CA Mayur Agrawal

Chairman - EIRC

Message from Chairman, EIRC

Dear Professional Colleagues,

Greetings!

As October unfolds, it brings with it the vibrant tapestry of India's grand festivities — from the divine feeling of Durga Puja and the joyous echoes of Bijoya, to the triumphant spirit of Dussehra, the luminous celebrations of Diwali in the coming days alongwith the mystical allure of Kali Puja and many more. Each festival, rich in tradition and cultural significance, reminds us of the enduring values of victory over adversity, renewal, hope and togetherness.

Yet, amidst this kaleidoscope of celebrations, our profession continues to demand our firm attention. The changing season mirrors our dual responsibility — to immerse ourselves in the festive spirit while diligently addressing important professional commitments and statutory deadlines. I trust that each one of you is balancing the joy of the festivities with professional dedication, drawing inspiration from these celebrations and channelling that energy into your work.

October is particularly significant for Chartered Accountants, as professionals across the country navigate an intensive period of tax, audit and regulatory compliance. The extended tax-audit deadline for the applicable category, GST return filings, quarterly TDS/TCS statements and post-Annual General Meeting corporate filings have kept our members engaged in a range of critical assignments. These responsibilities demand not only technical proficiency and meticulous attention to detail, but also sound professional judgement, ethical conduct and an firm commitment to quality. All the assignments are far more than statutory obligations; they are essential contributions to the credibility of financial information, the protection of stakeholder interests and the smooth functioning of our economic system. Every audit conducted with independence, every return filed with accuracy and every advisory service delivered with integrity strengthens the confidence that society places in our profession.

At the same time, the evolving professional landscape calls upon us to look beyond conventional areas of practice. Technology, changing regulatory frameworks, increasing expectations from stakeholders and the growing importance of data-driven decision-making are creating new opportunities for Chartered Accountants. We must remain open to continuous learning, embrace innovation and equip ourselves with the skills necessary to provide greater value to businesses, institutions and society.

“असतो मा सद्गमय।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।

मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय॥”

These timeless words from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad — “Lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, and from mortality to immortality” — resonate deeply with the spirit of this festive season and the very essence of our profession. As millions of lamps illuminate our homes during Diwali, let us remember that the true light lies in knowledge, wisdom and integrity.

As Chartered Accountants, we are not merely custodians of financial statements but torchbearers of transparency, trust and good governance. Our responsibility is not just to interpret numbers, but to illuminate decisions; not merely to ensure compliance, but to inspire confidence; and not simply to uphold standards, but to set higher ones. May this festive season inspire us to dispel the darkness of uncertainty with knowledge, overcome challenges with courage, and lead our profession towards a brighter, more ethical and progressive future.

In keeping with EIRC's annual theme, “NOW”, the message is both timely and compelling. The time to upgrade our knowledge is NOW. The time to embrace technology is NOW. The time to strengthen professional excellence and prepare for emerging opportunities is NOW. Our collective progress will depend on our ability to translate knowledge into action and professional responsibility into meaningful impact.

51st Regional Conference of EIRC

EIRC of ICAI is all set to host its flagship annual event, the 51st Regional Conference of the Eastern Region, on 19th and 20th December 2026 at the Biswa Bangla Exhibition Centre, Kolkata. This Conference holds special significance as it is being organised during the Platinum Jubilee Year of EIRC (2026–27), marking 75 years of service, growth and contribution to the profession. The theme of this year’s Conference is “NOW - The Time to Transform.”

The 51st Regional Conference is envisaged as a grand confluence of knowledge, experience and ideas, bringing together more than 4,000 finance professionals and featuring over 100 distinguished speakers and dignitaries from diverse domains including Finance, Audit, Taxation, Corporate & Commercial Laws, Capital Markets, AI & Technology, ESG & Sustainability, Public Policy, Global Business and Emerging Professional Opportunities through keynote sessions, panel discussions, practical workshops and curated learning experiences.

Key Programmes

During October, EIRC continued its endeavour to provide members with meaningful professional learning and engagement opportunities.

National Conference on Internal Audit Next - Intelligence, Transformation and Trust on 2nd and 3rd October 2026 under the aegis of Internal Audit Standards Board of ICAI at ICAI Centre of Excellence. This National Conference on Internal Audit was an eyeopener in facilitating professionals to work as Internal Auditors that would help to provide an independent and an objective insight to organisations in improving their operations. The attendants got an overview in evaluating risks and the necessary control and governance required that would help organisations in achieving their goals, protecting their values and building an environment of trust.

The speakers were CA Burzin Dubash, Past President, IIA, India, CA Mohit Kumar Dhand, Founder, CashnTech, CA Sunil Rao Addanki, MD, Protiviti, India, CA Dayaniwas Sharma, Council Member, ICAI, CA Rishi Khator, Shri Saurav Mitra, Director (Finance) & CFO - Petronet LNG, CA Alok Garg, Controllership & Internal Audit, IndiGo Airlines, CA (Dr) Durgesh Pandey, CA C S Khaitan, CA Nikhil Kenjale, CA Uday Kulkarni, CA Sanjay Banka, CFO - Senco Gold & Diamonds, CA Anand Chatrath, Shri R V N Vishweshwar, Director ( Finance), Hindustan Copper Limited, CA Sidheshwar Bhalla, CA Dinesh Bahl, CA Niranjan Vijay Joshi, CA Vivek Newatia, CA Deepti Rathore, CA Sanjib Sanghi, CA Subhash Chandra Saraf, Past Chairman, EIRC, CA Sunil Singhi, CA Sanjoy K Gupta, CA Vikash Surana, CA Arijit Roy, CA Vikash Parakh, CA Bhupinder Bhutiya, CA Sanjay Poddar, CA Sundeep Sharma, CA Amitesh Agarwal, CA Jeet Agarwal, CA Pratik Kumar Patawari Jain, CA Biman Dutta, CA Ranjan Sahoo, CA Manish Kumar Agarwal, CA Narendra Kumar Pradhan, CA Ankit Jallan, CA Venugopal G.

Expert’s Meet was organised by Internal Audit Standards Board on 2nd October 2026 at ICAI Centre of Excellence, Kolkata.

Outreach Programme for Members and Students on Review of Scheme of Education and Training for CA Course on 3rd October 2026 under the aegis of Committee for Review of Education and Training, ICAI at ICAI Centre of Excellence.

Seminar on AI on 6th October 2026 at R Singhi Hall, ICAI Bhawan. The Seminar dealt with the various aspects of AI’s contribution in ROC matters in regard to Companies, Filing of Income Tax Return, how to make GST Appeals, GSTR 9 and other Agentic Tools. The speakers were CA Moushikha Sarkar, CA Ankit Jallan, CA Rajendra Rampuria, CA Siddhant Jajodia and CA Shyam Agarwal.

Seminar on GST and related Litigations on 9th October 2026 at R Singhi Hall, ICAI Bhawan. The speakers were CA Narayan Kumar Agarwal, CA Surabhi Bohra, CA (Adv.) Ankit Kanodia, CA (Adv.) Shreya Mundhra, CA Swapnil Jain.

Investor Awareness Programme on 10th October 2026 on the occasion of World Investor Week. The speakers were CA Sandip Dey and Shri Pradip Bhowmick, GM, SEBI.

Dandiya Celebration a vibrant traditional dance as part of Navratri in honour of Goddess Durga welcoming her on Earth. The programme was held on 16th October 2026 at Moli Banquet, Newtown, Kolkata.

Convocation of Intellectuals on the theme “Work is Worship” on 25th October 2026 at Club House, Vivek Vihar, Howrah. This unique programme was an integration of Professional Ethics and Basic Tenets of Religion.

Workshop on AI in Stock Market under the aegis of Financial Markets & Investors’ Awareness Committee of ICAI on 31st October 2026 at ICAI Centre of Excellence. The speakers were CA Rajendra Rampuria, CA Lalit Mundhra, CA Suresh Modi and CA Ankit Agarwal.

Forthcoming Programmes

Seminar on Claude and HTML on 13th November 2026 from 3pm to 8pm at ICAI Computer Centre, ICAI Bhawan, Russel Street, Kolkata. The speakers are CA Chirag Bajaj and CA Atanu Sengupta.

Professional Business Opportunities in Australia on 14th November 2026 from 5pm to 8pm at R Singhi Hall, ICAI Bhawan, Russell Street, Kolkata. The Speaker is CA Yateender Kumar Gupta.

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Careothon 9.0 – 2026 on 13th December 2026 at 4.00 AM at Salt Lake, Kolkata.

51st Regional Conference on 19th and 20th December 2026 at Biswa Bangla Exhibition Centre, Kolkata.

Concluding Remarks

I also wish to acknowledge the dedication of our members who continue to serve businesses, public institutions and society with diligence, particularly during demanding compliance periods. Their commitment to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and competence is a source of strength for the entire Chartered Accountancy fraternity.

I extend my sincere appreciation to my Regional Council Members, Branch Chairpersons and office-bearers, committee members, speakers, faculty members and the EIRC Secretariat for their continued efforts in advancing professional development and strengthening our community. I am equally grateful to our student community for its enthusiasm, perseverance and commitment to learning.

As we celebrate the triumph of good over evil and welcome the promise of new beginnings, let us renew our commitment to the values that define our profession — integrity, independence, excellence and trust. May the festive season bring happiness and prosperity to every member and their family, while inspiring us to pursue our professional responsibilities with renewed energy and purpose.

Let us celebrate with joy, serve with integrity, learn with curiosity and lead with confidence. Together, let us uphold the spirit of “NOW” and build a stronger, future-ready Chartered Accountancy profession.

With warm regards,

CA Mayur Agrawal,

Chairman,

Eastern India Regional Council

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

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