📘 ICAI Official Course
CA Intermediate Course
Complete course guide covering syllabus, registration fees, exam pattern, passing criteria and admission requirements — all in one place.
6 Papers600 Marks Total
Jan / May / SepExam Cycles
2 RoutesFoundation / Direct Entry
₹18,000Registration Fee
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Course Overview
Everything you need to know before you start
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CA Intermediate is the second level of the CA Course, taken either after qualifying CA Foundation, or directly through the Direct Entry Route (for eligible Graduates/Post-Graduates and CS/CMA Intermediate-qualified candidates).
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Direct Entry is open to Commerce Graduates/PGs with 55%+ marks, Other Graduates/PGs with 60%+ marks, or candidates who've passed the Intermediate level of ICSI or ICMAI.
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Final-year graduation/PG students can take provisional registration, confirmed later on submitting proof of having passed with the required percentage.
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Registration is fully online via ICAI's Self Service Portal (icai.org/post/students-services). Study material is ordered separately via icai-cds.org.
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The course has 6 papers of 100 marks each, split into 2 Groups of 3 papers. You can attempt one Group at a time or both together.
📌 Existing Foundation-route students who become eligible for Direct Entry can convert anytime via the Self-Service Portal by paying only the Intermediate registration fee.
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Full Syllabus
All 6 papers across 2 Groups — click a tab to explore
GROUP I — Papers 1, 2, 3
GROUP II — Papers 4, 5, 6
Advanced Accounting
Apply specific Accounting Standards & legislations to transactions, and prepare financial statements of various business entities.
100 MarksSubjective
1Framework for Accounting Standards▼
Process of formulation of Accounting Standards including Ind AS (IFRS-converged) and IFRSs; Convergence vs Adoption; Concepts of carve-outs; Framework for Preparation & Presentation of Financial Statements.
2Application of Accounting Standards (AS 1–29)▼
Applicability of AS to various entities and application of AS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 — covering Disclosure of Policies, Inventories, Cash Flow, Contingencies, Construction Contracts, Revenue Recognition, PPE, Forex, Govt Grants, Investments, Amalgamations, Employee Benefits, Borrowing Costs, Segment Reporting, Related Party Disclosures, Leases, EPS, Consolidated Financial Statements, Taxes on Income, Associates, Discontinuing Operations, Interim Reporting, Intangible Assets, Joint Ventures, Impairment, Provisions & Contingencies.
3Company Accounts▼
Schedule III to Companies Act 2013 (Division I); preparation of Statement of Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement; buy-back of securities; accounting for reconstruction of companies.
4Accounting for Branches▼
Accounting for branches including foreign branches.
Corporate and Other Laws
Understand legal provisions and apply company law & allied laws to practical situations.
100 MarksSubjective
PART I — Company Law & LLP Law · 70 Marks
1The Companies Act, 2013▼
Preliminary; Incorporation of Company & Matters Incidental thereto; Prospectus & Allotment of Securities; Share Capital & Debentures; Acceptance of Deposits; Registration of Charges; Management & Administration; Declaration & Payment of Dividend; Accounts of Companies; Audit & Auditors; Companies Incorporated Outside India — including important rules and drafting of notices/resolutions.
2The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008▼
LLP Act, 2008 including important Rules.
PART II — Other Laws · 30 Marks
3The General Clauses Act, 1897▼
Important Definitions, Extent & Applicability, General Rules of Construction, Powers & Functionaries, Provisions as to Orders/Rules made under Enactments, Miscellaneous provisions.
4Interpretation of Statutes▼
Rules of Interpretation of Statutes, Aids to Interpretation, Rules of Interpretation/Construction of Deeds & Documents.
5The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999▼
Significant definitions and concepts of Current & Capital Account Transactions.
Taxation
Understand Income-tax law and GST provisions, and apply them to solve practical problems.
100 MarksSubjective
SECTION A — Income Tax Law · 50 Marks
1Basic Concepts▼
Income-tax law introduction; significant concepts — person, assessee, previous year, assessment year, income, agricultural income; Basis of Charge; procedure for computing total income & tax payable for individuals.
2Residential Status & Scope of Total Income▼
Residential status; scope of total income.
3Heads of Income▼
Salaries; Income from House Property; Profits & Gains of Business or Profession; Capital Gains; Income from Other Sources.
4Clubbing, Set-off & Deductions▼
Provisions relating to clubbing of income, set-off/carry forward of losses, deductions from gross total income.
5Advance Tax, TDS & TCS▼
Advance Tax, Tax Deduction at Source and Tax Collection at Source.
6Return Filing & Self-Assessment▼
Provisions for filing return of income and self-assessment.
7Alternative Tax Regimes▼
Computation of total income & tax payable by an individual under alternative tax regimes under the Income-tax Act, 1961, to optimise tax liability.
SECTION B — Goods & Services Tax (GST) · 50 Marks
1GST Laws — Introduction▼
GST Laws introduction including Constitutional aspects.
2Levy & Collection of CGST/IGST▼
Application of CGST/IGST law; concept of supply incl. composite & mixed supplies; charge of tax incl. reverse charge; exemptions; composition levy.
3Classification, Supply & ITC▼
Classification; Place of Supply; Time of Supply; Value of Supply; Input Tax Credit.
4GST Liability, Registration & Compliance▼
Computation of GST liability; Registration; Tax Invoice, Credit/Debit Notes, E-way Bill; Accounts & Records; Returns; Payment of Tax.
📌 Students are not examined with reference to any particular State GST Law.
Cost and Management Accounting
Establish costs, apply costing methods and use cost information for planning, control & decision making.
100 MarksSubjective
1Overview of Cost & Management Accounting▼
Objectives & scope; users & functions of cost/management accounting; relation with financial accounting; cost terms & concepts; cost reduction & control; elements of cost; cost behaviour (fixed/variable/semi-variable/step); methods & techniques of costing; Digital Costing; functional classification & preparation of Cost Sheets (manufacturing & service sector).
2Ascertainment of Cost & Cost Accounting System▼
Material Cost (procurement, valuation, GeM, ERP, EOQ, ABC/FSN/HML/VED/JIT inventory control, normal/abnormal losses); Employee Cost (payroll, wage elements, turnover, Halsey & Rowan Plans); Direct Expenses; Overheads (functional & behavioural analysis, absorption costing, primary/secondary distribution, ABC costing); Integration of cost & financial data, reconciliation of profit (Non-Integrated System).
3Methods of Costing▼
Single Output/Unit Costing; Job Costing; Batch Costing (optimum batch quantity); Process/Operation Costing (process loss, equivalent units, joint & by-products); Costing of Service Sectors.
4Cost Control and Analysis▼
Standard Costing (material/labour/overhead variances); Marginal Costing (contribution, BEP, CVP analysis, make-or-buy, discontinuation, limiting factor); Budget & Budgetary Control (flexible budget, cash & master budget, ZBB, control ratios).
Auditing and Ethics
Understand auditing concepts, generally accepted procedures, and apply ethics while performing audit.
100 MarksSubjective
1Nature, Objective & Scope of Audit▼
Auditing concepts, need & objective of audit, inherent limitations (SA 200).
2Audit Strategy, Planning & Program▼
Audit planning process, overall audit strategy, audit plan & program (SA 300).
3Risk Assessment & Internal Control▼
Audit risk, materiality (SA 320), risk of material misstatement (SA 315), internal control evaluation, Digital Audit, auditor's response to assessed risks (SA 330).
4Audit Evidence▼
SA 500, 501, 505, 510, 520, 530, 550, 610 — audit evidence, sampling, analytical procedures, related parties, external confirmations, internal auditors' work.
5Audit of Items of Financial Statements▼
Audit of revenue, expenses, capital & liabilities, fixed assets, loans/advances, receivables, inventories, cash & contingent liabilities (illustrative list).
6Audit Documentation▼
Concept, nature, form, content & ownership of audit documentation (SA 230).
7Completion and Review▼
Subsequent events (SA 560), Going Concern (SA 570), evaluation of misstatements (SA 450), written representations (SA 580).
8Audit Report▼
Forming an opinion, basic elements (SA 700), Key Audit Matters (SA 701), modified opinions (SA 705), emphasis of matter (SA 706), comparative info (SA 710), branch/joint audit, CARO reporting.
9Audit of Different Type of Entities▼
Government, local bodies, NPOs, trusts/societies, partnership firms, educational institutions, hotels, clubs, hospitals, LLPs, co-operative societies.
10Audit of Banks▼
Banking accounting system, audit approach, revenue items, advances & NPAs.
11Ethics & Terms of Audit Engagements▼
Fundamental principles — Integrity, Objectivity, Professional Competence, Confidentiality, Professional Behaviour; Independence threats & safeguards; SA 210, SQC 1, SA 220.
Financial Management & Strategic Management
Apply finance function knowledge in decision-making and strategic management concepts in business situations.
100 MarksSubjective
SECTION A — Financial Management · 50 Marks
1Financial Management & Financial Analysis▼
Objective & scope of FM; profit/wealth maximisation; role of Financial Manager; financial distress; financial analysis through ratios.
2Financing Decisions & Cost of Capital▼
Sources of finance (incl. P2P lending, crowd funding); Cost of Capital & WACC; Capital Structure decisions, EBIT-EPS analysis; Leverages (operating, financial, combined).
3Capital Investment & Dividend Decisions▼
Payback period, ARR, NPV, IRR, MIRR, Profitability Index; Dividend decisions — Walter's, Gordon's, MM Hypothesis.
4Management of Working Capital▼
Working capital cycle, receivables & payables management, factoring/forfaiting, credit management, cash & treasury management, banking norms.
SECTION B — Strategic Management · 50 Marks
1Introduction to Strategic Management▼
Meaning & nature; strategic intent — vision, mission, goals, values; strategic levels in organizations.
2Strategic Analysis: External Environment▼
PESTLE analysis; defining industry (Value Chain, PLC); Porter's Five Forces; understanding customers & competition.
3Strategic Analysis: Internal Environment▼
Mendelow's Model; strategic drivers; SWOT Analysis; Michael Porter's Generic Strategies.
4Strategic Choices▼
Concentric, Conglomerate, Market/Product Development, Innovation, Horizontal/Vertical Integration, Turnaround, Divesture, Liquidation; Ansoff's, ADL, BCG & GE Matrix.
5Strategy Implementation & Evaluation▼
Formulation vs Implementation; Digital Transformation; Org Structure & Culture; Strategic Leadership, Control & Performance Measures.
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Exam Pattern & Passing Criteria
What you need to clear CA Intermediate
40%
Min. marks per paper
50%
Min. aggregate per Group
6
Papers, 100 marks each
2
Groups of 3 papers
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You can appear Group-wise or in both Groups together. You're declared "Passed Intermediate" once you clear both Groups — in the same sitting or across attempts.
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Exemption rule: if you fail a Group/Unit overall but score 60%+ in any individual paper(s), you get exemption in that paper for the next 3 attempts — you only need to clear the remaining papers.
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Negative marking may apply to papers/sections with objective-type questions, as specified by ICAI from time to time.
⚠️ Must satisfy both conditions — 40% in each paper AND 50% aggregate of the Group — at one sitting to pass that Group.
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Admission Requirements
Eligibility and conditions for appearing in the exam
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Must be enrolled for the Intermediate Course — either via Foundation route or Direct Entry route.
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Must produce a certificate confirming at least 8 months of study course as on the first day of the exam month.
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Must pay the Examination fees fixed by the ICAI Council.
📌 Keep checking www.icai.org regularly for the latest exam schedule and notification updates.
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Registration Fees
| Details | Rupees | For Foreign Students (US$) |
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| Intermediate Registration Fee | ₹18,000* | $1,000 |
⭐ 75% concession for students from J&K, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the 8 North-East States — extended till 31 March 2028.
⭐ 75% concession for wards of deceased ICAI members (applicable from 1 April 2022).
⭐ Foreign-student dollar fee applies only to non-SAARC countries — SAARC students pay regular Indian fees.
⭐ 75% concession for wards of deceased ICAI members (applicable from 1 April 2022).
⭐ Foreign-student dollar fee applies only to non-SAARC countries — SAARC students pay regular Indian fees.
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Quick Facts
📅 Register at least 8 months before exam month
📖 6 Papers, 100 marks each, 2 Groups
✅ Pass: 40% per paper + 50% aggregate per Group
🎓 Entry via Foundation or Direct Entry
🔁 Exemption on 60%+ in a paper, valid for 3 attempts
💻 Registration online at icai.org, material via icai-cds.org
