CA Exam Dates 2026

By IIC Lakshya

07 Jan 2026

The CA exams in India are done through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which is one of the most reputed professional bodies in the world. The CA qualification is also ranked very high in accountancy, finance, taxation, and business advisory. ICAI is currently proposing two primary attempts in 2026, the January 2026 and the May 2026, in all three levels of the course: Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. These deadlines play an essential role in terms of scheduling the study, practice tests, rereading, articleship services, and personal work.

Candidates were required to submit their applications via the ICAI Self Service Portal (SSP) beginning November 3, 2025, to be allowed to sit the January 2026 exams. The deadline to be free of any late fee was November 16, 2025, and with a late fee amount of ₹600, the deadline was set to November 19, 2025. The correction window (which is typically available within a few days after the deadline) is used by many students to make such changes as the city or medium of the exams.

CA January 2026 Exam Dates

The January 2026 session is the first significant attempt of the year. This cycle is especially helpful for students who have finished board exams or December semester courses and want an early start in their CA journey.

Exam Schedule by Level

For CA Final preparations, you need to understand the subject division. The theory exams are divided into Group I and Group II. These groups help students plan group-wise preparation and even choose whether to attempt one or both groups in a single attempt.

CA Final Group I: January 5, 7 & 9, 2026
CA Final Group II: January 11, 13 & 16, 2026

For CA Intermediate, Group I and Group II are also scheduled in early January:

CA Intermediate Group I: January 6, 8 & 10, 2026
CA Intermediate Group II: January 12, 15 & 17, 2026

Take a quick look at this video explanation on CA Intermediate Syllabus and Paper details!

The CA Foundation level, which is the entry point for students just after Class 12, is scheduled later in the month:

CA Foundation: January 18, 20, 22 & 24, 2026

These clustered dates mean that January is a high-intensity period for CA aspirants. Students often begin serious revisions by October–November of the previous year to build enough buffer before exams begin.

Registration and Application Window

To sit for the January 2026 exams, candidates needed to apply through the ICAI Self Service Portal (SSP) starting November 3, 2025. The last date to apply without a late fee was November 16, 2025, and with a late fee of ₹600, it extended to November 19, 2025. Many students use the correction window (usually open for a few days after the deadline) to update details like exam city or medium.

Exam Timings and Structure

The CA exams are usually started in the afternoon session, and this gives all students a uniform time and which assists the students in having a clock for studying and also their daily routine. The majority of the papers will be conducted between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and a few papers (such as Final Paper 6) may go up to 6:00 PM (because of the case-based or integrated questions).

Remarkably, the ICAI does not schedule the exams on January 14, 2026, because of the significant regional festivals in India, e.g., Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magha Bihu, which is quite considerate and the cultural practices are not ignored, as well as, the number of absenteeism is reduced.

CA May 2026 Exam Dates

The May 2026 session is the most popular attempt of the year for many aspirants. This schedule allows students who appeared in the January attempt to analyze their performance, improve weaker areas, and take a second shot in May. It also aligns better with academic calendars for students transitioning from university degree programs.

Detailed Date Sheet

The Final exams in May are again split into groups:

Group I: May 2, 4 & 6, 2026
Group II: May 8, 10 & 12, 2026

Intermediate exams follow a similar pattern:

Group I: May 3, 5 & 7, 2026
Group II: May 9, 11 & 13, 2026

Foundation papers are typically scheduled right after the Intermediate and Final sets:

CA Foundation: May 14, 16, 18 & 20, 2026

This setup lets aspirants target two consecutive exams in one attempt window, which is especially useful for students who study multiple levels simultaneously or want to balance articleship with exam prep.

Application and Correction Window

The application process for the May session opens around March 3, 2026, and the last date to apply without a late fee is March 16, 2026. With a late fee, students can submit until March 19, 2026, and the correction window for exam city or medium adjustments is usually open for a few days thereafter.

Admit cards for May exams are typically released in April, giving students enough time to finalize travel plans and exam logistics well before the first paper.

Results & Follow-Up

While exact result dates vary, ICAI generally announces results within 4–6 weeks after the last exam date. For May exams, this typically means late June to early July; information aspirants watch closely because passing determines eligibility for subsequent levels or registration validity.

Why These Dates Matter for Your CA Journey?

Understanding the CA exam calendar is more than just marking dates on a calendar; it’s about strategic planning:

Study Cycles: Knowing exam dates helps students divide the syllabus into quarters, mark revision blocks, and schedule mock tests.
Articleship Balance: Articleship commitments and client deliverables often increase toward the end of financial years. Planning around the exam dates ensures balanced preparation even during busy months.
Retake Strategy: A failed attempt isn’t the end. May offers a second chance after January, and there’s also a September attempt (not detailed here but also available). Planning back-to-back attempts strengthens performance metrics.

ICAI has structured the CA exam calendar to avoid major festival clashes, especially in the January session, to reduce the stress and logistical challenges that cultural holidays might create for students studying across India’s diverse regions.

Frequently Asked Questions on CA Exam Dates 2026

Can I appear for both January and May attempts?

Yes, as long as you are eligible and have filled out the applications, you can appear in both attempts in the same year.

Is the ICAI exam timing the same across all cities?

Yes, ICAI generally conducts exams simultaneously across all centers with standardized timing, ensuring fairness and uniformity.

What happens if one of the exam dates becomes a public holiday?

ICAI typically clarifies that dates will not change even if a public holiday is notified by the Central or State governments, so students should plan accordingly.

How far in advance should I start preparing for the CA exams?

Most aspirants start serious preparation 6–9 months before their intended attempt, including revision, mock tests, and previous years’ papers. Consistent study rhythm ensures better retention and confidence.