intelligence, ESG practices, and responsible stewardship.

Launch of New Professional and Specialized Programmes
The ICSI has introduced several new educational and professional development programmes aimed at enhancing industry readiness and specialized domain expertise.

Among the key initiatives are IFSCA-specified courses on the Regulatory Framework for Fund Management in IFSC: AIFs and Retail Scheme and Regulatory Framework for Capital Market Intermediaries in IFSC for Key Managerial Personnel and employees of entities regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority.
In collaboration with Gujarat Maritime University, the ICSI has launched a 2-year Full-time MBA in Maritime Regulations and Compliance Management, integrating company secretary curriculum with maritime laws and shipping regulations to improve employability in the maritime sector.

The Institute has also partnered with National Institute of Securities Markets to offer a one-year residential Certificate Course on Corporate and Securities Markets Compliances (CSMC) featuring application-based pedagogy and industry internship exposure.

Additionally, the ICSI launched the Certificate Course on UAE Business Manager, aimed at equipping professionals with expertise in UAE business laws, regulatory frameworks, and commercial practices.

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