The Hindu Business Line : FAQs off the CAs

AT THE reception desk of big hotels, a frequently-asked question would be to seek directions for the `rest-room' in so many words. There would also be, `hello, where can I make a local call?' or `where is the ballroom?' as close runners in the FAQs. If there were a fresh CA eager to do money-changing at the counter, or a marketing MBA ready to impress a prospective guest with the best tariff, such FAQs would be thoroughly demotivating.

Yet, that is what happens at seminars too where erudite speakers address professional CAs on tax policy for a full 90 minutes, only to be confronted at the end with queries that ask if what is disallowed under Section such-and-such, read with sub-section this-and-that, can be claimed under notification number %$#@ dated so-and-so.

Or whether 123 ITR 456 still holds good, in the light of 111 Taxman 222. You cannot expect pigmies to play on the same basketball court as Jordan did, as much as you cannot fill a tumbler with water when a Metro tanker opens its valves in full force. And you cannot expect those busy with trees to see the big picture. If you can tell a person from the company he keeps, you should be able to tell a profession from the questions its members ask.

A clear evidence of this is visible in the Web site of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), where there is an announcement about a new "Post Graduate Diploma Course on Insurance and Risk Management".

The Committee on Insurance of the ICAI has come out with the post-qualification DIRM, after a due process of getting formal approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and the Government of India. The course "focuses on instilling insurance industry-specific professional knowledge among the members", says the site, and "for other details of the DIRM course, click FAQs". And that is where entertainment begins.

The first question is not about the rationale of the course, or about its contents, but a simple "where can we get a copy of the prospectus from?" "The members can request the chairmen of their respective branches to indent for the required number of copies of the prospectus from the concerned regional offices." Okay, what is the price of the prospectus? Rs 150 (Rupees One hundred fifty only) and "the price includes the cost of application form, which is available within the prospectus". There is no help, however, on the suggested denomination of notes.

More questions: Where to submit the form, well, it can be submitted by hand/registered post/courier. How will we come to know about our registration, that is, who will tell us that we have been registered? "Registered candidates shall receive a communication from the office of the Committee on Insurance of the Institute signifying their registration for the Course and stating the procedures to be followed by them," and the FAQ does not say whether the communication will come by e-mail or through a pigeon.

Do we get any reference/study material after registration? No, you will get a list of recommended books and "additional reference material, if any, shall be recommended from time to time".

The Committee is also contemplating to come out with the supplementary study material "soon", but do not ask `how soon' because it is not in the FAQ.

Also, do not ask how professional opportunities would increase after passing DIRM.

hindubusinessline@hotmail.com

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