Basavaraj Bommai, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, and Madhusudan Sai, Founder, Madhududan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission, graced the 24th edition of the ICSI National Awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance, as the Guests of Honour, on 20 December 2024, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Congratulating the ICSI for keeping the standard of the Governance Awards high, Basavaraj Bommai quoted that, “the way ICSI is going ahead, it will be a pioneer in making a change in the country's corporate life”. He also highlighted the important role of a Company Secretary in regulating the economy and helping India Inc. grow.

Appreciating the rightfulness of the ICSI Motto, Madhusudan Sai said “Truth when acted upon becomes dharma and as Conscience Keepers of the Corporates, Company Secretaries are performing their dharma extremely well by guiding them towards creating an Equitable

Bharat”.

For the Best Governed Companies in Large, Medium and Emerging Category in Listed and Unlisted Sectors, this year, the 24th ICSI National Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance, was given to the following Companies:

Listed Company

1) Tata Steel Limited (Large)

2) Persistent Systems Limited (Medium)

3) V-Mart Retail Limited (Emerging)

Unlisted Company

1) TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (Large)

2) Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited (Medium)

3) Re Sustainability Limited (Emerging)

The 24th ICSI Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on to Dr. B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman & Board Member, Cyient Limited, for his exemplary leadership in instituting Good Corporate Governance into reality.

The 9th ICSI CSR Excellence Award was presented to the following companies in Large, Medium and Emerging Category, for their exceptional contribution in CSR:

1) Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited (Large)

2) Schneider Electric India Private Limited (Medium)

3) Cyient Limited (Emerging)

The 6th ICSI Best Secretarial Audit Report Award, was presented to CS Swetha Subramanian for the Secretarial Audit Report of Seshasayee Paper and Boards Limited.

The 4th ICSI Best PCS Firm Award, was presented to KSR & Co Company Secretaries LLP., to acknowledge the Firm’s exceptional role in instituting best practices.

The 3rd ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award, was presented to the following two companies in the Service and Non-Service Sector for integrating Sustainability Reporting into their business:

1) Persistent Systems Limited (Service Sector)

2) Marico Limited (Non-Service Sector)

The Institute also unveiled the following Publications at the hands of the Guests, on the occasion:

• Guidance Note on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting

• Handbook on Corporate Reporting and Disclosures

• Start-Up Ready Reckoner

• Board Diversity – Indian and Global Perspectives & Best Practices (Includes a Study on Nifty 50 Companies)

• Insights into SEBI Enforcement (Including Adjudication and other Orders of SEBI, Judgements of SAT and Supreme Court)

• Guide to Competition Act 2002

• Financial Statements - Understanding and Analysis

Elaborating on the awards, CS B. Narasimhan, President, the ICSI, said, “the ICSI National Awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance, are a celebration of the commitment of corporates and professionals in furthering best governance practices and they reaffirm the importance of transparency, accountability and ethical business practice in ensuring a sustainable future”.