ICSI Unveils Major Governance Initiatives, Academic Collaborations and Student-Centric Programmes
Chennai, May 17, 2026: The The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has announced a series of new initiatives, academic collaborations, governance frameworks, and professional development programmes aimed at strengthening corporate governance, sustainability, professional excellence, and global outreach.
As part of its efforts to deepen sector-specific governance discussions, the Southern India Regional Council of ICSI organized the two-day Tamil Nadu State Conference 2026 in Chennai on May 16 and 17. The conference, themed “Metamorphosis: Sector Specific Governance Architect,” brought together governance professionals, policymakers, industry experts, and thought leaders from the five southern states to deliberate on evolving governance frameworks and compliance practices through panel discussions and interactive sessions.
Addressing the conference, Pawan G. Chandak, President of ICSI, highlighted the rising demand for Company Secretaries in India amid the country’s rapidly expanding corporate and regulatory ecosystem. He stated that India currently requires nearly 10,000 additional Company Secretaries to meet increasing governance and compliance requirements across industries.
He further noted that the country is projected to require nearly 1.5 lakh Company Secretaries by 2047, underlining the growing importance of governance professionals in India’s economic development.
Sharing statistics related to Tamil Nadu, CS Chandak said the State currently has around 14,000 registered students pursuing the Company Secretary course, with over 8,000 students from Chennai alone. Tamil Nadu also has close to 4,000 members of the profession, including 2,671 members based in Chennai.
Highlighting the growing inclusivity within the profession, he said that India presently has around 80,000 Company Secretaries, of which nearly 35,000 are women professionals, reflecting increasing participation of women in corporate governance and compliance leadership roles.
Further strengthening professional discourse, ICSI announced that the 27th National Conference of Practising Company Secretaries will be held in Pune on June 13 and 14, 2026. The conference, themed “Company Secretaries as Leaders: AI, ESG & Stewardship,” will focus on the evolving role of practising Company Secretaries in areas such as artificial intelligence, environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, and responsible corporate stewardship.
The Institute also unveiled several new educational and specialized programmes designed to enhance industry readiness and domain expertise among professionals and students.
Among the key initiatives are IFSCA-specified courses on the Regulatory Framework for Fund Management in IFSC: AIFs and Retail Scheme, as well as the Regulatory Framework for Capital Market Intermediaries in IFSC, targeted at 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 two-year full-time MBA in Maritime Regulations and Compliance Management. The programme integrates company secretary curriculum with maritime laws and shipping regulations to improve employability and sector-specific expertise in the maritime industry.
The Institute has also partnered with National Institute of Securities Markets to introduce a one-year residential Certificate Course on Corporate and Securities Markets Compliances (CSMC), featuring application-oriented learning and industry internship exposure.
Additionally, ICSI launched the Certificate Course on UAE Business Manager, aimed at equipping professionals with expertise in UAE business laws, regulatory frameworks, and commercial practices, thereby expanding global career opportunities for Company Secretaries and compliance professionals.
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