<h1>ICSI Applauds Companies Bill 2012: Boosts Corporate Governance, Transparency, Accountability, and Elevates Company Secretaries' Role as Key Managers.</h1> The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has praised the passage of the Companies Bill, 2012, viewing it as a progressive and forward-looking law. The new legislation aims to enhance corporate governance, increase transparency, and ensure greater accountability among company management and auditors. It also seeks to protect investors, promote shareholder democracy, and enforce corporate social responsibility. The law recognizes Company Secretaries as Key Managerial Persons, positioning them as Chief Governance Officers responsible for leading governance initiatives. It expands their role in secretarial audits, restructuring, liquidation, and valuation, thus accelerating their transformation into corporate governance professionals.