PCS Full Form: What a Practising Company Secretary Does

In company law, PCS stands for Practising Company Secretary: a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India who holds a Certificate of Practice and offers professional services independently, rather than as an employee of a company.

This article explains what the term means, how a Company Secretary becomes a PCS, and the work that is reserved for, or commonly done by, Company Secretaries in practice.

Company Secretary in employment and in practice

Point	Company Secretary in employment	Practising Company Secretary (PCS)
Works for	One company, as an employee	Several clients, independently or in a firm
Certificate of Practice	Not required	Required
Typical role	Key managerial personnel, compliance officer, board processes	Certification, secretarial audit, filings, advisory and representation
Designation used	ACS or FCS	ACS or FCS, with the Certificate of Practice number

How a Company Secretary becomes a PCS

1. Become a member of the ICSI (ACS or FCS).
2. Apply to the Institute for a Certificate of Practice, meeting the conditions it prescribes, including any training or programmes required.
3. Not hold full-time employment elsewhere while in practice, except as permitted by the Institute’s rules.
4. Renew the Certificate of Practice every year and meet continuing professional education requirements.

The current conditions should be checked on the ICSI website before applying, since they are revised from time to time.

Work reserved for or commonly done by a PCS

• Secretarial audit of listed and other prescribed companies, reported in Form MR-3
• Certification of annual returns in Form MGT-8 for prescribed companies
• Pre-certification of e-forms filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Certificates required under SEBI regulations for listed companies
• Appearance before the NCLT, the Regional Director and the Registrar of Companies as an authorised representative
• Incorporation, restructuring, FEMA filings, due diligence and compliance advisory

Details are in certification of MCA e-forms by a PCS and representation before the ROC, RD and NCLT.

Frequently asked questions

What is the full form of PCS in company law?

Practising Company Secretary: a member of the ICSI holding a Certificate of Practice.

Can a newly qualified member start practice immediately?

A member can apply for a Certificate of Practice on meeting the Institute’s conditions. Many members first gain experience in employment or under a senior practitioner, since practice involves certification responsibility from the start.

Can a PCS also teach or write?

Teaching, writing and similar activities are generally permitted alongside practice, within the Institute’s rules on other occupations.

ചുരുക്കം (Summary in Malayalam)

കമ്പനി നിയമത്തിൽ PCS എന്നാൽ പ്രാക്ടീസിംഗ് കമ്പനി സെക്രട്ടറി. ICSI അംഗമായി, സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് ഓഫ് പ്രാക്ടീസ് നേടി, സ്വതന്ത്രമായി പ്രൊഫഷണൽ സേവനങ്ങൾ നൽകുന്നയാളാണ് PCS. സെക്രട്ടേറിയൽ ഓഡിറ്റ് (MR-3), MGT-8 സർട്ടിഫിക്കേഷൻ, MCA ഇ-ഫോമുകളുടെ സർട്ടിഫിക്കേഷൻ, NCLT, RD, ROC എന്നിവയ്ക്ക് മുന്നിൽ ഹാജരാകൽ തുടങ്ങിയവ PCS ചെയ്യുന്ന ജോലികളാണ്. സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് ഓഫ് പ്രാക്ടീസ് എല്ലാ വർഷവും പുതുക്കണം.

This article gives a general overview of practice as a Company Secretary. The conditions for a Certificate of Practice and the scope of practice are revised from time to time; for accurate and current requirements, refer to the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, the ICSI regulations and guidelines. The article is not advice on any particular case.