Question

Distinguish between the following:
Personal secretary and company secretary. 

Answer 1

S. No.	Personal secretary	Company secretary
1.	Any individual employed by a busy person to look after his official, professional, private and personal work is called a personal secretary.	According to the companies act 1956, any individual processing the prescribed qualification and appointed to performed the duties of a secretary under the act and any other ministerial or administration duties is called a company secretary.
2.	There is no prescribed qualification for the appointment of a Secretary. However, he is required to have knowledge of information technology, book-keeping and office routine	The secretary shall have the prescribed qualification and should be a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
3.	A Personal Secretary is appointed by busy ‘individuals such as industrialists, doctors, lawyers, actors, ministers, political leaders, businessmen, etc.	A company secretary is appointed by the board of directors of the company. His appointment is compulsory by law in the case of company having paid up capital of Rs 5 crore or more.
4.	Personal Secretary has no legal status	Company Secretary has a legal status.
5.	He is the personal assistant of his boss or employer.	He is the chief executive officer of the company and one of the Key Managerial Personnel (KMP).
6.	He is given limited powers by his boss or employer.	He derives certain powers from the Companies Act and certain powers from the Board of Directors.