Welcome to the professional training phase of your journey toward becoming a Company Secretary. As your advocate, I have designed this handbook to ensure you navigate your 21-month journey with a clear understanding of your legal entitlements and workplace rights. These regulations are not just administrative hurdles; they are the safeguards of your professional dignity.

1. The Foundation: Eligibility and Onboarding Rights

Before you can officially begin your 21-month long-term practical training, you must establish a solid legal and educational foundation. This ensures that every day you spend in the office is recognized toward your ultimate goal of Associate Membership.

To be eligible to start your training, you must fulfill the following three essential components:

• Passing the Executive Programme: Successful completion of the ICSI Executive exams.
• Completing the 15-day e-EDP: An online Executive Development Programme completed via the Learning Management System (LMS).
• Completing the 15-day Classroom EDP: A face-to-face training module conducted at Regional Offices or Chapters.

You are required to register your training with the Institute preferably before you start, but no later than 30 days after your commencement date. The “So What?”: If you fail to hit this 30-day deadline, the Institute will refuse to recognize the training period already undergone. You cannot “backdate” this; any delay effectively wastes your valuable time and delays your career.

With your registration finalized, you are now under the Institute’s legal umbrella, unlocking the financial protections that ensure your professional worth is respected.

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2. Financial Protections: Stipend Entitlements

Training is a professional commitment, and the Institute ensures that your contribution is recognized. You are not a volunteer; you are a professional-in-training entitled to a financial floor.

Minimum Mandated Stipend: Rs. 5,000 per month (as determined by the Council).

To help you navigate your financial rights, refer to the table below:

Stipend Facts	Common Myths
Probation Pay: You are entitled to a stipend from day one. Payment must be made for the two-month probation period.	Myth: Trainers can withhold pay during a “trial” or probation phase to see if you are a “good fit.”
Banking Channels: All stipend payments must be processed through bank transfers. Cash payments are strictly prohibited.	Myth: Trainers can pay you in cash or label your stipend as a “reimbursement” to avoid official records.
Institute Oversight: The Institute has the authority to demand proof of bank transfers from either party at any time.	Myth: Stipend methods are private matters between you and the trainer.

The “3-Month Rule”

If your trainer fails to pay your stipend for three consecutive months, this is a valid ground for an exceptional transfer. You are never expected to remain tethered to an organization that violates your basic financial rights.

Once your financial floor is set, you can turn your attention to the academic ceiling: the leave entitlements designed to safeguard your study time.

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3. Balancing Work and Study: Leave Entitlements

The Institute recognizes that your primary goal is passing the Professional exams. We have mandated a leave structure to protect your preparation time from office demands.

Trainee Category	Total Leave Days	Purpose/Restriction
Executive Pass Trainee	52 Days (includes 31 days exam leave)	Exclusively for preparation and appearing in Professional exams.
Professional Pass Trainee	21 Days	Casual Leave only; applicable only to those starting training after passing all Professional modules.

• Paid Leave Insight: You are credited with one casual leave per month, which must be treated as paid leave.
• Welfare Protection: Your working hours are generally restricted to the 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM window, with a minimum of 8 hours per day, protecting you from unreasonable graveyard shifts.
• Pro-rata Warning: If you transfer between organizations, your total leave entitlement will be recalculated on a pro-rata basis according to the time spent at each location.

Academic success depends on a healthy work-life balance, but your rights also extend to your professional mobility should your circumstances or environment change.

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4. The NOC & Transfer Blueprint: Protecting Your Mobility

Your career path may require a change in environment. The ICSI provides a specific blueprint for moving between trainers while protecting your progress, though mobility becomes more restricted after the initial phase.

The Probation Window (First 2 Months)

During the first two months, you are in a trial phase. You are free to seek a transfer for any reason by serving a 14-day notice period.

Post-Probation: Exceptional Conditions

After probation, transfers are generally restricted. However, you are protected in Exceptional Conditions, which the Institute categorizes as:

• Personal/Health: Continuous critical ailment (medical reports required).
• Marriage & Relocation: Specifically for marriage-based relocation involving a distance of 50km or more.
• Family Changes: Transfer of a parent or spouse to another city (no specific KM limit listed).
• Professional Misconduct: Non-payment of stipend for 3 months or trainer misconduct.
• Organizational Changes: Trainer’s death/disability, the company ceasing operations, or the trainer shifting their office more than 50km.

Notice Period & The “No Leave” Rule

To ensure a smooth handover after probation, you must serve a 60-day notice period.

• Reduced Notice: This can only be shortened via mutual written consent.
• Advocacy Warning: During these 60 days, no leave except casual leave can be granted. Taking unauthorized leave will extend your notice period by the number of days taken.

Strategic Warning: You are allowed a maximum of 02 transfers during your entire 21-month training. Use them wisely and strategically.

Securing your right to a fair transfer allows you to move with confidence, but choosing the right path from the start—PCS or Corporate—is the most strategic move you can make.

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5. Choosing Your Path: PCS vs. Corporate Training

You have the right to choose an environment that aligns with your career goals. Whether you prefer diverse client exposure or industry-specific depth, ensure your trainer meets these eligibility criteria.

Feature	Practicing Company Secretary (PCS)	Corporate Trainer (Company/LLP)
Focus	Diverse exposure to various clients and regulatory filings.	Deep, industry-specific compliance and internal governance.
Eligibility	PCS with 1+ year of experience; must maintain an independent office.	Companies: Rs. 50L+ capital or Rs. 5Cr+ net worth. LLPs: ICSI registered (all CS partners) or regular LLPs (half CS partners + Rs. 5Cr turnover).
Supervision	Direct oversight by a practicing member.	Supervision by a CS in whole-time employment.

Your training must cover a broad spectrum of skills to prepare you for the CS role: Legal, Management, Corporate Laws, Securities Law, Tax Laws, Governance/ESG, Financial Management, Audit, and Cyber Security.

Regardless of the environment you choose, the Institute provides a final, rigorous safety net to resolve professional disputes and uphold your dignity.

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6. Safeguards: Grievance Redressal and Discipline

Disputes are rare, but the system is designed to hold both trainers and trainees to the highest professional standards.

Filing a Complaint

The procedure depends on who your trainer is:

1. Against a Company/Entity: File a complaint in triplicate to the HOD (Training) along with a fee of Rs. 1,000.
2. Against a Member (PCS): These must be filed under Section 21 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, which covers professional misconduct.
3. Mediation: Upon receipt, there is a 15-day window for counseling and mediation to reach an amicable settlement before formal investigation.

Mutual Accountability

The Student Disciplinary Committee ensures accountability for all parties:

• For Trainers: Guilty trainers face Major Penalties, including being blacklisted from taking future trainees, debarment, or fines up to Rs. 50,000.
• For Trainees: Professionalism is a two-way street. Trainees may face penalties for misconduct, including the cancellation of registration, suspension from examinations, or a declaration that they are not a “fit and proper person” for Associate Membership.

Your 21-month training is not just a checkbox; it is a protected professional right. By understanding these guidelines, you ensure that your journey toward becoming an Associate Member (ACS) is fair, legal, and focused entirely on your growth as a corporate leader.

2024 Comprehensive Training Governance Manual: CS Internship Management & Compliance

1. Regulatory Preamble and Institutional Framework

The 2024 Training Guidelines represent a strategic consolidation and amendment of previous regulatory structures, designed to establish a unified and transparent training ecosystem for the Company Secretary (CS) profession. By integrating various disparate instructions, notifications, and circulars into a single governance framework w.e.f. January 1, 2024, the Institute ensures that all stakeholders—trainees, trainers, and regional offices—operate under a consistent set of statutory standards. This modernization effort streamlines the professional development journey, ensuring that practical training is both rigorous and aligned with the high-stakes demands of contemporary corporate governance.

To ensure administrative clarity, the following terms and abbreviations are utilized throughout this manual as defined by the Council:

Term	Statutory Definition/Context
Council	The Council of the Institute as constituted under Section 9 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
ICSI / Institute	The Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
Stimulate Portal	The mandatory IT-enabled training interface (https://stimulate.icsi.edu) for all training services.
Trainer	An eligible PCS, Company, LLP, or other entity registered to impart training.
Trainee	A CS student currently enrolled in any prescribed training programme under these guidelines.
PCS	Practicing Company Secretary holding a valid Certificate of Practice (COP).
TEFC	Training and Educational Facilities Committee.
EDP	Executive Development Programme (One-month duration).
CLDP	Corporate Leadership Development Programme (Final phase of training).
ODOP	One Day Orientation Programme (Initial orientation for Executive students).
TDOP	Three Days Orientation Programme (Orientation for students registered on/after Feb 1, 2025).
ROs / Chapters	Regional Offices and local administrative branches of the Institute.
LMS	Learning Management System for online mode training.

The “Flow of Training” (Section 1.6) serves as the roadmap for a candidate’s transition from student to professional. A student’s journey begins with the Orientation Programme (ODOP/TDOP) and registration for the Executive Programme. Successful completion of the Executive Development Programme (EDP) is the non-negotiable gateway to commencing the 21-month Long Term Practical Training. The journey concludes with the Corporate Leadership Development Programme (CLDP), ensuring that by the time a student applies for Associate Membership, they have navigated a structured blend of academic rigour and supervised professional application.

This institutional framework serves as the foundation upon which specific trainer qualifications and student eligibility are strictly governed.

2. Trainer Empanelment: Eligibility, Entitlements, and Registration

The strategic necessity of strict trainer eligibility criteria cannot be overstated; these benchmarks ensure the quality of professional development and the integrity of the CS designation. Trainers must possess the financial stability and professional experience required to mentor the next generation of corporate leaders effectively.

2.1 Eligibility Criteria for Trainers

Entities seeking to engage trainees must meet the following statutory requirements:

• Practicing Company Secretary (PCS): Must hold a COP and have at least one year of experience in practice or employment as a CS.
• Corporate Trainers:
  • NIFTY 50 and Top 500 listed companies.
  • Other listed, unlisted, or SME listed companies with a CS in whole-time employment and a minimum paid-up capital of ₹50 Lakhs or a net worth of ₹5 Crores.
  • Entities complying with Rule 8(A) requiring a paid-up capital of ₹10 Crores.
• Corporate Trainers (Outside India): Body corporates with a paid-up capital of ₹50 Lakhs or net worth of ₹5 Crores, employing a CS or equivalent Governance Professional.
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs):
  • PCS Firms: All partners must be ICSI members.
  • General LLPs: At least half of the partners must be ICSI members, with a net worth or turnover of at least ₹5 Crores (and must not be registered with ICAI, ICMA, or any Bar Council).
• Other Entities: Includes the MCA, ROC, SEBI, NSE, BSE, RBI, and various Government bodies/PSUs with at least 5 years of standing.

2.2 Registration Checklist (Stimulate Portal)

Organizations seeking empanelment must provide:

• [ ] Duly signed and stamped Application Form/Request Letter.
• [ ] Scanned copy of Certificate of Practice and Experience Certificate (for PCS).
• [ ] Certified true copy of the latest Balance Sheet (for Companies/LLPs).
• [ ] Name of the Company Secretary in whole-time employment (for Corporate Trainers).
• [ ] Self-declaration of fulfillment of infrastructure and work profile criteria.
• [ ] Undertaking regarding partner registration (for LLPs).

2.3 Trainer’s Entitlement for Number of Trainees

The capacity to train is regulated based on experience and entity type to maintain a healthy mentor-to-trainee ratio:

Years of Experience/Entity Type	Maximum Trainee Limit
PCS: 1-2 Years Experience	1 Trainee
PCS: 3-5 Years Experience	3 Trainees
PCS: 6-10 Years Experience	5 Trainees
PCS: 11-15 Years Experience	8 Trainees
PCS: 16-20 Years Experience	12 Trainees
PCS: Above 20 Years Experience	15 Trainees
Top NIFTY 50 Companies	15 Trainees
Government Bodies (MCA/ROC/SEBI)	40 Trainees (Combined)
Universal Maximum Limit (All Entities)	20 Trainees

The “So What?” Layer: The universal maximum limit of 20 trainees is a critical governance measure intended to prevent the dilution of training quality. This cap ensures that trainers provide meaningful mentorship rather than treating trainees as a source of clerical labor, thereby safeguarding the educational value of the internship.

Trainer qualifications are merely the first step; students must also meet rigorous pre-requisite requirements before they can enter the professional workforce.

3. The Executive Development Programme (EDP) Prerequisite

The 30-day EDP is a non-negotiable strategic gatekeeper. It ensures that every student entering the 21-month practical training phase possesses the foundational communication, drafting, and IT skills necessary to contribute to a professional office environment.

3.1 Programme Modalities and Fees

The EDP is divided into two 15-day phases:

1. Online EDP (e-Mode): Conducted via the LMS.
   • Fee: ₹2,000.
   • Assessment: Each session features a mandatory assessment that must be cleared to progress.
2. Classroom EDP: Attended at ROs or designated Chapters.
   • Fee: ₹8,000 (inclusive of refreshments and materials).
   • Pedagogy: Focuses on role-plays, mock sessions, and case study analysis to develop legal acumen.

3.2 Completion Deadlines and Risks

The Institute enforces strict timelines for the digital portion of the training. The LMS login for e-EDP is valid for 90 days. A 90-day extension is permitted upon payment of 50% of the fees. The “So What?” Layer: Failure to complete the programme within 180 days results in LMS deactivation and total progress loss. Beyond the financial cost of re-registration, this serves as a significant chronological setback; it resets the eligibility clock, potentially delaying a student’s entry into practical training and their eventual membership by over six months.

Completion of the EDP is the essential precursor to the formal execution of the long-term training contract.

4. Contractual Obligations and Training Registration

The training contract is the foundational legal document of the trainer-trainee relationship. It is not merely an administrative formality but a binding professional agreement that safeguards the interests of both parties under the Institute’s oversight.

4.1 Registration Documents

To register the 21-month training on the Stimulate Portal, the following are required:

• Contract for Long Term Training: Executed on ₹20 non-judicial stamp paper (or via e-Stamping/franking) in duplicate.
• Letter of Training: Mandatory for corporate entities and other organizations (Annexure 5.1).
• Academic Proofs: True copies of the Executive mark sheet and the EDP completion certificate.

4.2 Time-Limit for Registration

Training registration must be submitted within 30 days of commencement. The Institute calculates this 30-day window from the date of commencement, the date of stamp paper purchase, or the date of execution—WHICHEVER IS LATER. Any training beyond this window without registration is invalid and will not be recognized for membership credit.

4.3 Probation Period

The first two months of training are designated as the probation period.

• Notice Period: During probation, a trainee may seek a transfer by serving a 7-day notice (per Revised September 2023 Guidelines).
• Reckoning: All hours completed during probation are counted toward the total 21-month requirement.

Operational standards during the subsequent 19 months must adhere to strict institutional guidelines to ensure professional excellence.

5. Operational Standards: Working Hours, Stipend, and Leave

Standardizing daily operations ensures a professional work-life balance and strict financial compliance within the internship framework.

5.1 Working Hours

Training must occur between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, with a minimum of 8 hours per day. These hours remain subject to the prevailing labor laws of the respective State or Union Territory.

5.2 Stipend Compliance

Trainers are mandated to pay a minimum monthly stipend of ₹5,000, or such amount as determined by the Council from time to time. The “So What?” Layer: All stipend payments must be made via banking channels. This is a mandatory requirement for creating an audit trail; the Institute reserves the right to demand bank records at any time. Failure to provide evidence of banking transactions could lead to the total invalidation of the training period and disciplinary action against the trainer.

5.3 Leave Entitlements

Leave is strictly categorized based on the student’s qualification status:

Student Category	Total Leave Entitlement	Specific Context
Executive Pass Students	52 Days	Includes 31 days specifically for Professional Exam preparation.
Professional Pass Students	21 Days	Eligible for casual leaves only.

The “So What?” Layer: Adherence to these limits is vital because excess leaves result in a proportionate extension of the training period. Every day taken beyond the entitlement is a day added to the 21-month countdown, delaying the path to membership.

6. Reporting, Project Management, and Completion

Reporting is a strategic tool for progress tracking, ensuring the trainee’s development meets institutional benchmarks.

6.1 Quarterly Reporting

Trainers are legally obligated to submit a report via the Stimulate Portal within 30 days of the end of each quarter. While the trainer is responsible for the submission, the trainee is expected to follow up to ensure compliance.

6.2 Project Report and CLDP Viva-voce

Trainees must prepare a Project Report under the trainer’s guidance, consisting of mandatory chapters: Introduction, Methodology, Organization, Analysis, Findings, and Conclusion. The “So What?” Layer: This report is evaluated via a Viva-voce during the CLDP phase. A trainee must secure at least a “Satisfactory (B) Grade” to qualify for membership. Scoring below this threshold necessitates resubmission of the report and a second Viva-voce, presenting a significant hurdle to final qualification.

6.3 Completion Criteria

Upon finishing the term, the trainer must issue a certificate on official letterhead including:

• Trainer’s membership/COP and registration numbers.
• Exact dates of training and a clear disclosure of leaves taken.
• Screenshots of all submitted quarterly reports.

7. Transfer Protocols and Exceptional Circumstances

The Institute views training as a continuous commitment; therefore, transfers after the probation period are highly restricted.

7.1 Exceptional Cases for Transfer

Transfers post-probation are only permitted for:

• Medical/Personal: Continuous critical ailment (with medical certificate), relocation due to marriage (>50km), or transfer of a parent/spouse.
• Professional Misconduct: Misconduct involving moral turpitude or non-payment of stipend for three consecutive months.
• Organizational Cessation: Death of the trainer, surrender of COP, or company dissolution.

7.2 Notice Period and Handover

Per the Revised 2023 Guidelines:

• Standard Transfer Notice: A trainee must serve a notice period of up to 30 days as mutually agreed for a smooth handover.
• Probation Notice: A 7-day notice is required.
• Secondment: A trainee may be deputed to another registered trainer for up to six months for broader exposure.

8. Dispute Resolution and Disciplinary Framework

The Student Disciplinary Committee adjudicates conflicts between trainers and trainees to maintain the ethical integrity of the profession.

8.1 Procedure for Redressal

1. Filing: A formal complaint requires a ₹1,000 filing fee.
2. Mediation: The Institute attempts an amicable settlement within 15 working days.
3. Investigation: If mediation fails, the Committee investigates all evidence and written statements.

8.2 Penalties and Deterrence

Penalty Type	For Trainees	For Trainers (Companies/PCS)
Minor	Reprimand, fine up to ₹20,000, or cancellation of training credit.	Warning letter or fine up to ₹50,000.
Major	Cancellation of student registration or exam debarment.	Blacklisting the entity or cancelling trainer registration.

The “So What?” Layer: The threat of Blacklisting (for trainers) and Cancellation of Registration (for trainees) represents terminal professional risks. These severe deterrents ensure that the internship is not viewed as a mere formality but as a period of strict statutory and ethical compliance, safeguarding the reputation of the CS profession.

This manual serves as the primary governance tool for 2024, ensuring professional excellence and statutory adherence.