New Delhi : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said that good corporate governance is central to India’s development.
The minister made the remarks during an interaction with a delegation from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), which called on him to invite him as the Guest of Honour at the presentation ceremony of the 26th ICSI National Awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance, scheduled to be held in 2027.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the importance of good corporate governance and professional excellence, while underscoring the expanding role of Company Secretaries in India’s governance ecosystem. He said professionals in the corporate sector have an important role in promoting responsible governance, ethical practices and institutional accountability.
The minister called for a greater contribution from Company Secretaries to India’s growth, noting that their professional expertise can help strengthen governance practices across the corporate and economic ecosystem. He said professional excellence and good governance must go hand in hand in India’s development journey.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also stressed the need to build a stronger culture of ethical entrepreneurship and good governance. He said professional institutions such as ICSI have an important role in promoting governance standards and facilitating practices that contribute to institutional excellence.
The minister appreciated the role of professional bodies in continuously evolving their standards and practices in response to changing requirements. He also emphasised the importance of recognising and encouraging organisations and individuals that demonstrate excellence in corporate governance.
Referring to the changing responsibilities of Company Secretaries, Dr. Jitendra Singh said their role now extends beyond traditional professional functions. Their expertise, he added, can contribute to strengthening governance systems and supporting institutions while promoting transparency, responsibility and accountability.
The minister took note of ICSI’s initiatives related to Panchayat governance and local-body governance. He appreciated the Institute’s efforts to prepare manuals and training material in multiple languages.
He also commended ICSI’s initiatives for digitising institutional processes, including the adoption of electronic voting and a preferential voting system for its elections.
The delegation briefed Dr. Jitendra Singh about the Institute and its activities. It informed him that ICSI has more than 80,000 members and approximately 2.5 lakh students.
The interaction also covered ICSI’s initiatives related to professional standards, secretarial standards and corporate governance. Discussions also included the Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Translating Excellence in Corporate Governance into Reality.