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1. Levels

There are three main levels in the CA course under the new scheme:

• Foundation Course
• Intermediate Course
• Final Course

Additionally, there are Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM) which are required after registering for Final Course.

Also, practical / training / soft skills components:

• ICITSS / Advanced‐ICITSS (Information Technology & Soft Skills)
• Articleship / Practical Training under a practicing CA

2. Qualification Required (Eligibility)

What is required to register / move through levels:

• Foundation Course

Can be registered after Class 10. But can only appear in the Foundation exam after Class 12 / 10+2.

• Intermediate Course
  Two routes:
  1. Foundation Route: Passed Foundation + Class 12.
  2. Direct Entry Route: Graduates / Postgraduates:

• Commerce graduates with at least 55% marks.
• Non-commerce graduates / postgraduates with at least 60%.
• Also passed Inter-level of CMA / CS etc.

  Provisional registration is allowed while final year of graduation is in progress. But one must complete graduation + complete an 8-month study period before appearing Intermediate exam.

• Final Course
  Must have passed both groups of the Intermediate exam. Also must register for Final Course (which includes registering for SPOM). Practical training / articleship and ICITSS / Advanced ICITSS required.

3. Who Can Write (Appear for Exams)

• Foundation Exam: After the candidate has sorted the Class 12 requirement (i.e. has appeared/passed Class 12) and has been registered at least 4 months before the exam.
• Intermediate Exam: Once registered (either via Foundation or Direct Entry), and for Direct Entry the required 8-month study period after registration finishes before appearing.
• Final Exam: Only after both groups of Intermediate are passed, and the candidate has registered for Final, and has completed requirements like Articleship / practical training + ICITSS etc. Also SPOM modules as required.

4. How to Register

• Registration is online via ICAI’s Student / Self-Service Portal (SSP).
• Fill registration form for respective level (Foundation, Intermediate, Final). Submit required documents (mark sheets, identity proofs etc.).
• For Final level registration, one also selects SPOM modules (Sets C & D) at that time.
• For Intermediate via Direct Entry, if you are in final year of graduation, you can provisionally register, but need to submit your graduation result and complete study period before exam eligibility.

5. Registration Fee (for levels)

As per ICAI (Indian students):

Note: There are concession / reduced fees for students from certain Northeastern states / UTs etc. in earlier years; check current notifications.

6. Coaching Type

ICAI official sources do not mandate or prescribe coaching. Coaching is via private institutions etc, which vary in cost, mode (classroom / online). ICAI itself provides:

• Study Material (physical & digital) after registration.
• Virtual / live revision classes (LVRC) etc. (
• Digital Learning Campus / LMS for SPOM modules (video lectures etc).

So “coaching type” under ICAI = self-study materials, virtual / online classes, revision test papers; private coaching is external.

7. Examination for Each Level

What exam(s), frequency, pattern etc:

Also: SPOM (Self-Paced Online Modules) exams for the modules A, B, plus elective one’s C & D. These are done via “Self-Paced Module Test (SPMT)” portal.

8. Subjects for Each Level with Brief Intro

Here are the subjects under the New Scheme and what they cover, at a high level.

Foundation Course

There are 4 Papers:

1. Accounting – Basics of accounting, recording of transactions, financial statements.
2. Business Laws – Basic law relevant to business (business law topics as per syllabus).
3. Quantitative Aptitude – Business mathematics, logical reasoning, statistics.
4. Business Economics – Micro and macro-economics, business environment etc.

Intermediate Course

6 Papers (Group I & Group II):

• Group I:
  1. Advanced Accounting – Accounting standards, presentation, complex accounting (consolidations, etc.).
  2. Corporate and Other Laws – Company law + other relevant laws.
  3. Taxation – Income Tax Law + Goods & Services Tax (GST) sections.
• Group II:

• 1. Cost and Management Accounting – Costing techniques, managerial decision making etc.
  2. Auditing & Ethics – Auditing principles, practices, standards + professional ethics.
  3. Financial Management & Strategic Management – Financial decision making, planning, strategic management concepts.

Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM)

(After registering for Final Course, student must complete these modules):

• SET A (Mandatory): Corporate & Economic Laws
• SET B (Mandatory): Strategic Cost & Performance Management (
• SET C (Elective – choose one): Options like Risk Management; Sustainable Dev & Sustainability Reporting; Public Finance & Govt Accounting; Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code; International Taxation; Arbitration & Conciliation; Forensic Accounting; Valuation; Financial Services & Capital Markets; Forex & Treasury Management.
• SET D (Elective – choose one): Options such as Constitution of India & Art of Advocacy; Psychology & Philosophy; Entrepreneurship & Start-up Ecosystem; Digital Ecosystem & Controls.

Final Course

6 Papers (2 Groups). The exact paper names are:

• Group I (all 100-marks papers):
  1. Financial Reporting
  2. Advanced Financial Management
  3. Advanced Auditing, Assurance & Professional Ethics
• Group II:

• 1. Direct Tax Laws & International Taxation
  2. Indirect Tax Laws
  3. Integrated Business Solutions (a Multi-disciplinary Case Study)

9. Exam Qualification (Passing / Passing Criteria)

What you need to pass, get exemptions etc:

• Foundation Level:

• Minimum 40% marks in each paper.
    • Minimum 50% in aggregate over all papers.

• Intermediate Level:

• Minimum 40% in each paper.
    • Minimum 50% in aggregate in the group you are attempting. You can pass group-wise.
• Exemptions: If you get ≥ 60% in a paper, you may get exemption for that paper for next three attempts in that group.

• Final Level:

• Similar passing marks: usually 40% in each paper + 50% aggregate in a group. (As per ICAI, for Final Course under new scheme)

• SPOM Modules:

• Must complete prescribed learning hours via LMS.
    • Pass each module with minimum 50% marks.
    • No negative marking in SPOM exams.
    • Marks in SPOM do not get aggregated with core Final Course papers for determining Final exam pass.

10. Other Important Details

• The New Scheme became effective from June 23, 2023.
• Validity of registration:

• Foundation Course registration validity: 4 years from first eligible attempt.
    • Intermediate registration validity: 5 years from date of registration. It may be revalidated once (with fee) for further period.

• There is no revalidation at Foundation level.
• Negative marking:

• In Foundation & Intermediate objective/MCQ/case scenario portions: there is negative marking of 0.25 (¼ mark) for each wrong answer.
    • In SPOM exams, no negative marking.

• Programme durations and training:

• Articleship / Practical Training is compulsory. New Scheme has relaxations for students who were under old scheme etc.
    • IT & soft skills training (ICITSS / Advanced ICITSS) required at appropriate stages.

• Exemption windows / permanent exemptions: ICAI provides a Permanent Exemption Window for Intermediate / Final for certain candidates under certain conditions.