Updated ICAI Syllabus To Mount Pressure On Students

Along with goods and services tax (GST) roll out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Chartered Accountant (CA) Institute’s updated syllabus and training for students on Saturday (1 July).

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has prepared revised syllabus keeping in mind the evolving role of CA in new global economic landscape. There have been minor changes in the curriculum from time-to-time but this is a major overhaul for the first time in thirteen years.

Nilesh Shivji Vikamsey, ICAI President said, “The revised course intends to promote innovation and bring about out-of-the-box thinking in the curriculum and education system of chartered accountancy course.”

He added, "We had objective questions for 200 marks of four subjects. Now we have made it 400 marks, out of which 200 mark questions will be subjective and the rest objective."

New subjects have also been introduced at the foundation and the intermediate levels.

The ICAI has introduced electives for students appearing in the final examination. The students can choose one out of six papers to specialize in. Seven out of eight subjects are fixed and one is elective.

The CA Institute has been taking several steps to improve awareness of goods and services tax among traders, small businessman, manufacturers and general public. These include setting up of 200 GST Sahayata desks all across the country.

Nitin Gupta, a final year CA student said, “We are busy with the GST roll out. But there have been many changes in the curriculum. Some topics from the final have been shifted to the previous exam and vice-versa. Students entering the CA course won’t find any difficulty. Already registered students have 6 attempts to clear the course; else they will have to start with the new curriculum.”