Secretary/Personal Assistant
Handles administrative, clerical and managerial tasks for a person or department — schedules, correspondence and travel plans.
Overview
A Personal Assistant or a Secretary usually undertakes administrative, clerical and managerial tasks on behalf of an individual or department. His or her tasks may include managing schedules and correspondence and planning travels among others.
Where they work
- Public and private sector companies
- Agencies
- Banks across India
Work environment
It is a desk job. You will not handle a team. Local travel is not a part of the job role. You are likely to work 5 to 6 days a week for 8 to 9 hours every day. This may vary from organization to organization.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have strong written and verbal skills
- You like to file or type
- You are quick to take on new responsibilities
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree in Office Management and Secretarial Practice/Secretarial Practice/Corporate Secretaryship or any similar subject.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Diploma in Office Administration/Administration Services/Secretarial Practice or any similar course.
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree in any subject and then opt for a certificate course in Office Administration/Modern Office Management & Secretarial Practice/Secretarial Practice and similar subjects.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The following institutes offer courses in Secretarial Practice or Corporate Secretaryship. This list of institutes is indicative only. Please check if a private institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC and AICTE before applying.
Government institutes
- Maharani's Arts, Commerce and Management College for Women, Mysuru, Karnataka
- College of Vocational Studies, New Delhi
- National Institute of Open Schooling, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Indian Institute of Skill Development Training, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Bhagini Nivedita College, New Delhi
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), New Delhi
- Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, Punjab
- Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan Mahavidyalaya, Uttar Pradesh
- Shanti Devi Arya Mahila College, Dinanagar, Punjab
- ACMT Education College, New Delhi
- PVP Women's University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Ahimsa Women Polytechnic, New Delhi
- Air Force Vocational College, New Delhi
- International Women Polytechnic, Gurugram, Haryana
- Newcent Training Academy (located in various cities)
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Receptionist
- 2Personal Secretary
- 3Join other occupation
Expected income
₹21,938 – ₹60,417 per month
The figures are indicative and subject to change. The card takes this range from a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology document on private secretary posts; check the current official notification for government pay and allowances.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Office Administrator
Oversees an organisation's office — supervising staff, running procedures and payroll, and managing correspondence and filing.
Receptionist
Manages the front desk — the first point of contact for customers, plus administrative tasks.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Languages.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Karma Dolma — A civil servant of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). She pursued a Diploma in Secretarial Practice from the Delhi Board of Technical Education, after which the CTA appointed her as contract staff at the Department of Home, where she assisted the liaison officer of the US 1,000 Tibetan Immigration Project. After the project ended in June 1993 she was appointed Sponsorship Secretary, and in May 1997 she was selected through the entrance examination for the post of Office Secretary.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 741 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/private-secretary.pdf
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The card lists 'Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Mumbai, Maharashtra' under government institutes; Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University is in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, so the intended institute is unclear and it is not listed. The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is a voluntary organisation rather than a government institute, so it is shown under private institutes; Bhagini Nivedita College, listed under private institutes, is a University of Delhi college and is shown under government institutes. Several private institutes are listed without full addresses — check each one's recognition before applying.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.