HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Dec 19: A two-day National Conference of Chartered Accountants, organised by the Eastern India Regional Council (EIRC) under the aegis of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and hosted by the Guwahati Branch of EIRC of ICAI, was inaugurated on Friday at the Srimanta Sankardeva International Auditorium here.
The conference was inaugurated by Branch Chairperson CA Raginee Goyal in the presence of CA (Dr) Debashis Mitra, Past President of ICAI, Dev Kumar Pandey, CGM (Finance), North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, Central Council Members CA Sanjib Sanghi and CA Ravi Kumar Patwa, Regional Council Members of ICAI, past chairpersons of the Guwahati Branch and delegates from across the country.
Related Posts:
In her welcome address, CA Raginee Goyal unveiled the theme of the conference, “Lakshya – Where Dreams Meet Direction.”
She said the two-day programme aims to focus on professional vision, goal-setting and emerging opportunities amid rapid technological and legal transformations affecting the profession.
Addressing the delegates, CA Sanjib Sanghi drew an analogy between the conference theme and the unwavering focus of Arjuna from the Mahabharata, emphasising that clarity of purpose and sustained concentration are critical for professional excellence.
CA Ravi Kumar Patwa commended the organising team and spoke on the evolving nature of the Chartered Accountancy profession, stressing the importance of preparedness to adapt to continuous change.
CA (Dr) Debashis Mitra shared insights on the future of the profession and informed the gathering about ICAI’s vision under the Lakshya initiative to establish a Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, outlining the progress made towards achieving this goal.
CA Jay Prakash Gupta, Secretary of the Guwahati Branch of EIRC of ICAI, proposed the formal vote of thanks.
The first technical session of the conference focused on indirect taxation and deliberated on the topic “In-depth Study on Evidence and Statements in GST Proceedings.”
The session was chaired by CA Rajendra Kumar P and addressed by Adv (CA) JK Mittal, who offered detailed insights into the legal and procedural aspects of evidence and statements under GST laws.
The session saw active discussions on practical challenges, recent judicial trends and best practices for effective compliance and representation.
The second technical session featured a panel discussion on “Crystal-gazing the Profession – 2030 and Beyond.”
Moderated by CA (Dr) Debashis Mitra, the panel comprised Past Presidents of ICAI Adv (CA) Ved Jain, CA Manoj Fadnis and CA Aniket Talati.
The panel examined the changing role of Chartered Accountants in an evolving economic, regulatory and technological environment, highlighting future opportunities and challenges.
The post-lunch technical session on Technology and Artificial Intelligence addressed the topic “Agentic AIs vs Chartered Accountants.”
Chaired by CA Sanjib Sanghi, the session was addressed by CA Anil Bhandari, who spoke on the growing influence of artificial intelligence in professional services.
He emphasised the need for continuous upskilling and urged professionals to view technology as an enabler that strengthens strategic and advisory capabilities rather than as a disruption.
Addressing the media, CA (Dr) Swati Tejawat said the conference features expert speakers from diverse fields and provides a valuable platform for professional learning, networking and knowledge-sharing, while enhancing the professional image of Chartered Accountants in the region.
