CMA's 600th Monday Musing dwells on Union Budget

The Monday Musings conducted by Coimbatore Management Association (CMA) has been a very popular, regular programme. It has been conducted by CMA for years together on every Monday between 6.00pm and 7.30pm. In this programme, experts from different fields deliver talks on topical and contemporary subjects for about 45 minutes, followed by interaction with the audience. The programme used to happen at CMA Hall in Race Course and yours truly has fond memories of being a participant on many such musings more than a couple of decades ago. Post COVID lockdown, the programme has evolved into an online webinar catering to learners and students all over the world. 

The 600th Monday Musing took place today Monday, 09 February 2026 via Zoom Meetings from 06.30 PM to 07.30 PM. A total of 146 people attended the programme and interacted with the speaker. CA M Ramji, a very popular Chartered Accountant in the city was the speaker and he presented a wonderful perspective of Union Budget 2026 in his address titled "Budget Analysis 2026 - Key Highlights and Economic Directions.

Mr.Ramji, a veteran in budget analysis started with a quick survey of audience reaction to the budget. Having ascertained their mood, he clearly explained the nuances of Union Budget from an elementary point of view providing the audience with great clarity. Before his analysis of the budget, he presented a perspective of Indian Economy. With this understanding, he listed the key aspects of Union Budget and highlighted announcements that should be of importance to an industrial city like Coimbatore. His emphasis on macro economics aspects of budget like container manufacturing, national handloom programme, sports goods manufacturing, MSME Equity support, High Speed Rail Corridors, Corporate Bond Market, medical tourism hubs, orange economy, coconut farming etc provided a lot of wisdom to the audience who were rapt in attention. He pondered over changes and possible impacts related to Direct Taxation, Corporate and Alternate Taxation. He then answered a lot of questions related to the Union Budget and clarified the queries of the audience. 

Before the address, Mr.U.K.Anantha Padmanabhan presented a brief overview of Monday Musings from its origin to its evolution to 600 programmes. He mentioned that ever since it moved to online, Monday Musings consistently attracted more than 100 managers, students and researchers week after week. He wished to be there for the 1000th Monday Musing as well.