• Updated on 30 May, 2026 by Ankita Banerjee
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ICAI CA Foundation Latest news and articles
CA Foundation 2026 May session exams have ended, and candidates who appeared for the exam can expect their results in the first week of July. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will announce the CA Foundation May exam result date on its official website, icai.org. Meanwhile, ICAI has also released the exam dates for the CA Foundation September 2026 session. The application form for the September session will open from July 6 to 19. The registration window with a late fee will be open between July 20 and 22, 2026. ICAI CA Foundation September exam dates are September 2, 5, 7 and 9, 2026.
- What is the CA Foundation 2026 Exam?
- CA Foundation 2026: Highlights
- CA Foundation 2026: Exam Dates
- CA Foundation 2026: Eligibility Criteria
- CA Foundation 2026: Application Process
- CA Foundation 2026: Admit Card
- CA Foundation 2026: Syllabus
- CA Foundation 2026: Exam Pattern
- CA Foundation 2026: Result
- CA Foundation 2026: Cutoff
- CA Foundation 2026 FAQs
What is the CA Foundation 2026 Exam?
The Chartered Accountant (CA) Foundation exam is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The test is administered on a national level. The institute conducts the examination three times every year. Students who have passed their class 10th examination from a recognised Board can also appear for the examination. The ICAI also conducts the CA examination in two levels, called the Intermediate and Final tests. The institute offers the CA degree, which is equivalent to a postgraduate degree. Apart from different Indian cities, the exam is also conducted in overseas centres such as Bhutan, Kathmandu, Dubai, etc.
CA Foundation 2026: Highlights
ICAI CA Foundation 2026 is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for students aspiring to pursue Chartered Accountancy. The exam is held multiple times a year in offline mode across various centres in India and abroad. Candidates must complete registration and the application within the given deadlines to appear for the exam. The course includes subjects like Accounting, Law, Mathematics, and Economics, and students need to secure the minimum passing criteria set by ICAI to qualify for the next level. Candidates can check the highlights mentioned below to understand the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 exam insights:
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Chartered Accountant Foundation Exam (ICAI CA) |
| Conducting Body | The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Three Times a Year |
| Number of Students Appeared in the Last Session | 91,900 |
| Number of Candidates Qualified in the Last Session | 13,749 (14.96%) |
| Application Fees |
Indian Centers: INR 1500
Bhutan and Kathmandu Centres: INR 2200 |
| Exam Duration | 5 Hours |
| Paper-wise Time Duration |
|
| Medium of Exam | Bilingual (English and Hindi) |
| Number of Questions | 400 |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marking Scheme |
|
| Official Website | icai.org |
| Helpdesk | Telephone Number: 3894815Email ID: foundation_examhelpline@icai.in |
CA Foundation 2026: Exam Dates
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) released the September session 2026 exam dates. Students are advised to check the following table for all the event-wise exam dates.
| Result | TBA | TBA |
CA Foundation 2026: Eligibility Criteria
ICAI CA Foundation 2026 eligibility criteria, set by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, require a completed class 10+2 from a recognised Board, a Diploma degree, and a bachelor’s degree. There is no age limit to appear for this exam. All Indian, Bhutanese, Kathmandu, and other overseas citizens are allowed to sit for the examination. The overseas cities eligible are Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, and Muscat. Check out the detailed CA Foundation Eligibility Criteria 2026 as tabulated below:
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | Institute of Chartered Accountants of India |
| Educational Qualification | Must have passed or appeared in Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognised board |
| Registration Eligibility | Students can register after passing Class 10 |
| Exam Eligibility | Eligible to appear only after clearing Class 12 |
| Study Period Requirement | Must complete the prescribed study period before the exam |
| Application Requirement | Must fill and submit the application form within the given deadline |
CA Foundation 2026: Application Process
The application process for the ICAI CA Foundation exam is carried out at the website, eservices.icai.org. All the eligible students need to register first with their name, date of birth, country code, mobile number, email ID, etc. Candidates will receive their respective registration numbers and passwords for login purposes after OTP verification is completed successfully. The uploaded photograph and signature must be 20-50 KB and 10-20 KB, respectively. The fee for ICAI CA Foundation Registration is different at different centres. For Indian centres, the fee is INR 1500, and for the Bhutan and Kathmandu centres, the fee is INR 2200.
CA Foundation 2026: Admit Card
The institute releases the hall tickets two weeks before the exam commences. ICAI CA Foundation Admit Card for the May session exam will be released in May 2026 at the official website. The admit card is one of the essential documents required on exam day and also during the counselling process. Along with the same, any photo identification proof needs to be carried on the day of the exam. Students need to enter their respective registration numbers and passwords in the form of their date of birth to log in and download the hall tickets. All the aspirants can check the exam day-related instructions to be followed on their ICAI CA Foundation Admit Card. Candidates must reach the allotted exam centre 2 hours before it starts.
CA Foundation 2026: Syllabus
ICAI CA Foundation 2026 syllabus, prescribed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, includes four main subjects: Principles and Practice of Accounting, Business Laws, Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Statistics, and Business Economics & Commercial Knowledge. The syllabus focuses on building a strong base in accounting concepts, legal understanding, analytical skills, and basic economics. Students should cover all topics carefully, practice numerical questions, and revise concepts regularly to perform well in the exam. ICAI CA Foundation 2026 syllabus has also been updated by the institute and is the same as last year. The difficulty level of the ICAI CA Foundation Syllabus 2026 is easy to moderate. There will be four papers, and the syllabus for the same is as follows:
| Papers | Units |
| Principles and Practice of Accounting |
|
| Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting |
|
| Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics |
|
| Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge |
|
CA Foundation 2026: Exam Pattern
ICIA CA Foundation 2026 exam is conducted in both online and offline modes. Both multiple-choice-based and subjective questions will be asked in the examination. Aspirants must understand the ICAI CA Exam Pattern thoroughly. The highlights of the question paper pattern of the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 exam are as follows:
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode | Both Online and Offline |
| Test Duration | 5 Hours |
| Sectional Time Duration |
Paper 1 and 2: 2 Hours
Paper 3 and 4: 3 Hours |
| Type of Questions | Multiple-Choice-Based Questions, and Subjective Questions |
| Medium | Bilingual (English and Hindi) |
| Total Number of Questions | 400 |
| Section-wise Total Number of Questions |
|
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Sections |
|
| Marking Scheme |
|
| Negative Marking |
|
Students should check CA Foundation Preparation Tips to understand the best study plan, important topics, and smart ways to prepare well for the exam.
CA Foundation 2026: Result
ICAI CA Foundation 2026 results can be checked by entering the registration number and roll number. The results will include names, roll numbers, paper-wise, and total marks obtained. Students are also given the chance to verify the marks within one month of the publication of the ICAI CA Result. The previous year, the overall pass percentage of male candidates was 15.66% and 14.14% of female candidates.
CA Foundation 2026: Cutoff
Candidates must obtain 40% marks in each of the four papers to be called a pass-out student. It means students must obtain 40 out of 100 in all four papers. Apart from this, a 50% aggregate is also required to be obtained. Students obtaining higher than this will be regarded as meritorious.
Check out the detailed CA Foundation 2026 Cutoff
CA Foundation 2026 FAQs
What is the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 exam?
ICAI CA Foundation 2026 is the entry-level exam conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. It allows students to start their journey towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.
When will the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 exams be held?
The ICAI CA Foundation May 2026 exams were conducted on May 14, 16, 18, and 20, 2026. The September session exam will be conducted on September 2, 5, 7, and 9. Each paper will be held in the afternoon session.
What are the exam timings for ICAI CA Foundation 2026?
For Papers 1 and 2, the timing is 2 PM to 5 PM, while Papers 3 and 4 will be held from 2 PM to 4 PM. Candidates should reach the exam centre at least 30 minutes early.
How can I apply for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 exam?
Candidates can apply online for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 at eservices.icai.org. The registration window opens on March 3, 2026, for the May Session.
What is the last date to apply for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026?
The last date to submit the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 application form without a late fee is July 19, 2026. With a late fee of INR 600, the final date is July 22, 2026.
What is the eligibility to appear for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026?
To appear for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026, a student must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination. Registration with ICAI should also be completed on time.
Will there be a correction window for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026 exam?
Yes, ICAI will provide a correction window for the ICAI CA Foundation 2026. Candidates can edit their exam city or medium from March 20 to March 22, 2026.
What is the exam pattern for ICAI CA Foundation 2026?
ICAI CA Foundation 2026 consists of four papers. Papers 1 and 2 are subjective type, while Papers 3 and 4 are objective type with negative marking.
Will ICAI CA Foundation 2026 be conducted outside India as well?
Yes, ICAI CA Foundation 2026 will also be held in international centres like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Riyadh, Kuwait, Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Bahrain.
Is there an advance reading time in the ICAI CA Foundation 2026?
In ICAI CA Foundation 2026, Papers 1 and 2 will have a 15-minute reading time from 1:45 PM to 2 PM. Papers 3 and 4 will not have any advance reading time.

