The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has officially released the CA Exam Dates for May 2026, marking the implementation of the New Scheme that includes several changes in the subject names, paper formats, and the overall exam structure. This new format is designed to make the exams more focused and better aligned with the changing landscape of the accounting profession.
Let’s walk through the updated schedule for the CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final exams under the new scheme.
CA Foundation May 2026 Exam Dates (New Scheme)
The CA Foundation exam is the entry point for students. Under the new scheme, the syllabus has been streamlined to four core papers, removing previous segments like BCR and BCK.
CA Foundation May 2026 Exam Schedule:
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Paper 1: Accounting — May 14, 2026
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Paper 2: Business Laws — May 16, 2026
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Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude — May 18, 2026
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Paper 4: Business Economics — May 20, 2026
CA Intermediate May 2026 Exam Dates (New Scheme)
The Intermediate level has been reduced from eight papers to six papers. This change aims to provide a more focused study approach by merging related subjects and moving others to online modules.
CA Intermediate May 2026 Exam Schedule:
Group I
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Paper 1: Advanced Accounting — May 3, 2026
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Paper 2: Corporate and Other Laws — May 5, 2026
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Paper 3: Taxation — May 7, 2026
Group II
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Paper 4: Cost and Management Accounting — May 9, 2026
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Paper 5: Auditing and Ethics — May 11, 2026
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Paper 6: Financial Management and Strategic Management — May 13, 2026
CA Final May 2026 Exam Dates (New Scheme)
The CA Final exam has also been revised under the new scheme. The number of papers has been reduced to 6 papers, with Paper 6 being an integrated business solutions exam, which is open-book.
CA Final May 2026 Exam Schedule:
Group I
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Paper 1: Financial Reporting — May 2, 2026
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Paper 2: Advanced Financial Management — May 4, 2026
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Paper 3: Advanced Auditing & Professional Ethics — May 6, 2026
Group II
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Paper 4: Direct Tax Laws — May 8, 2026
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Paper 5: Indirect Tax Laws — May 10, 2026
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Paper 6: Integrated Business Solutions (Open Book Exam) — May 12, 2026
Official ICAI CA May 2026 Registration & Application Deadlines
To ensure you don't miss your chance to sit for the May 2026 exams, keep these critical dates in mind. Please note that as of today, March 17, the standard registration window has closed, and the late fee period is currently active.
Event | Important Dates |
| Exam Form Window Opened | March 3, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (No Late Fee) | March 16, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (With Late Fee of 600) | March 19, 2026 |
| Correction Window (For City/Medium Change) | March 20 – 22, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Expected around April 18, 2026 |
Key Changes in CA Final (New Scheme):
Corporate and Economic Laws as well as Strategic Cost Management have been removed and shifted to Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM), meaning they no longer form part of the written exams. The new Integrated Business Solutions (Paper 6) focuses on real-world applications of business concepts and is an open-book exam to test students' strategic decision-making skills.
Important Note:
Students must complete the Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM) for Corporate and Economic Laws and Strategic Cost Management before appearing for the CA Final exam. These modules are mandatory and should be completed prior to attempting the written exams.
Tips for Effective Exam Preparation
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Focus on ICAI’s Study Material: The best way to prepare is to stick to the official study modules provided by ICAI for each subject.
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Understand the New Syllabus: Take time to go through the newly revised syllabus to understand the changes.
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Practice with Past Papers: Solving past exam papers under timed conditions is crucial for understanding the exam pattern.
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Join Mock Tests: ICAI often conducts mock tests that simulate the actual exam environment.
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Consistent Revision: Make a daily revision schedule to reinforce your learning, especially for theory-heavy subjects.
Conclusion
The ICAI CA May 2026 exam dates and subject schedules under the new scheme have been officially released. The updated syllabus aims to align the training with modern business practices and global standards, providing students with better opportunities to succeed. It’s important to plan your study strategy accordingly, keep track of registration deadlines, and stay updated with any changes on the official ICAI website.
FAQs
The last date to apply for the ICAI CA May 2026 exams without a late fee is March 16, 2026. After this, you can still apply until March 19, 2026, with a late fee of ₹600.
Yes, you can make changes to your exam application, such as modifying your exam city or medium, during the correction window. The correction window is open from March 20 to March 22, 2026.
The CA Foundation exam for May 2026 includes four subjects: Accounting, Business Laws, Quantitative Aptitude (Mathematics, LR, and Statistics), and Business Economics. The previously existing subjects like Business Correspondence & Reporting (BCR) and Business & Commercial Knowledge (BCK) have been removed.
No, the CA Intermediate and CA Final exams have been revised under the new scheme. The number of papers in CA Intermediate has been reduced from 8 to 6, and CA Final now has 6 papers along with a new open-book exam for Integrated Business Solutions.
Yes, under the new scheme, you must complete the Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM) for Corporate and Economic Laws and Strategic Cost Management before attempting the CA Final exam. These modules are mandatory for eligibility to appear in the exams.
The ICAI CA May 2026 exam admit cards are expected to be released in mid-April 2026. Be sure to check the official ICAI website for updates.
You can stay updated with the latest exam notifications, schedules, and changes by regularly visiting the official ICAI website or by following ICAI's official social media channels for announcements.
