What is a ‘Chartered Accountant – CA?
Chartered accountant (CA) is an international accounting designation granted to accounting professionals in many countries around the world, aside from the United States.
What do Chartered Accountants do?
In most cases, CAs focuses on one of four areas: audit and assurance, financial accounting and reporting, management accounting and applied finance, or taxation.
Depending on their area of focus, CAs may handle one aspect of a company’s business, they may oversee all of a company’s accounting needs, or they may work as freelance CAs who handles accounting matters for multiple clients.
Entry to the CA course
Students can enter into CA Course through Foundation route or Direct entry route depend upon his/her qualification.
Foundation Entry Route- Students who have just cleared their 12th or intermediate and/ or are pursuing their graduation can join the CA course through this route. For them, CA course contains 3 levels which are the foundation, inter and final.
Direct Entry Route- The students who have completed their graduation can opt for this method of entry to the course. CA course contains only 2 levels for them namely inter and final.
Read More:- CA Final Registration, Syllabus, Dates, Admit Card
Now let’s discuss all the three levels of the course
In India ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) manages the whole course, examination, and working of the CAs.
CA Foundation Course
Foundation Course is the entry level for Chartered Accountancy Course and is also known as CPT or Common Proficiency Test. Foundation Course registration is valid for 3 years.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 4 months study period from the date of registration to be eligible to appear in the Foundation Examination. It is held twice a year in the months of June and December.
Foundation Course comprises of four papers, out of which two are subjective and two are objective type.
Passing criteria:
You have to secure at least 50 % in aggregate and 40 % in each subject individually or obtain a minimum 200 marks i.e. 50% of total Marks (400) for passing Foundation.
No Subject wise linkage for passing foundation. There is the Negative marking of 0.25 Marks for every incorrect answer in the objective type papers and the Blank answer will fetch Zero marks.
Syllabus for CA-Foundation
It contains four papers of total 400 marks, two of which are objective type and the other two are subjective type. The examination is conducted in two sessions on the same day with an interval in between.
PAPER- 1: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING
Theoretical Framework
Accounting Process
Bank Reconciliation Statement
Inventories
Concept and Accounting of Depreciation
Accounting for Special Transactions
Bills of exchange and promissory notes
Sale of goods on approval or return basis
Consignments
Joint Ventures for non-corporate entities
Royalty accounts
Average due Date
Account Current
Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors
Partnership Accounts
Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations
Introduction to Company Accounts
Basic Accounting Ratios
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PAPER – 2: BUSINESS LAWS AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTING
SECTION A: BUSINESS LAWS (60 MARKS)
The Indian Contract Act, 1872
The Sale of Goods Act, 1930
The Indian Partnership Act, 1932
The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
The Companies Act, 2013
SECTION B: BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTING (MARKS 40)
Part I: Communication
Communication
(i) Types
(ii) Directions
(iii) Network
(iv) Process
(v) Problems
(vi) Barriers
(vii) Types of Communication
Part II: Sentence Types and Word Power
Sentence Types (Direct-Indirect, Active-Passive Speech)
Vocabulary Root Words, Synonyms, Antonyms, Prefixes, Suffixes), Phrasal verbs, Collocations, and Idioms.
Part III: Comprehension Passages and Note-Making
Comprehension Passages
Note Making
Part IV: Developing Writing Skills
Introduction to Basic Writing
Précis Writing
Article Writing
Report Writing
Writing Formal Letters
Writing Formal Mails
Resume Writing
Meetings
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PAPER- 3: BUSINESS MATHEMATICS, LOGICAL REASONING, AND STATISTICS
Part A. Business Mathematics (40 Marks)
Ratio and Proportion, Indices and Logarithms
Equations and Matrices
Linear Inequalities with Objective Functions and Optimization w.r.t. objective function
Time value of Money
Permutations and Combinations
Sequence and Series
Sets, Relations and Functions
Basic applications of Differential and Integral calculus
Part B: Logical Reasoning (20 Marks)
Number series, Coding and Decoding and the odd man out.
Direction Tests
Seating Arrangements
Blood Relations
Syllogism
Part C: Statistics (40 Marks)
Statistical description of Data
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
Probability
Theoretical Distributions
Correlation and Regression
Index Numbers and Time Series
PAPER- 4: BUSINESS ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL KNOWLEDGE
PART I: BUSINESS ECONOMICS (60 Marks)
Introduction to Business Economics
Theory of Demand and Supply
Theory of Production and Cost
Price Determination in Different Markets
Business Cycles
PART II: BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL KNOWLEDGE (40 MARKS)
Introduction to Business
Business Environment
Business organizations
Government Policies for Business Growth
Organizations facilitating Business
Common Business Terminologies
Read Also:- Chartered Accountancy (CA) Course Detail-The Complete Guide
CA Intermediate Course Syllabus
Students can join Intermediate Course after passing Foundation Examination under the Foundation Entry Route. They can appear in the Intermediate Examination on completion of 8 months of study course.
Intermediate Course registration is valid for 4 years. Students who joined the course under Direct Entry Route can appear in Intermediate Examination on completion of 9 months of Practical Training.
Passing criteria
Students have to get at least 40% in each Subject & 50% in aggregate to pass the examination.
GROUP- I
PAPER 1 – ACCOUNTING
The process of formulation of Accounting Standards including IndASs (IFRS converged standards) and IFRSs; convergence vs. adoption; objective and concepts of carve-outs.
Framework for Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements (as per Accounting Standards).
Applications of Accounting Standards: AS1, AS2, AS3, AS4, AS5, AS10, AS11, AS12, AS13, AS16, AS17, AS22.
Company Accounts
Accounting for Special Transactions:
(i) Investment
(ii) Insurance claims for loss of stock and loss of profit
(iii) Hire-purchase and Installment Sale Transaction
Special Type of Accounting
(i) Departmental Accounting
(ii) Accounting for Branches including foreign branches
(iii) Accounts from Incomplete Records
Dissolution of partnership firms including piecemeal distribution of assets; Amalgamation of partnership firms; Conversion of partnership firm into a company and Sale to a company; Issues related to accounting in Limited Liability Partnership.
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PAPER – 2: CORPORATE AND OTHER LAWS
PART I – COMPANY LAW (60 MARKS)
The Companies Act, 2013 (Sections 1 to 148)
1. Preliminary
2. Incorporation of Company and Matters Incidental thereto
3. Prospectus and Allotment of Securities
4. Share Capital and Debentures
5. Acceptance of Deposits by companies
6. Registration of Charges
7. Management and Administration
8. Declaration and payment of Dividend
9. Accounts of Companies
10. Audit and Auditors
PART II – OTHER LAWS (40 MARKS)
The Indian Contract Act, 1872
The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
The General Clauses Act, 1897
Interpretation of statutes
PAPER – 3: COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Overview of Cost and Management Accounting
Ascertainment of Cost and Cost Accounting System
Material Cost
Employee Cost
Direct Expenses
Overheads
Concepts of Activity Based Costing (ABC)
Recording and Accounting of Costs
Methods of Costing
Single Output/ Unit Costing
Job Costing
Batch Costing
Contract Costing
Process/ Operation Costing
Costing of Service Sectors
Cost Control and Analysis
Standard Costing
Marginal Costing
Budget and Budgetary Control
PAPER – 4: TAXATION
SECTION A: INCOME TAX LAW (60 MARKS)
Basic Concepts
Residential status and scope of total income
Incomes which do not form part of total income (other than charitable trusts and institutions, political parties and electoral trusts)
Heads of income and the provisions governing computation of income under different heads
Income of other persons included in assessee’s total income
Aggregation of income; Set-off, or carry forward and set-off of losses
Deductions from gross total income
Computation of total income and tax liability of individuals
Advance tax, tax deduction at source and introduction to tax collection at source
Provisions for filing return of income and self-assessment
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SECTION B – INDIRECT TAXES (40 MARKS)
Concept of indirect taxes
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Laws
GROUP II
PAPER 5: ADVANCED ACCOUNTING
Accounting Standards: AS7, AS9, AS14, AS18, AS19, AS20, AS24, AS26, AS29
Application of Guidance Notes issued by the ICAI on specified accounting aspects
Company Accounts- Special Aspects of Company Accounts
Reorganization of Companies
Financial Reporting of Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)
Valuation of goodwill
Consolidated Financial Statements
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PAPER 6: AUDITING AND ASSURANCE (100 MARKS)
Nature, Objective and Scope of Audit
Audit Strategy, Audit Planning and Audit Programme
Audit Documentation and Audit Evidence
Risk Assessment and Internal Control
Fraud and Responsibilities of the Auditor in this Regard
Audit in an Automated Environment
Audit Sampling
Analytical Procedure
Audit of Items of Financial Statements
The Company Audit
Audit Report
Audit of Banks
Audit of Different Types of Entities
PAPER – 7: ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
SECTION A: ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS (50 MARKS)
Automated Business Process
Financial And Accounting Systems
Information Systems And Its Components
E-Commerce, M-Commerce And Emerging Technologies
Core Banking Systems
SECTION B: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (50 MARKS)
Introduction to Strategic Management
Dynamics of Competitive Strategy
Strategic Management Process
Corporate Level Strategies
Business Level Strategies
Functional Level Strategies
Organization and Strategic Leadership
Strategy Implementation and Control
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PAPER – 8: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS FOR FINANCE
SECTION A: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (60 MARKS)
Financial Management and Financial Analysis
Financing Decisions
Sources of Finance
Lease Financing
Cost of Capital
Capital Structure Decision
Leverages
Capital Investment and Dividend Decisions
Capital Investment Decisions
Adjustment of Risk and Uncertainty in Capital Budgeting Decision
Dividend Decisions
Management of Working Capital
SECTION B: ECONOMICS FOR FINANCE (MARKS: 40)
Determination of National Income
The Money Market
Public Finance
International Trade
Articleship or internship of CA
Students can join articled training after passing either of the Group or Both Groups of Intermediate Course and after successfully undergoing ICITSS.
Students coming through Direct Entry Route have to complete 9 months articles to be eligible for the intermediate examination.
The total duration of articles is 3 years and in last 1-year student can join for Industrial Training. The stipend is paid during the Articleship period.
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CA-Final Syllabus
Before registering for Final Course, students need to clear the balance Group (if any) of Intermediate Examination. Students also have to successfully undergo Four Weeks Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft skills (AICITSS) during the last two years of practical training but before appearing in the Final Examination.
One can appear in the Final Examination on completion of 2½ years Articleship.
Passing criteria
Students have to achieve at least 40% in each Subject & Aggregate of 50% in order to pass the examination.
Group- I
PAPER – 1: FINANCIAL REPORTING
Application of Existing Accounting Standards 15, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 28 (The students will also be required to apply other Accounting Standards if applicable in any of the questions).
Application of Guidance Notes issued by ICAI on specified accounting aspects.
Framework for Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements
Application of Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS)
Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (as per Ind AS)
Application of Industry specific and Transaction Specific Indian Accounting Standards
Business Combinations and Accounting for Corporate Restructuring (including demerger)
Accounting and Reporting of Financial Instruments
Accounting for Share-Based Payment
Analysis of Financial Statements
Accounting for Carbon Credits
Accounting for E-commerce
Emerging trends in Reporting
PAPER – 2: STRATEGIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Financial Policy and Corporate Strategy
Indian Financial System
Risk Management
Security Analysis
Security Valuation
Portfolio Management
Securitization
Mutual Fund
Derivatives Analysis and Valuation
Foreign Exchange Exposure and Risk Management
International Financial Management
Interest Rate Risk Management
Corporate Valuation
Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring
International Financial Centre (IFC)
Startup Finance
Small & Medium Enterprises
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PAPER – 3: ADVANCED AUDITING AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Auditing Standards, Statements and Guidance Notes
Audit Planning, Strategy and Execution
Risk Assessment and Internal Control
Special aspects of Auditing in an Automated Environment
Audit of Limited Companies
Audit Reports
Audit Reports & Certificates for Special Purpose Engagement
Audit Committee and Corporate Governance
Audit of Consolidated Financial Statements
Special features of audit of Banks, Insurance & Non-Banking Financial Companies, Audit under Fiscal Laws
Special Audit Assignments
Audit of Public Sector Undertakings
Liabilities of Auditors
Internal Audit, Management and Operational Audit
Due Diligence, Investigation and Forensic Audit
Peer Review and Quality Review
Professional Ethics
PAPER – 4: CORPORATE AND ECONOMIC LAWS
PART – I: CORPORATE LAWS (70 Marks)
SECTION A: COMPANY LAW
The Companies Act, 2013
Corporate Secretarial Practice
SECTION B: SECURITIES LAWS
The Securities Contract (Regulation) Act, 1956 and the Securities Contract (Regulation) Rules, 1957
The Securities Exchange Board of India Act, 1992
PART II: ECONOMIC LAWS (30 MARKS)
The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
The Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
Read More:-CA New Syllabus Detailed Subject Wise 2018
PAPER – 5: STRATEGIC COST MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Part – A: STRATEGIC COST MANAGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING
Sub Part-I: Strategic Cost Management
Introduction to Strategic Cost Management
Modern Business Environment
Lean System and Innovation
Cost Management Techniques
Cost Management for Specific Sectors
Sub Part-II: Strategic Decision Making
Decision Making
Pricing Strategies/ Decisions
PART-B: PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND CONTROL
Sub Part-I: Performance Evaluation and Reporting
Performance Measurement and Evaluation
Divisional Transfer Pricing
Strategic Analysis of Operating Income
Sub Part-II: Managerial Control
Budgetary Control
Standard Costing
PAPER-C: CASE STUDY
Covering course concepts
PAPER – 6A: RISK MANAGEMENT
Introduction to risk
Source and evaluation of risks
Risk management
Quantitative analysis
Risk model
Credit risk measurement and management
The risk associated with corporate governance
Enterprise Risk Management
Operational Risk Management
PAPER – 6B: FINANCIAL SERVICES AND CAPITAL MARKETS
Global Financial Markets
Impact of various Policies of Financial Markets
Capital Market – Primary
Capital Market – Secondary
Money Market
Institutions and Intermediaries
Commodity Market
A. Banking- Management
B. Banking as the source of Capital Including NBFCs
Mutual Funds
Private Equity
Investment Banking
Credit Rating
Treasury Operations
Risk Management
Credit Derivatives
SEBI Guidelines
PAPER – 6C: INTERNATIONAL TAXATION
Part-I: Taxation of International Transactions and Non-resident Taxation in India
Transfer Pricing provisions under the Income-tax Act, 1961
Other Provisions relating to taxation of international transactions and non-resident taxation under the Income-tax Act, 1961
Law and Procedures under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 – An Overview
Part-II: Other aspects of International Taxation
Overview of Model Tax Conventions
Tax treaties, Application and Interpretation
Anti-Avoidance Measures
Taxation of E-Commerce Transactions
PAPER – 6D: ECONOMIC LAWS
World Trade Organization (WTO) covering its Role, Principles, Functions and Dispute Settlement Mechanism
Competition Act, 2002 and Rules/ Regulations
Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 [Central Act and Rules/ Regulations]
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and Rules/ Regulations
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Rules/ Regulations
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and Rules/ Regulations
Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 and Rules/ Regulations
PAPER – 6E: GLOBAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS
1. Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting as per IFRS
2. Application of International Financial Reporting Standards
3. Significant differences between IFRS and US GAAP
PAPER – 6F: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CASE STUDY
This paper will include Case Studies covering the following areas:
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Audit and Assurance
Taxation
Finance and Financial Management
Management Accounting
Corporate Laws
Business Strategy and Management
PAPER – 7: DIRECT TAX LAWS AND INTERNATIONAL TAXATION
Part I: Direct Tax Laws (70 Marks)
Law and Procedures under the Income-tax Act, 1961,
The basis of charge, residential status, income which do not form part of total income, heads of income, the income of other persons included in assessee’s total income, aggregation of income, set-off and carry forward of losses, deductions from gross total income, rebates, and reliefs
Special provisions relating to companies and certain persons other than a company
Provisions relating to charitable and religious trust and institutions, political parties and electoral trusts
Tax Planning, Tax Avoidance & Tax Evasion
Collection & Recovery of Tax, Refunds
Income-tax Authorities, Procedure for assessment, Appeals and Revision
Settlement of Tax Cases, Penalties, Offences & Prosecution
Liability in Special Cases
Miscellaneous Provisions and Other Provisions
Part II: International Taxation (30 Marks)
Taxation of international transactions and Non-resident taxation
Overview of Model Tax Conventions – OECD & UN
Application and interpretation of Tax Treaties
Fundamentals of Base Erosion and Profit Shifting
PAPER 8: INDIRECT TAX LAWS
Part-I: Goods and Services Tax (75 Marks)
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Law as contained in the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017 and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Act, 2017
Part-II: Customs & FTP (25 Marks)
Customs Law as contained in the Customs Act, 1962 and the Customs Tariff Act, 1975
Foreign Trade Policy to the extent relevant to the indirect tax laws
After passing the CA Final examination, one is enrolled as a member of ICAI and designated as “Chartered Accountant”.
This is all about the latest syllabus structure for the CA course that the students have to follow. We hope it is helpful to you.
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