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Meet Avani Mishra, all-India topper of Company Secretary exam

All India-topper in the Company Secretary Examinations 2015, Bhopal girl Avani Mishra discussed her success mantra in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Updated on: Aug 28, 2015, 15:45:18 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Bhopal
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First impressions are always deceptive. Take, for instance, Bhopal's Avani Mishra. When you first meet her, she comes across as a regular girl-next-door, bubbling with enthusiasm and energy. But when you are told she's India's youngest Company Secretary, you curse yourself for not taking her seriously earlier. And when she tells you that she topped this year's All India Company Secretary Examination, the shocked look on your face is unmistakable. Excerpts from a chat with Avani.

Apart from being an all-India topper, you have also become the youngest to qualify the company secretary (CS) exam at the national level. What is your success mantra?

Be patient and maintain good temperament while going through the nine-day rigorous schedule of the exam, says this year's all-India company secretary examination topper Avani Mishra. (HT photo)
Be patient and maintain good temperament while going through the nine-day rigorous schedule of the exam, says this year's all-India company secretary examination topper Avani Mishra. (HT photo)

I started preparing for the CS just after getting admission in the National Law Institute University (NLIU). I cleared all the three stages in my first attempt, and that’s why I could clear my exam at the age of 19. More than studying for long hours, I chose smart learning. I kept myself away from any kind of distraction from social media too.

You are a model and a regular student. How hard did you work to achieve this?

It was a little tough for me to manage regular studies with the CS exam preparation. But it’s not very tough to clear the CS exam. I prepared for the exam online under the guidance of Company Secretary (CS) Monika Goyal from Noida for 30 days and I am happy that I passed my exam with great success. I do modeling occasionally so it never disturbed my studies.

Most people think that the CS exam needs more theoretical approach than practical. What do you think?

It is a myth that the CS exam is boring and hard to crack because it is more theoretical. I cleared the exam with the new syllabus. It is one of the most balanced examinations where students need both theoretical as well as practical approach to clear the exam.

You are pursuing law. How would clearing the CS exam help in building your career?

To prepare for the CS exam, I read corporate law. This qualification will help me in building good career in the corporate world. After completing my law, I want to work in a corporate house.

Whom do you give credit for your success?

My family, especially my parents, who gave me an environment conducive to study. Monika Goyal also played an important role in my achieving the first rank.

What will be your advice to youngsters preparing for the exam?

Be patient and maintain good temperament while going through the nine-day rigorous schedule of the exam.

Read:Bhopal girl Avani Mishra tops CS exam in India

  • Shruti Tomar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shruti Tomar

    I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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