Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the 78th Chartered Accountants Day and Foundation Day celebrations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He characterized Chartered Accountants as 'Ambassadors of Trust' who occupy a special position in India's journey toward becoming a developed nation, emphasizing their role at the center of economic and institutional development by ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.
The Vice-President appreciated the profession's contribution to India's economic growth and specifically lauded ICAI for maintaining rigorous examination standards, urging the Institute never to dilute these standards as they are 'safeguarding the system.' He noted India's emergence as the world's fourth-largest economy with potential to become third-largest, but stressed that the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 is founded on transparent governance, trusted institutions, inclusive opportunities, and prosperity for every citizen. Radhakrishnan emphasized that 'economic growth without ethics can never truly serve society' and quoted Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar that wealth acquired through righteous means alone brings lasting happiness.
He acknowledged the profession's significant role in implementing landmark national reforms including GST, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Direct Benefit Transfer initiatives, and taxation system reforms, noting that their expertise has strengthened transparency, improved compliance, and enhanced investor confidence. The Vice-President reminded professionals and students that every audit, balance sheet certification, and institutional advice carries far-reaching consequences for businesses, governments, and society, urging them to uphold the highest standards of integrity throughout their careers.
Radhakrishnan suggested greater involvement for Chartered Accountants in supporting local enterprises through the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, encouraging ICAI's district-level associations to develop practical knowledge of identified products to guide producers in reducing costs without compromising quality, thereby enhancing competitiveness and strengthening local economies. During the event, he launched two portals: the Peer Review Board (PRB) Web Portal of ICAI and the ICAI Jan Utsav Portal developed in collaboration with MyGov, Government of India, to commemorate the 78th Chartered Accountants Day and promote greater public participation. The event was attended by ICAI President Shri Prasanna Kumar D., Vice-President Shri Mangesh P. Kinare, members of the Central Council, past Presidents, distinguished guests, Chartered Accountants, and students from across the country.