Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today addressed the 58th Foundation Day celebrations of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Extending his greetings to the entire ICSI fraternity, he commended the Institute for its nearly six-decade journey in strengthening transparent, ethical and inclusive corporate governance.
Emphasising that good governance is essential for taking care of citizens and safeguarding public trust, the Vice-President said that when people pay taxes, they expect responsible governance, while investors expect companies to protect their interests through sound corporate governance. He noted that ICSI has moved beyond traditional regulatory compliance to become an important institution in advancing good governance.
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said the transformation of the Institute mirrors the evolution of the profession, which today has an important role in strengthening corporate transparency, investor confidence and India’s standing in the global economy.
In an era shaped by Artificial Intelligence, advanced data analytics and rapidly evolving business models, the Vice-President called upon Company Secretaries, as “Guardians of Governance,” to uphold the legal, strategic and ethical foundations of India Inc. “Technology may transform the manner in which information is generated and decisions are supported, but integrity, accountability, transparency and responsibility remain human,” he said.
Describing trust, transparency and corporate governance as the “invisible infrastructure” of a modern economy, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said investor confidence is essential for sustained economic progress. Company Secretaries, he noted, are at the centre of this architecture and play a vital role in enabling enterprises, start-ups, family businesses and listed companies to grow responsibly.
The Vice-President said strong institutions and sound governance will be as important as physical and digital infrastructure in building a Viksit Bharat. He underlined the complementary role of ICAI, ICMAI and ICSI in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047, describing these professional institutions as key pillars of a strong corporate and economic ecosystem.
Calling for greater opportunities for young people to enter the profession, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan appreciated ICSI’s fee-waiver initiatives and urged continued student outreach. He launched the MSME Compliance Calendar 2027 and appreciated ICSI’s initiatives for MSMEs and start-ups, including the ICSI MSME & Start-up Catalyst. He also appreciated ICSI’s contributions to the National Defence Fund under the Shaheed Ki Beti initiative and the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund of the Ministry of Defence, saying, “When the intention is good, everything will be good.”
Concluding, the Vice-President called upon ICSI to continue upholding the trust reposed in the profession and contribute towards building a strong, Aatma-nirbhar and Viksit Bharat @2047. He said India should aspire to become the world’s largest economy, not to dictate terms to others, but “so that no one can dictate unwanted terms to us.” He also invoked the timeless ethos of “Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara” and extended his greetings to the ICSI fraternity on its Foundation Day.
President, ICSI, C.S. Pawan Chandak; former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Dr. Sonal Mansingh; and Secretary, ICSI, C.S. Asish Mohan, among others, were present on the occasion.
