The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has officially notified the schedule for the Chartered Accountants Foundation, Intermediate and Final Examinations to be conducted during September and November 2026.
According to the notification, examinations will be conducted across a large network of centres throughout India and at overseas centres in Bahrain, Dubai (UAE), and Kathmandu (Nepal), subject to a sufficient number of candidates opting for those locations.
CA Intermediate Examination Schedule
The Intermediate Course Examination will be conducted as follows:
| Group | Examination Dates |
| Group I | 1, 3 and 6 September 2026 |
| Group II | 8, 10 and 12 September 2026 |
CA Foundation Examination Schedule
| Examination | Dates |
| Foundation Course | 2, 5, 7 and 9 September 2026 |
CA Final Examination Schedule
| Group | Examination Dates |
| Group I | 2, 4 and 6 November 2026 |
| Group II | 9, 11 and 13 November 2026 |
Members’ Examinations
International Taxation – Assessment Test (INTT-AT)
| Examination | Dates |
| INTT-AT | 11 and 13 November 2026 |
Insurance and Risk Management (IRM) Technical Examination
| Module | Dates |
| Modules I to IV | 6, 9, 11 and 13 November 2026 |
ICAI has clarified that the examination schedule will remain unchanged even if any examination day is declared a public holiday by the Central Government, State Government, or local authorities.
Examination Timings
The Institute has prescribed different durations for certain papers. Foundation Papers 3 and 4 will be of two hours duration, while Final Paper 6 and all INTT-AT papers will be of four hours duration. Other papers will continue to be three-hour examinations.
| Examination | Paper(s) | Exam Timings (IST) | Duration |
| Foundation | Paper 1 & 2 | 2 PM to 5 PM | 3 Hours |
| Foundation | Paper 3 & 4* | 2 PM to 4 PM | 2 Hours |
| Intermediate | All Papers | 2 PM to 5 PM | 3 Hours |
| Final | Paper 1 to 5 | 2 PM to 5 PM | 3 Hours |
| Final | Paper 6 | 2 PM to 6 PM | 4 Hours |
| INTT–AT | All Papers* | 2 PM to 6 PM | 4 Hours |
| IRM Technical Examination | All Papers* | 2 PM to 5 PM | 3 Hours |
* No advance reading time will be provided for Foundation Papers 3 and 4 and all Post Qualification Course examinations. All other examinations will have a 15-minute advance reading period from 1:45 PM to 2:00 PM (IST).
Extensive Examination Centre Network
ICAI has designated examination centres across almost all States and Union Territories. Major cities include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Indore, Kochi, Srinagar, and several others. Rajasthan alone will host examinations in 24 cities, while Maharashtra will have 37 centres and Tamil Nadu 28 centres.
Overseas Examination Centres
For Foundation, Intermediate and Final examinations, candidates may also opt for:
| Overseas Centres |
| Bahrain |
| Dubai (UAE) |
| Kathmandu (Nepal) |
The Institute has prescribed separate commencement timings aligned with local time zones for these overseas centres.
Online Examination Forms
ICAI has mandated online submission of examination forms through the Self Service Portal (SSP).
Important Dates
| Details | Dates |
| Commencement of online examination application forms | 6 July 2026 (Monday) |
| Last date without late fee | 19 July 2026 (Sunday) |
| Last date with late fee | 22 July 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Correction window for examination city/medium | 23 July 2026 to 25 July 2026 |
Candidates must submit applications through the SSP portal and pay examination fees online. Members appearing for INTT-AT and IRM examinations are required to apply through the dedicated PQC examination portal.
Examination Fees
Intermediate Course Examination
| Category | Fee |
| For Indian Centres | |
| Single Group / Unit (All except 2) | ₹ 1500/- |
| Both Groups / Unit 2 | ₹ 2700/- |
| For Overseas Centres (excluding Kathmandu) | |
| Single Group / Unit (All except 2) | US$ 325 |
| Both Groups / Unit 2 | US$ 500 |
| For Kathmandu (Nepal) Centre | |
| Single Group / Unit (All except 2) | ₹ 2200/- |
| Both Groups / Unit 2 | ₹ 3400/- |
Final Course Examination
| Category | Fee |
| For Indian Centres | |
| Single Group | ₹ 1800/- |
| Both Groups | ₹ 3300/- |
| For Overseas Centres (excluding Kathmandu) | |
| Single Group | US$ 325 |
| Both Groups | US$ 550 |
| For Kathmandu (Nepal) Centre | |
| Single Group | ₹ 2200/- |
| Both Groups | ₹ 4000/- |
Foundation Course Examination
| Category | Fee |
| For Indian Centres | ₹ 1500/- |
| For Overseas Centres (excluding Kathmandu) | US$ 325 |
| For Kathmandu (Nepal) Centre | ₹ 2200/- |
Post Qualification Course Examinations
| Examination | Fee |
| International Taxation – Assessment Test (INTT-AT) | ₹ 2000/- |
| Insurance & Risk Management (IRM) Technical Examination | ₹ 2000/- |
A late fee of ₹600 for Indian and Kathmandu centres and US$10 for overseas centres will apply for applications submitted after the regular deadline.
Option to Answer Papers in Hindi
ICAI has reiterated that candidates appearing in Foundation, Intermediate and Final examinations may choose either English or Hindi as the medium for answering question papers. However, the medium for Post Qualification Course examinations, including INTT-AT and IRM Technical Examination, will remain English only.
Conclusion
The September–November 2026 examination cycle is expected to witness participation from thousands of CA aspirants across India and abroad. With the notification now officially issued, candidates should begin preparing for the application process, keep track of the July deadlines, and verify their examination city and medium preferences during the correction window. ICAI has advised all candidates to regularly monitor its official website for further announcements and examination-related updates.
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