ICAI Announces Major Change: CA Final Exams to Be Held Twice a Year from May 2026
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced an important change in the frequency of the CA Final examinations. According to the official notification issued on 6 April 2026, the CA Final exams will now be conducted twice a year instead of three times.
This decision has been taken by the Council of ICAI after considering feedback received from various stakeholders, including students, professionals, and members of the institute.
Previous CA Final Exam Frequency
Until now, the CA Final examinations were conducted three times every year in the following months:
| Exam Cycle | Month |
|---|---|
| First Attempt | January |
| Second Attempt | May |
| Third Attempt | September |
This schedule allowed students to attempt the final level exam multiple times in a year.
New CA Final Exam Schedule (Effective May 2026)
From the May 2026 examination cycle onwards, ICAI has decided to change the exam frequency.
| Exam Cycle | Month |
|---|---|
| First Attempt | May |
| Second Attempt | November |
This means the January and September exam cycles will no longer be conducted for the CA Final level.
Why ICAI Made This Change
The decision was taken after reviewing feedback from stakeholders, which suggested that conducting the CA Final exam twice a year would help improve:
- Examination planning and administration
- Quality of assessment and evaluation
- Overall exam management for the institute
The change aims to streamline the examination process while maintaining the high standards of the CA qualification.
What This Means for CA Final Students
Students preparing for the CA Final examination should keep the following points in mind:
- CA Final exams will now be held only in May and November.
- The change applies starting from the May 2026 examination cycle.
- Students who were planning attempts in January or September will need to adjust their preparation strategy accordingly.
Official Announcement Details
The notification was issued by:
CA Anand Kumar Chaturvedi
Joint Secretary (Examinations)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Date of Announcement: 6 April 2026
Students can refer to the official ICAI announcement here:
Final Advice for CA Aspirants
With this change in the examination frequency, students should plan their preparation schedules carefully. Since there will now be only two attempts per year, effective planning and consistent preparation will become even more important.
For the latest updates, candidates should regularly visit the official ICAI website – www.icai.org.
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