BCAS President CA Anand Bathiya’s Message for the Month of December 2024
Circa 1990: “Here you go. Don’t forget to carry this winter-wear safari-suit jacket with you; it can get really chilly at times,” said Mehta Saheb in a thankful tone to Mr Das, his office stenographer. Handing over his cozy safari-suit jacket to Mr Das, the quintessential Mehta Saheb left his Ballard Estate office at 8:00 pm and took the Mumbai local to his home in Dadar.
Mr Das, a fervent steno, also doubled up as a personal assistant to Mehta Saheb on many occasions. Like the last three years, Mr Das had an important task to accomplish — making sure that he reserved a seat for his managing partner at the annual pilgrimage of practising Chartered Accountants, aka the BCAS Members’ Residential Refresher Course (‘RRC’).
Mr Das stood resolutely in a long, winding queue that extended from the BCAS office to the road bordering Churchgate station, braving the cold winter at 4:00 am before daybreak. Engaging in conversation with those ahead of him — some of whom claimed to have camped out since the previous night — he waited for the BCAS office to open at 8:00 am to start accepting applications. After persistent efforts, Mr Das successfully had his master’s application acknowledged by the BCAS at 2:00 pm. Notably, like many previous years, applications for the BCAS Members’ RRC closed on the same day they were opened.
The accomplishment of having enrolled was like a battle won, and feelings like this one from the 1990s continue to linger in the hearts of thousands of Chartered Accountants from across the country, for they have experienced and participated in countless BCAS RRCs over several decades… a feeling of pride and gratitude to have lived and breathed at the BCAS RRCs.
Although many things have changed since the 1990s, the appeal of attending the BCAS RRC events has remained strong and even grown. This year’s 58th Lucknow-Ayodhya Members RRC experienced house-full registrations well before the early-bird discount period even commenced, which was over 100 days prior to the event date! After persistent cajolery with the venue partner, the BCAS team successfully secured additional rooms to meet the high demand, which is also nearing capacity, as I write. The recently announced 22nd Residential Leadership Retreat has also witnessed encouraging take-off. Over the next few months, the adept committees at the BCAS are planning various subject-specific RRCs for the benefit of our community.
Your Society pioneered the format of RRC. The RRC format promises focused, uninterrupted, collaborative and deep-rooted learning along with professional networking. The format has been ever-so-popular that today, BCAS itself hosts multiple subject-specific RRCs, and many other organisations have also followed suit.
In response to evolving circumstances, our Society has been introducing various learning formats to address current needs. Beyond flagship residential courses, the BCAS stable includes a range of pedagogy formats, including lecture meetings, seminars, workshops, study circles, boot camps, webinars, e-learning, extended duration courses, hybrid learning, certificate programs, talk-and-share sessions, fireside chats, panel discussions, roundtables, etc. Each format is tailored for specific applications and offers varying levels of depth, interaction and coverage. As we progress with our ever-busy professional lives and the increased integration of technology into our daily routines, the way we consume learning content is rapidly evolving. In response to this trend, the Society has green-flagged the project on BCAS Academy. BCAS Academy aims to provide a comprehensive digital learning and membership ecosystem for BCAS members, aligning with the BCAS’s vision of fostering learning and professional development of Chartered Accountants. Stay informed as the dedicated volunteer-led team at the BCAS builds and rolls out BCAS Academy over the coming months.
Continuing with our journey of collaborating with like-minded institutions and amplifying our strengths, your Society and the National Institute of Securities Markets — an education and capacity-building initiative of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, entered into a strategic collaboration. This collaboration is aimed at fostering financial literacy, strengthening capital markets through research initiatives, learning initiatives and deepening the academia-profession interface. Both organisations of repute shall leverage their core strengths towards bridging the capacity and learning gap, thereby improving the robustness of the financial fabric of India. The training and development sessions through this collaboration are intended to provide practical exposure and hands-on experience, ensuring participants are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the securities markets.
A series of events are scheduled for the upcoming months. With over 17 events planned, there is on offer a diverse array of opportunities tailored to suit everyone’s interests. The landmark BCAS course on Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements is now in its 25th avatar, offering a unique proposition to enthusiasts of international tax. A series of highly relevant sessions on Standards on Auditing and key insights from NFRA orders, featuring speakers from NFRA itself, presents an invaluable opportunity for audit professionals. Additionally, the upcoming lecture meeting on 4th December by market veteran Nilesh Shah will provide our members with thoughts on deciphering the current state of capital markets.
Information regarding other events, including sessions on AI in Tax, Succession Planning, Capital Markets, IBC, Negotiations, Not-For-Profits, CAThon, IFSC matters, etc., are detailed elsewhere in the journal and are also accessible on the Society’s website.
The triennial elections for the central and regional councils of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India are scheduled for the first week of December. It is imperative that we exercise our voting rights and more so, appropriately. As Thomas Jefferson aptly stated, “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”
With warm regards and greetings for upcoming Christmas festivities,
