ICAI CA exam schedule 2026 out for September-November cycle; check key dates here

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the exam schedule for the September and November 2026 cycle of CA exams. 

The schedule includes Foundation, Intermediate, Final, and post-qualification papers, along with key dates for applications and exams.

When will the exams be held?

As per the official notification, the Intermediate exams will begin first:

• Group I: September 1, 3 and 6

• Group II: September 8, 10 and 12

The Foundation exams are scheduled for September 2, 5, 7 and 9.

The Final exams will be conducted in November:

• Group I: November 2, 4 and 6

• Group II: November 9, 11 and 13

Additionally, the International Taxation - Assessment Test (INTT-AT) will be held on November 11 and 13, while the Insurance and Risk Management (IRM) Technical Examination is scheduled across November 6, 9, 11 and 13.

Exam timings and pattern

Most papers will be conducted in a three-hour slot from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (IST).

However, there are some variations in duration. Foundation Papers 3 and 4 will be conducted for two hours, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, while Final Paper 6 and the International Taxation Assessment Test (INTT-AT) will be held for four hours, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

A 15-minute reading time from 1:45 pm will be provided for most papers. This will not apply to Foundation Papers 3 and 4 and post-qualification exams.

ICAI has also made it clear that exam dates will remain unchanged, even if any of the scheduled days are later declared public holidays.

Where will the exams be held?

The exams will be conducted across multiple cities in India, covering all major states and regions.

In addition, ICAI has announced three overseas centres in Bahrain, Dubai, and Kathmandu for Foundation, Intermediate and Final exams.

The institute has also stated that it reserves the right to withdraw or change exam centres if required.

Application dates and correction window

Candidates will need to apply online through the Self Service Portal (SSP) available on eservices.icai.org.

• Application window opens: July 6, 2026

• Last date (without late fee): July 19, 2026

• Last date (with late fee): July 22, 2026

• Correction window: July 23 to July 25, 2026

During the correction window, candidates can make limited changes, including exam city or medium.

Exam fees, medium

For candidates appearing at centres in India, the examination fee for the Foundation course is Rs 1,500. Intermediate candidates are required to pay Rs 1,500 for a single group and Rs 2,700 for both groups, while for the Final course, the fee is Rs 1,800 for one group and Rs 3,300 for both groups. 

A late fee of Rs 600 will be applicable for applications submitted after the deadline. Fees can be paid online through debit or credit cards, net banking, or UPI.

Candidates appearing for Foundation, Intermediate and Final exams can choose to write papers in English or Hindi. However, post-qualification exams such as INTT-AT and IRM will be conducted only in English.

ICAI has advised candidates to complete the application process within the given timeline and regularly check the official website for updates.