CA Exam 2026, Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Result
Mridula Sharma26 Sept, 2025
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CA Exam 2026: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the important dates for the January session exams. The CA Foundation January 2026 Exam Dates are set for January 18, 20, 22, and 24 of 2026, while the CA Intermediate January 2026 Exam Schedule for January 6, 8, and 10th, 2026, for Group I, and January 12, 15, and 17th, 2026, for Group II. Additionally, the CA Final January 2026 Exam Dates are January 5, 7, and 9 for Group I and January 11, 13, and 16 for Group II in 2026. .
Candidates must note that CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final will be held in several Indian cities and 9 overseas cities.
CA Exam 2026
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) holds the CA Final, Intermediate, and Foundation exams thrice a year. CA Foundation is the starting point and can be pursued right after finishing Class 12. After passing the CA Foundation, you can move on to the Intermediate level, and from there, graduates can aim for the prestigious CA Final qualification. CA Final is recognised as a postgraduate-level certification and holds approval from the University Grant Commission (UGC).CA Exam 2026 Overview
The table below gives an overview of the ICAI CA Exam January 2026.
| CA Exam 2026 Overview | |
| Name of course | Chartered Accountancy |
| Levels |
Three Level 1 - CA Foundation Level 2 - CA Intermediate Level 3 - CA Final |
| Exam type | National level exams |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Frequency of exams | Thrice a Year |
| Registration window | Open throughout the year |
CA Exam Dates 2026
Check all the important dates regarding the CA Exam Dates January 2026 session below:
| CA Exam Dates 2026 for January Session | |
| Event | Dates |
| Start of online exam application form submission | |
| Last date to submit the exam form (without late fee) | |
| Last date to submit the exam form (with late fee of ₹600 / US $10) | |
| Correction window for exam city/medium (for already filled forms) | |
| CA Foundation Exam Date | 18th, 20th, 22nd & 24th January 2026 |
| CA Inter Exam Date | Group 1: 6th, 8th & 10th January 2026 |
| Group 2: 12th, 15th & 17th January 2026 | |
| CA Final Exam Date | Group 1: 5th, 7th & 9th January 2026 |
| Group 2: 11th, 13th & 16th January 2026 | |
| CA Result Announcement | To be Updated |
CA Eligibility Criteria 2026
The ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) sets specific requirements for different stages of the CA program. CA Foundation is the first step, CA Inter is the second, and CA Final is the third and final stage. Now, let's take a look at the eligibility criteria for each level of the CA program.CA Foundation Eligibility Criteria 2026
To be eligible for the CA Foundation exam, you need to have finished Class 12 or an equivalent qualification with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised school or institution. Even if you're currently in Class 12, you can still take the CA Foundation exam. Additionally, ICAI provides exemptions for individuals with specific qualifications like a bachelor's or postgraduate degree. If you have one of these qualifications, you can get direct admission to the CA Intermediate program.Check: CA Foundation Eligibility Criteria 2026
CA Intermediate Eligibility Criteria 2026
If you've finished your CA Foundation, you can sign up for CA Intermediate. To get into CA Intermediate directly, you need to have a bachelor's degree in a commerce-related field with a minimum of 55% marks. If your degree is in something other than commerce, you'll need at least 60% marks.Check: CA Intermediate Eligibility Criteria 2026
CA Final Eligibility Criteria 2026
Eligibility for the CA Final exam is open to individuals who have successfully cleared the CA Intermediate examination or the Professional Education Examination – II/PCC/IPCC. Additionally, they should have finished, or be on track to finish, a minimum of 3 years of article training by the form submission date.
For PE-II stream students and those converted to IPCC, they need to be in the last twelve months of articled training, including any excess leave, and be set to complete 3 years by October 31 of the examination year. PCC stream students must be in the last six months of articled training, with excess leave considered, and expected to complete 3½ years by April 30 of the examination year.
Intermediate IPCC students should be in the final six months of training, including any excess leave, and on track to complete 3 years by August 31 of the examination year. For those converted from PE-II to PCC and subsequently to IPCC, they must be in the last twelve months of training, including excess leave if any, and due to complete 3½ years of articles by October 31 of the examination year. It's important to note that candidates who have experienced termination are advised to re-register for the remaining training period.
Check: CA Final Eligibility Criteria 2026
CA Exam Registration 2026
ICAI will conduct the CA Final, Intermediate, and Foundation course exams three times a year—in May/June, September, and January.
To be eligible for the Foundation course exam, students must be registered with the Institute's Board of Studies for at least four months by the first day of the exam month and meet other requirements specified in Regulation 25F.
For the Intermediate course exam, students must be registered with the Board of Studies and have completed at least eight months of study by the first day of the exam month, along with meeting other conditions in Regulation 28G. For registration, visit the Self-Service Portal at https://eservices.icai.org/.
CA Exam Form 2026
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will open the CA Final Exam Form, CA Foundation Exam Form, and CA Intermediate Exam Form for January 2026. Candidates who have registered for the CA can submit their exam forms online at icai.org. Applicants can fill out the CA exam form on the official website eservices.icai.org using their login credentials.
During the application process, candidates need to provide information about their chosen program and select their preferred exam city or centre. The ICAI CA exams are held in various locations across the country and in some international centres, too. Keep in mind that the examination fees may differ depending on the location of your chosen exam centre. Now, let's take a look at the registration fees for the CA exam form for each level:
| CA Exam Form Registration Fee | ||||||
| CA levels | India exam centres | Overseas exam centres | Overseas exam centre - Kathmandu | |||
| Foundation | Rs. 1500 | USD 325 | Rs. 2200 | |||
| Inter/Final | Single Group | Both Groups | Single Group | Both Groups | Single Group | Both Groups |
| Intermediate | Rs. 1500 | Rs. 2700 | USD 325 | USD 500 | Rs. 2200 | Rs. 3400 |
| Final | Rs. 1800 | Rs. 3300 | USD 325 | USD 550 | Rs. 2200 | Rs. 3400 |
CA Exam Pattern 2026
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released information about the CA program exams. These exams are conducted in person, not online. They consist of a combination of multiple-choice and written-answer questions. The CA Foundation level has four papers, while the Inter and Final levels each have 6 papers as per the updated syllabus by ICAI. Additionally, students need to complete articleship and practical training before they can take the exams. Here are the specific details for the CA program examinations.
| CA Exam Pattern 2026 | |||
| Particulars | CA Foundation | CA Intermediate | CA Final |
| Mode of exam | Offline | Offline | Offline |
| Duration of the question papers | Paper 1 and 2 will be for three hours. Paper 3 and 4 will be for two hours | Three hours | Three hours |
| Question Type | Paper 1 and 2 - SubjectivePaper 3 and 4 - Objective | Subjective and objective | Subjective and objective |
| Total marks | 400 (100 marks for each paper) | 600 marks | 800 Marks |
| Marking scheme | For Paper 1 and 2 (subjective) - NO negative marking. For Paper 3 and 4 (Objective) - ¼ mark will be deducted for every wrong answer | No negative marking | No negative marking |
| Medium of exam | English/Hindi except for Paper 2 (section b, which will be in English only) | English/Hindi | English/Hindi |
CA Exam Syllabus 2026
The CA syllabus varies as you progress through each level. The CA Foundation syllabus covers fundamental subjects, while the Intermediate and Final programs concentrate on accounting, finance, taxation, corporate laws, cost management, and more. Here, you can find the syllabus for all three CA program levels.CA Foundation Syllabus 2026
The syllabus for the CA Foundation exam is given in the table below:
| CA Foundation Syllabus 2026 | |
| Papers | Details |
| Paper-1: | Principles and Practice of Accounting |
| Paper-2: | Business Laws and Business Correspondence, and Reporting |
| Paper-3: | Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning and Statistics |
| Paper-4: | Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge |
Check: CA Foundation Syllabus 2026
CA Intermediate Syllabus 2026
The syllabus for the CA Intermediate exam is given in the table below:
| CA Intermediate Syllabus 2026 | ||
| Groups | Papers | Paper Name |
| Group 1 | Paper-1 | Advanced Accounting |
| Paper-2 | Corporate and Other Laws | |
| Paper-3 | Taxation | |
| Group 2 | Paper-4 | Cost and Management Accounting |
| Paper-5 | Auditing and Ethics | |
| Paper-6 | Financial Management & Strategic Management | |
Check: CA Intermediate Syllabus 2026
CA Final Syllabus 2026
The syllabus for the CA Final exam is given in the table below:
| CA Final Syllabus 2026 | ||
| Groups | Papers | Details |
| Group 1 | Paper-1 | Financial Reporting |
| Paper-2 | Advanced Financial Management | |
| Paper-3 | Advanced Auditing, Assurance, and Professional Ethics | |
| Group 2 | Paper-4 | Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation |
| Paper-5 | Indirect Tax Laws | |
| Paper-6 | Integrated Business Solutions | |
Check: CA Final Syllabus 2026
CA Admit Card 2026
The ICAI exam admit card is typically available about fifteen days before the exam. You can get it from the institute's e-services portal. This card is essential for taking the CA exam because it has your name, roll number, exam centre info, address, and exam schedule. To get your admit card, log in to the ICAI e-services portal and enter your registration number and date of birth.CA Exam Result 2026
The institute typically releases the results of the CA exams about 45 days after the exams have ended. You can find these results online at icai.nic.in. If you're a CA Foundation or Intermediate candidate, you'll receive your results in electronic format (e-mark sheets). However, CA Final candidates will receive physical mark sheets in addition to e-mark sheets. These results will show the marks you've earned in each subject, your qualification status, and other important details. When CA Final candidates pass, they become chartered accountants, while those who clear the remaining two levels advance to the next stage in their journey.CA Passing Criteria 2026
The ICAI has specific requirements for passing each level of the CA program. To successfully pass, candidates need to meet two key criteria:- Attain a minimum of 40% in each paper.
- Achieve a total of at least 50% aggregate marks.
ICAI exams are widely known for their high level of difficulty in the field of accountancy. The pass rates for these exams are typically quite low.
CA Exam 2026 FAQs
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