The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced a significant change in the examination cycle for Chartered Accountants, stating that the CA Final Examination will be conducted twice a year starting from May 2026.
The decision was officially communicated on April 6, 2026, and marks a departure from the existing three-attempt system.
At present, CA Final examinations are held three times annually—in January, May, and September. However, after reviewing feedback from students and other stakeholders, the ICAI Council has decided to streamline the schedule. Under the revised structure, the exams will now be conducted only in May and November, effectively discontinuing the January and September attempts.
The Institute explained that the move aims to address concerns raised by candidates regarding limited preparation time between consecutive attempts and the pressure of frequent exam cycles. By reducing the number of attempts to two per year, ICAI intends to provide students with more time for preparation, while also improving the quality of examination administration and evaluation.
The new system will come into effect from the May 2026 examination onwards. This means that there will be no September 2026 attempt, and students will transition directly to the November session after the May exams. The announcement was issued under the authority of Anand Kumar Chaturvedi, Joint Secretary (Examinations).
The change is expected to have both positive and challenging implications for students. On one hand, candidates will benefit from extended preparation time and a more structured exam cycle. On the other hand, the reduction in the number of attempts may increase pressure on students to clear the exam within fewer opportunities each year.
Overall, the reform reflects ICAI’s effort to enhance the efficiency and global alignment of its examination system, while maintaining the high standards associated with the Chartered Accountancy qualification in India.
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