The Institute of Company Secretaries (ICSI) announced a number of new initiatives at its three-day 50^th National Convention of Company Secretaries in Kolkata. The conference was attended by over 1100 delegates in person from all over India and 4,500 members joined in virtually. This year’s Convention-themed Company Secretary: A Vishwaguru in Governance and Sustainability will highlight the renewed role and responsibility of Company Secretaries (CS) in response to the changing dynamics of the regulatory environment.

Some of the key ICSI initiatives on the anvil are:

• New Centre of Excellence in Kolkata: ICSI is coming up with a new center of excellence (CoE) at Rajarhat New Town. Kolkata. The CoE is expected to start operations by the end of 2022. This would greatly benefit the CS and students. ICSI has also an academic connection with students through MoUs with different Universities and Institutes, including IIM, and conducts various programs and courses that impart skills and increase their employability.
• New ICSI Syllabus: ICSI launched a whole New ICSI Syllabus which is in sync with the New Education Policy of the Government. The new syllabus would be effective from 2023 onwards. ICSI has factored in over 5000 feedback and suggestions from the general public while drafting the new syllabus.
• New ICSI overseas Centre in Canada: ICSI formally announced and virtually launched a new overseas center in Canada. This would be the sixth ICSI Overseas Centre after Australia, Singapore, UAE, USA, and the UK. The ICSI team will go to Canada by the end of 2022 to formally inaugurate the center. The ICSI overseas centers cater to the needs of overseas students and professionals.
• ICSI International Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) center: The Institute formally announced the launch of its own ‘ADR Centre’ at the National Convention. Arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and negotiation are a part and parcel of ADR addressing commercial disputes. A new company has been incorporated for this purpose. ICSI will start a pilot project from Hyderabad and has the full support and guidance of the Ministry of Law the mandate is to open 20 such ADR Centres across India.
• ICSI-West Bengal Government MoU on MSMEs: ICSI is gearing up to sign an MoU with the West Bengal Government to provide services to the MSMEs. This would provide wide-ranging support to the MSMEs in the state and help them to garner maximum benefits available under various schemes.
• ICSI Startup Sarathi project: Under the StartUp Sarathi project, ICSI will support corporates in the incorporation, registration, and compliance of start-ups. ICSI members would be especially impaneled for this purpose.

ICSI has submitted a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to include its member CS in its draft resolution on practicing professors and the UGC has partly agreed to it. Company Secretaries with 15 plus years of experience in a professional field would soon be able to work as practicing professors and would help develop the academic side of the Institute.