The ICAI today took a landmark step by starting a three months residential course as part of its CA education and training scheme to impart focused training in the soft skills to the students of Chartered Accountancy. CA. Ved Jain, President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India today inaugurated the programme of the first batch consisting of 50 students. The programme will help in developing General Management, Personality Development and Communication Skills that would enable the Chartered Accountancy students to occupy higher general management positions and even aspire to become the head of big business corporates. The intensive residential programme is being organized at National Institute of Financial Management, the training wing of the Government of India for senior civil services officers and other government officials in finance and allied fields.
 
In his inaugural address President, ICAI shared his vision and dream for the CA students and the importance for them to acquire multifarious professional skills in addition to knowledge in conventional areas. Mr. Ved Jain stated that this Indian accountancy profession has reached that stage where we can expect a phenomenal growth. The last decade belonged to the IT professionals who brought laurels to Indian intellect as well as international recognition. The next decade should now belong to the Indian Accountants. This type of training and residential programme will help in expediting this process. Mr. Jain further stated that best of faculty from top corporates, best management institutes and IAS Academy, Mussorie have been invited to address and interact with the students in this programme. These will be regular programmes and students joining this programme will be greatly benefited. Presently this programme is optional for the students but later on as the infrastructure gets developed will be made mandatory for all. The president also thanked the NIFM for their contribution in making his dream into a reality. He said that National Institute of Financial Management with their orientation towards training of civil servants and government officials and expertise in financial area were best suited for imparting such training to the CA students. The Director of National Institute of Financial Management Mr. G P Gupta in his address expressed his extreme pleasure for associating with the ICAI. Besides the direct benefit he highlighted the incremental benefits of the course. He highlighted that the programme will also help in development in team spirit and match spirit amongst the students.
 
CA. Jaydeep Narendra Shah, Chairman, Board of Studies, ICAI also addressed the students. He spoke that the curriculum of ICAI is broad based. He brought out that the programme of a reasonable period is required for the CA students for honing different skills of CA students. Dr Ashok Haldia, Secretary, ICAI in his address assured that the students will be extremely benefitted by the programme. The best of the faculty of national and international fame will provide enough avenues for the students to learn with modern perspective. Dr A M Sherry, Associate Professor, NIFM introduced his Institute to the august gathering and shared its vision and structure besides thanking the dignitaries and others present.