The Mangalore branch of Southern India Regional Council of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is organizing a national conference on direct taxes and allied laws at St Aloysius PU College here on Friday. Home minister V S Acharya will inaugurate the two-day event that is being held under aegis of direct taxes committee of ICAI. G Ramaswamy, vice-president, ICAI will preside over the function.

S Srinivas Kamath, chairman of Mangalore branch, told reporters here on Tuesday that resource persons would speak on topics of importance such as direct taxes code, goods and services tax. There will also be a special session on the motto of ICAI where the head of Ramakrishna Math will deliver a talk to the delegates. More than 500 delegates, and students undergoing CA training will participate in the conference.

T N Manoharan, former president of ICAI, the only chartered accountancy professional in the country to be presented the coveted Padma Shri award will be felicitated at the inaugural function. P Jayaram Bhat, chief executive officer of Karnataka Bank Ltd, Rajiv Banga, MD, MSEZ Ltd, and Ramamurthy, general manager, Corporation Bank will the guests of honour at the valedictory function to be held on Saturday.

Bupathy, former president of ICAI will interact with CA students and their parents on Friday at 6 pm at the Mangalore branch of ICAI. This, Murali Mohan, secretary said is an attempt on part of the branch to instil a sense of confidence among the students and parents about the CA course, which many feel is tough one to pass. This is because CA course involves self-study with hands on training unlike traditional classroom teaching.