The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has cancelled the CA Intermediate Paper 5 exam. This exam was set for January 19, 2026. The cancellation affects all students appearing for the exam, both in India and abroad. ICAI has announced that a new date for this important paper will be shared soon.
Why Was the Exam Cancelled?
The cancelled exam is for Group II, Paper – 5, which covers Auditing and Ethics. ICAI stated the reason for cancellation as "unavoidable circumstances." This means there were issues that ICAI could not control, leading to the decision to call off the exam. This news will affect many students who were preparing to write this paper.
A History of Changes for This Paper
This specific CA Intermediate Paper 5 exam had already seen a change in its schedule before this cancellation. It was first planned for January 15, 2026. However, ICAI had to move the exam date to January 19, 2026. This earlier change was due to local municipal elections taking place in Maharashtra. Now, the exam has been cancelled completely for the January 19 date.
When Will the New Date Be Announced?
ICAI has not yet given a new date for the CA Intermediate Paper 5 (Auditing and Ethics) exam. Students should regularly check the official ICAI website for the latest announcements. ICAI will release a new schedule with the revised date in a few days. It is important for students to stay patient and continue their preparation.
Other CA Exam Dates in January 2026
While Paper 5 of CA Intermediate is cancelled, other Chartered Accountant (CA) exams in January 2026 are still planned to happen as scheduled. Here are the dates for other exam levels:
| Exam Level | Exam Dates |
| CA Intermediate January 2026 (other papers) | January 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 17, 2026 |
| CA Final January 2026 | January 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 16, 2026 |
| CA Foundation January 2026 | January 18, 20, 22, and 24, 2026 |
Students should note that the January 15 date mentioned for Intermediate exams was for other papers. Paper 5 was the one specifically moved to January 19 before its cancellation.
How to Give Feedback on Question Papers
Students can give their comments or point out any mistakes they find in the question papers for the January 2026 exams. This option is available for CA Final, Intermediate, Foundation, and Post Qualification Course exams like INTT-AT and IRM.
- How to submit: You can send your feedback by email or speed post to ICAI.
- Last date: The deadline to submit these observations is January 27, 2026.
Registration for CA May 2026 Exams
If you are planning to appear for the next session of CA exams, mark your calendars. Registration for the CA May 2026 exam session will start from March 3, 2026. This is for students who wish to apply for the May examination series.
Important Advice for Students
In this changing situation, it is very important for students to stay calm and focus on their studies. They must regularly visit the official ICAI website, icai.org, for all confirmed announcements and new dates. Do not trust information from other sources. Only the ICAI website will have the correct and final updates.
