The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has officially released the ICAI CA January Exam datesheet for the Chartered Accountants (CA) January 2026 examinations. The ICAI CA January Exam is for Foundation, Intermediate, and Final courses. The exams will be conducted across various cities in India and overseas, from in January 2026 as per the schedule detailed on the official ICAI website.
Final Course examinations will be held in two groups: Group 1 exams on January 5, 7, and 9, and Group 2 exams on January 11, 13, and 16. Intermediate Course exams are scheduled with Group 1 on January 6, 8, and 10, and Group 2 on January 12, 15, and 17. The Foundation Course exams will take place on January 18, 20, 22, and 24.
ICAI CA January Exam Datesheet
The CA examinations are scheduled to begin in January 2026, with different dates for each course and group. Candidates should plan their preparation strategy accordingly.
| Course | Group | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Final | Group-I | 5th, 7th, & 9th January 2026 |
| Group-II | 11th, 13th, & 16th January 2026 | |
| Intermediate | Group-I | 6th, 8th, & 10th January 2026 |
| Group-II | 12th, 15th, & 17th January 2026 | |
| Foundation | – | 18th, 20th, 22nd, & 24th January 2026 |
Post-Qualification Courses:
- International Taxation – Assessment Test (INTT – AT): 13th & 16th January 2026
- Insurance and Risk Management (IRM) Technical Examination: 9th, 11th, 13th, & 16th January 2026
Please Note: No examination will be held on 14th January 2026 (Wednesday) on account of Makar Sankranti, Magha Bihu, and Pongal festivals.
ICAI CA January Exam Timings and Key Duration Details
Most papers are of 3-hour duration, but there are important exceptions that candidates must note. The exams are held in a single shift.
| Examination | Paper(s) | Timing (IST) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Paper 1 & 2 | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | 3 Hours |
| Paper 3 & 4 | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | 2 Hours | |
| Intermediate | All Papers | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | 3 Hours |
| Final | Paper 1 to 5 | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | 3 Hours |
| Paper 6 | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | 4 Hours | |
| INTT-AT | All Papers | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | 4 Hours |
An advance reading time of 15 minutes will be provided from 1:45 PM to 2:00 PM for most exams. However, there will be no advance reading time for Foundation Papers 3 & 4 and all Post-Qualification course papers.
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ICAI CA January Exam Application Dates and Fee Structure
The window for submitting online application forms will open in November 2025. Candidates are advised not to wait for the last date to avoid any technical issues.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of Online Application | 3rd November 2025 (Monday) |
| Last Date without Late Fee | 16th November 2025 (Sunday) |
| Last Date with Late Fee (₹600 / $10) | 19th November 2025 (Wednesday) |
| Correction Window for City/Medium | 20th – 22nd November 2025 |
ICAI CA January Exam Examination Fee (For Indian Centres):
- Intermediate Course: ₹1,500 (Single Group), ₹2,700 (Both Groups)
- Final Course: ₹1,800 (Single Group), ₹3,300 (Both Groups)
- Foundation Course: ₹1,500
- Post-Qualification Courses (INTT-AT/IRM): ₹2,000 each
List of Examination Cities in India and Abroad
The examinations will be held in a wide network of cities across India and 9 overseas locations. The ICAI reserves the right to withdraw any centre without prior notice.
- Indian Centres: Exams will be conducted in over 200 cities across all states and union territories.
- Overseas Centres: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kathmandu (Nepal), Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Thimphu (Bhutan).
Exam timings at overseas centres will be adjusted to correspond with 2:00 PM IST.
Official ICAI CA January Notification PDF
ICAI CA January Exam Datesheet FAQs
Question 1. What are the exam dates for the CA Foundation course in January 2026?
Ans: The CA Foundation examination will be held on January 18, 20, 22, and 24, 2026.
Question 2. Is there a holiday during the exam schedule?
Ans: Yes, no exam is scheduled on 14th January 2026 due to Makar Sankranti, Magha Bihu, and Pongal festivals.
Question 3. Can I change my exam city or medium after submitting the form?
Ans: Yes, a correction window will be open from November 20 to 22, 2025, for candidates to make changes to their examination city or medium.
Question 4. What is the last date to apply for the CA exams without a late fee?
Ans: The last date for submission of online forms without a late fee is November 16, 2025.
Question 5. Which papers have a different duration?
Ans: Foundation Papers 3 & 4 are of 2 hours. Final Paper 6 and all papers of the International Taxation (INTT-AT) exam are of 4 hours duration.