The Professional Development Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the Draft Panel for Appointment/Re-appointment of Statutory Auditors of State Co-operative Banks (StCCBs) and Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs) for the financial year 2026-27.
As per the announcement dated 4th May 2026, the draft panel has been prepared on the basis of the applicable guidelines governing appointment and re-appointment of statutory auditors for co-operative banks. ICAI clarified that the MEF Panel 2025-26 has been considered as the base panel for preparation of the draft panel for 2026-27.
The ICAI stated that applicants would be able to view their respective category classification — Category A, B, or C, as applicable — in accordance with the “Guidelines on Appointment/Re-appointment of Statutory Auditors of State Co-operative Banks and Central Co-operative Banks” dated January 15, 2024.
The draft panel has been hosted on the MEF portal at “meficai.org”. ICAI has also invited applicants to raise observations, discrepancies, or complaints relating to the panel through the designated complaint portal.
According to the announcement, applicants may submit their queries and complaints through the online grievance mechanism available at “https://app.meficai.org/complaints”. Additionally, ICAI has provided contact details of officials for assistance regarding the draft panel process.
The contact persons mentioned in the notification are:
- Ms. Priya Duggal – 92055 59866
- Mr. Manish Bhardwaj – 92055 59865
ICAI further informed that the Draft Panel will remain available up to 8th May 2026. After addressing the queries and complaints received from applicants, the final panel will be forwarded to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for consideration.
The announcement assumes significance for Chartered Accountant firms seeking empanelment as statutory auditors for State and Central Co-operative Banks, as the categorisation and final panel approval by NABARD play a crucial role in audit appointments for the upcoming financial year.
