What is the CMA India Foundation Syllabus? Complete Overview

By IIC Lakshya

01 Oct 2025

CMA INDIA

When you are preparing for the Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) India certification, you need to prepare for the entry-level exam. The foundation level integrates the fundamental knowledge of accounting, management, economics, law, and ethics.

Additionally, you will also learn the implementation of business statistics and mathematics. In this article, we will delve further into the details of the CMA Foundation syllabus, exam pattern, and how to access the official syllabus.

The First Level - CMA India Foundation

This is the first level of CMA India certification, the CMA Foundation, conducted by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI). Candidates who are preparing for the upcoming CMA exam in June 2025 must follow the syllabus. Let us delve deeper into the CMA India Foundation syllabus and the exam papers that focus on the following subjects.

Accountancy
Economics
Laws
Mathematics

The better you develop knowledge, the higher your CMA India salary will be. Below is the tabular form mentioning the names of 4 different papers at this CMA level. Furthermore, read the topics covered in sections A and B, thus giving a deeper insight into the syllabus.

Paper Name	Section A	Section B
Fundamentals of Business Laws and Communication	Business Laws - Introduction Indian Contracts Act, 1872 Sale of Goods Act, 1930 Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881	Business Communication Writing for a business audience Business communication through social media Legal aspects of business communication
Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting	Accounting fundamentals Accounting for special transactions Preparation of final accounts	Fundamentals of Cost Accounting
Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics	Arithmetic Algebra Calculus - Application in Business	Statistical representation of data Measures of central tendency and dispersion Correlation and regression Probability Index numbers and time series
Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management	Basic concepts Forms of market Money and banking Economic and business environment	Fundamentals of management

Detailed CMA Foundation Paper 2025

Below are the 4 papers that are essential for individuals who are aspiring to become cost management professionals. Studying and qualifying these papers ensures that students develop a strong foundation in the described subjects. With the rising CMA demand in India, students are looking forward to creating a career in the market.

They will become more professional when working in the CMA internship with the practical implications of these topics. Read all about the important topics that are covered in these papers for the CMA India Foundation exam.

Paper 1: Fundamentals of Business Laws and Communication

This is the first paper of the CMA foundation and the overall course; hence, it introduces the overall course. It basically focuses on business laws, which are quite basic and effective in everyday business communications.

Paper 2: Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting

Students will get an in-depth introduction to cost and financial accounting, thus preparing them for advanced CMA papers. Furthermore, learn about the basics of record keeping along with preparing trial balances in the CMA course.

Paper 3: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics

CMA aspirants will get an introduction to statistical and mathematical tools that are significant for decision-making in business. They can access some of the highest-paying finance jobs in India. Learn about the ratios and statistical representation of data, algebra, and basic calculus.

Paper 4: Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management

Learn about the core meaning of business management and economics, along with the issues that you might encounter. Students get to learn about choice-making along with the organization's strategies, economic theories, along practical management of finance.

CMA Foundation Exam Pattern 2025

To develop a sound foundation in the basics of business laws, mathematics, business process management, economics, corporate accounting, and statistics, you should master all the papers discussed in this article. You also need to know the CMA India course fees so that you can register and accordingly pay all the fees.

Learn about the minute details of the course. As a CMA professional, you will have a bright future in the fundamentals of cost accounting. The CMA exam duration is 3 hours. Below are the detailed CMA Foundation exam patterns:

Aspects	Details
Question Types	Objective-type questions
Exam Mode	Offline center-based exam
Total Marks	100
Number of Papers	Four
Exam Medium	English
Negative Marking	No

How to Access the Official Syllabus?

If you want to access the accurate information on the CMA India 2025 syllabus, you should visit the official Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) website. You will be able to access model question papers, which will make it easier for you to perform the 2025 exams effectively.

Ready to prepare for the CMA India Foundation Level?

Now that you know all the details of the CMA India Foundation level, you need to dedicate a specific time to studies. The Certified Management Accountant course is extensive as a syllabus and tougher exams. Students must dedicate time, focus on syllabus preparation, and effectively crack the entrance exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is 2 months enough for the CMA Foundation?

It is quite possible to clear the CMA Foundation in 2 months if you really put in extra hours of study, focused and disciplined mock test exam preparation and a deep understanding of the syllabus.

Can CMA earn 1 lakh per month?

The average salary of the CMA India qualified personnel is somewhere around INR 50,000 to INR 70,000 per month. Factors that influence the salary of the CMA professional are job role, industry and experience.

Is CMA hard to pass?

The CMA exam is a challenging certification to pass. The global average pass rates vary between 45 to 50% hence, an extensive amount of hard work must be put into it. You will develop effective evaluation and analytical skills.

What is the internship period for CMA?

The total duration for a student to train in their Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) internship period is 15 months. However, they must finish their practical training in 10 months.

How many hours should I study daily for the CMA Foundation?

If you are starting 4 to 6 months before the exam, ideally, you should invest a minimum of 2 to 3 hours of focused study daily. As the exam dates come closer, you need to increase your time to 4 to 5 hours.