Greetings of the Day Esteemed Members,

As I pen this message for the month of February, it carries a deep sense of gratitude, fulfillment, and reflection. This is also the last Chairman’s Communiqué I write during my tenure at the Bengaluru Branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and I do so with immense humility and heartfelt appreciation.

My sincere and respectful gratitude to my Guru, CA S. G. Hiremath Sir, his wisdom and guidance have been my constant source of strength. I would also like to place on record my sincere gratitude for the unwavering support and guidance of the leadership of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India — especially CA Charanjot Singh Nanda Ji, Hon’ble President of ICAI; CA Prasanna Kumar D Ji, Hon’ble Vice President of ICAI; CA Revathi S Raghunathan Madam, Chairperson of ICAI SIRC; and CA Subba Rao Muppala Sir, Vice Chairman, along with all the esteemed Regional Council Members of ICAI SIRC, whose constant encouragement continues to strengthen our collective professional journey at Bengaluru Branch.

I also extend my heartfelt thanks to all Past Chairmen, Managing Committee Members of the Branch, Past Regional Council Members, Central Council Members, and our present Regional Council Members — CA Pampanna B E and CA Pramod R Hegde — for their continued encouragement and support.

My sincere appreciation to the leadership, and a special note of gratitude to Central Council Member CA Madhukar N Hiregange for his invaluable guidance. I also thank our dedicated Staff Members, the esteemed Members of the Branch, and our vibrant community of CA Students whose unwavering support has made every initiative meaningful and impactful.

This month has been particularly enriching with several landmark knowledge initiatives. We successfully conducted a 3-day Workshop on Preparedness of Chartered Accountants for GST Tribunal Practice at the Infosys Mysuru Campus, which witnessed enthusiastic participation and deep professional engagement.

The 33^rd edition of our Public Awareness Program and Union Budget Analysis was another remarkable milestone. Moderated by CA T. V. Mohandas Pai Sir and CA H. Padamchand Khincha Sir, and enriched by the insights of distinguished panelists — Advocate Sri Vaitheeshwaran, R. K. Mishra, and CA Siddharth Pai — the program witnessed record participation of more than 1,000 delegates, including Members, Students, and the general public. The overwhelming response reaffirmed the importance of knowledge sharing and public engagement by our profession.

Further, the full day program on Clause-by-Clause Discussion on Direct Taxes of Union Budget 2026, addressed by CA. Padamchand Khincha Sir and Senior Advocate CA K. K. Chaithanya Sir, was exceptionally well received, with more than 860 participants benefiting from their profound insights and clarity.

I also extend my sincere thanks to all the Office Bearers and Managing Committee Members of the Branch for their unwavering support, cooperation, and collective commitment throughout my tenure. Every milestone achieved has been a shared accomplishment.

To all CA Students who appeared for the January 2026 examinations — my heartfelt best wishes for your results. May your journey ahead be filled with success, continuous learning, and meaningful professional growth.

As I conclude this phase of service, I look forward with renewed dedication to continue serving CA students, Members, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in every possible way.

With gratitude, pride, and commitment to the profession —

Jai Hind… Jai ICAI.