CA Final Subjects Under ICAI's New Scheme, Compared With the Old Syllabus

ICAI launched the new scheme on 1 July 2023 (FAQ, Q 1.1), and its Final course syllabus page still lists these six papers (checked 6 October 2026). The same scheme also changed Foundation and Intermediate; see ICAI's new scheme at each level.

CA Final papers under the new scheme

Sources: ICAI FAQs (Q 4.3) and ICAI's Final course syllabus (2023).

Paper 6: Integrated Business Solutions

ICAI's syllabus describes Paper 6 as "entirely case study based". It tests how you combine Papers 1 to 5 with the two compulsory modules (Corporate and Economic Laws, and Strategic Cost & Performance Management) and Strategic Management, according to the syllabus and ICAI's prospectus. It is the only open-book paper (FAQ, Q 4.8).

Taxation papers

Paper 4 covers direct tax laws and international taxation. Paper 5 is split into GST (80 marks) and Customs and Foreign Trade Policy (20 marks). ICAI's syllabus notes that topics in Paper 4 can be added or dropped every year by the annual Finance Act, and ICAI has published separate Study Guidelines for Paper 5 for recent exam sessions (September 2025, January 2026 and May 2026). Check both for your attempt.

Self-Paced Online Modules (SET A to D)

You register for the modules when you register for the Final course, and choose your SET C and SET D subjects on the same form. There is no separate fee (FAQ, Q 7.3).

The rules, from ICAI's FAQs (Section 7):

• You qualify a module with at least 50% marks, and there is no limit on attempts (Q 7.7).
• There is no negative marking (Q 7.8).
• Module marks are not added to your Final exam marks (Q 7.9).
• You must complete the minimum learning hours ICAI prescribes for a module before you can take its test (Q 7.5).
• ICAI expects expert knowledge in SET A and SET B, and working knowledge in SET C and SET D (Q 7.6).

New syllabus vs old syllabus

The old CA Final syllabus (ICAI Board of Studies, 2021) had eight papers, with Paper 6 an elective chosen from six options. The table pairs each old paper with its closest match in the new scheme by name and subject. It is our comparison, not an ICAI exemption table; ICAI's transition rules are in the section on the old syllabus below.

Other changes that affect Final students:

• Six exam papers instead of eight. Corporate and economic laws and strategic cost management are now assessed through the SET A and SET B module tests.
• Shorter articleship. Practical training lasts 2 years under the new scheme, against 3 years under the old scheme (FAQ, Q 5.2 and Q 5.5). It starts only after you pass both Intermediate groups and complete the four-week ICITSS. The CA articleship guide covers registration, leave and stipend.
• Final exam after training. You can sit the Final exam only if your practical training was completed six months before the first day of the exam month (FAQ, Q 4.5).

Exam pattern and passing marks

• Question types: Papers 1 to 5 have 30% case-scenario or case-study based MCQs and 70% descriptive questions. Paper 6 has 40% MCQs: each of its 25-mark case studies has 10 marks of MCQs and 15 marks of descriptive questions (ICAI guidance notes, November 2026). There is no negative marking (FAQ, Q 4.9).
• Open and closed book: Paper 6 is an open-book exam; the other five papers are closed-book (Q 4.8).
• Duration: Papers 1 to 5 last 3 hours and Paper 6 lasts 4 hours, with 15 minutes of advance reading time before each paper (ICAI exam announcement, 2 May 2026).
• Passing a group: at least 40% in each paper and 50% in the aggregate of the group, at one sitting. You can pass the two groups in different sittings, or both together with 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate across both groups (Q 4.10).
• Exemptions: if you appear in all papers of a group and fail it, any paper in which you scored 60% or more is exempted for the next three exams. You then need 40% in each remaining paper and 50% aggregate including the exempted paper. After those three exams you may keep the exemption, but you then need 50% in each remaining paper of that group (Q 4.11).
• Exam months: CA Final exams are held twice a year, in May and November, from the May 2026 exam onwards. ICAI had been holding them three times a year, in January, May and September (ICAI announcement, 6 April 2026).

Who can sit the CA Final exam

You can register for the Final course any time after passing both groups of Intermediate. The registration fee for both groups is ₹22,000, and registration is valid for 10 years, renewable with a revalidation fee of ₹500 (FAQ, Q 4.1, Q 4.2 and Q 4.12). To appear in the exam you must (Q 4.5):

• be registered for the Final course;
• have completed practical training six months before the first day of the exam month;
• have completed the four-week Advanced ICITSS, which is done after practical training (Q 6.1 and Q 6.3); and
• have qualified all four Self-Paced Online Modules.

For how these steps add up from Class 12 or graduation, see how long it takes to become a CA.

If you studied under the old syllabus

To apply for the Final exam you need to be on the new Final course. ICAI's requirements for the November 2026 exam say that candidates whose course code on the Self Service Portal is not NEWFIN23 or CONFIN23 must convert to the new course before applying, and no fee is charged for the conversion.

The module rules depend on when you were first admitted to the Final exam:

• Admitted up to November 2023: you are exempt from SET C and SET D but must qualify SET A and SET B before applying for membership (FAQ, Q 7.10). ICAI's requirements table for November 2026 narrows this further. If by November 2023 you had passed only Group II, you need only SET A; if you had passed only Group I, you need only SET B. If you had passed neither group but secured an exemption in old Paper 5 between May 2022 and November 2023, you need only SET A; with an exemption in old Paper 4, only SET B; with exemptions in both, all modules are exempt.
• Admitted to the May 2024 exam (and not covered above): also exempt from SET C and SET D, with SET A and SET B required before applying for membership.
• Admitted from November 2024 onwards: you must qualify SET A, B, C and/or D, as applicable, before the exam.

Other transition cases, such as students who passed Intermediate under the old scheme or under the unit scheme, are listed in ICAI's requirements document for each exam. Check the current one before you apply.

Syllabus PDFs and study material

ICAI publishes all of these:

• Syllabus: the Final course syllabus PDF, the paper-wise PDFs and the Self-Paced Online Modules syllabus.
• Study Guidelines: ICAI's syllabus says specific inclusions and exclusions in a topic are set every year through Study Guidelines.
• Section-wise weightages: issued on 26 October 2023 and applicable from the May 2024 exam until ICAI changes them (Final course weightages).
• Study material: after you register for the Final course, ICAI emails login details for ordering the Final and SET A and SET B study material through its CDS portal; SET C and SET D material is on the New Scheme page (FAQ, Q 4.4).
• Practice papers: the BoS Knowledge Portal carries Revision Test Papers, Mock Test Papers, past question papers and suggested answers.

For a weekly routine built around these resources, see our guide to self-study for CA at home.