CA Foundation

The CA Foundation is the entry-level examination for the Chartered Accountancy course in India. Under the ICAI New Scheme of Education and Training, the structure and frequency have been updated to provide more flexibility to students.

1. Eligibility & Registration

• Eligibility: You can register after passing Class 10, but you are only eligible to sit for the exam after appearing in or passing the Class 12 examination.

• Thrice-a-Year Cycle: Exams are now held three times a year: January, May/June, and September.

• The 4-Month Rule: You must register with the Board of Studies (BoS) at least 4 months before the first day of the exam month.

For Exam Month Registration Deadline

September 2026 May 1, 2026

January 2027 September 1, 2026

May/June 2027 January 1, 2027

2. Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

The exam consists of four papers, each carrying 100 marks (Total: 400 marks).

Paper Subject Type Duration Negative Marking

Paper 1 Accounting Subjective 3 Hours No

Paper 2 Business Laws Subjective 3 Hours No

Paper 3 Quantitative Aptitude* Objective 2 Hours Yes (0.25)

Paper 4 Business Economics Objective 2 Hours Yes (0.25)

*Quantitative Aptitude includes: Business Mathematics (40 marks), Logical Reasoning (20 marks), and Statistics (40 marks).

3. Passing Criteria

To qualify for the CA Intermediate level, you must fulfill both conditions:

1. Individual Paper: Secure a minimum of 40% marks in every paper (40/100).

2. Aggregate: Secure a minimum of 50% marks in total across all four papers (200/400).

4. Significant Syllabus Updates

Under the New Scheme, the syllabus has been streamlined:

• Business Laws: The "Business Correspondence and Reporting" (English) section has been removed; Paper 2 is now 100% Business Laws.

• Business Economics: The "Business and Commercial Knowledge" (BCK) section has been removed; Paper 4 is now fully focused on Economics.

• Accounting: Updated to include modern accounting standards and concepts relevant to current global practices.

5. Fees & Validity

• Registration Fee: Approximately ₹9,000 for Indian students (paid via the Self Service Portal - SSP).

• Validity: Your Foundation registration is valid for 4 years. If you do not pass within this period, you must revalidate your registration with a nominal fee.