Budget 2026: Chartered Accountant Raises Concern Over ‘Corporate Mitras’ Concept

The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget 2026-27, proposed to create a new cadre of ‘Corporate Mitras‘ to support the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The government will work with the professional institutes, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI), to introduce short-term modular courses and practical tools to train corporate mitras in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. These corporate mitras will help the MSMEs meet compliance requirements at low and affordable costs.

CA Himank Singla has shared his concerns regarding this, saying that the ‘Corporate Mitras Concept’ needs much deeper thought. As per Singla, the proposal seems flawed, as it is asking the country’s three premium professional institutes, like ICAI, ICSI, and ICMAI, to train the para-professionals who will compete with their own members.

The CA points out that the members of these institutes spend many years clearing difficult exams, following ethics and carrying accountability. Considering their hard work, the institutes are being asked to create a separate and cheaper layer.

Even though he agrees that the compliance support is necessary for MSMSe, he believes that the reform is not supposed to weaken the role of the qualified professionals.

He also raised a question asking where the institute’s duty to its members is in this government’s proposal.

My two cents on “Corporate Mitras” concept being proposed in Budget 2026:

Corporate Mitras in Budget 2026 needs deeper thought.

Asking the country’s 3 premium professional institutes to train para-professionals who will compete with their own members feels structurally flawed.…

— CA Himank Singla (@CAHimankSingla) February 1, 2026

Practice Guru writes, Corporate Mitra- A Cause of Concern for Professionals and compliance system. The idea of Corporate Mitra may sound supportive on paper, but in practice, it raises serious concerns for Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Cost Accountants. By pushing non-professionals as a first point of contact, it dilutes the role of qualified experts who are trained, regulated, and accountable under law. Compliance is not a facilitation activity – it requires judgment, experience, and professional responsibility. Such models risk: 1) Undervaluing professional expertise 2) Encouraging superficial compliance 3) Creating confusion and wrong guidance for businesses. True ease of doing business comes from respecting professionals, not bypassing them. Compliance needs competence, not shortcuts.

Corporate Mitra- A Cause of Concern for Professionals and compliance system.

The idea of Corporate Mitra may sound supportive on paper, but in practice, it raises serious concerns for Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Cost Accountants.

By pushing non-professionals…

— PracticeGuru – Grow Tax Practice (@practice_guru) February 2, 2026

CA Abhishek Raja “Ram” writes that he is against the concept of “Corporate Mitras”.

I’m against the concept of “Corporate Mitras”

Reason: दिल कह रहा है की ग़लत है

— Abhishek Raja “Ram” (@abhishekrajaram) February 1, 2026

CA AK Mittal writes, There is an urgent need to convey a message to the Hon’ble policy makers. We don’t need Corporate Mitras rather we need Sarkari Mitras “Para Officers” – who have the power to pass orders for small cases in Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities taking a legit fee for it. P.S : This is my personal opinion !!

There is an urgent need to convey a message to the Hon’ble policy makers.

We don’t need Corporate Mitras rather we need Sarkari Mitras “Para Officers” – who have the power to pass orders for small cases in Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities taking a legit fee for it.

P.S : This is my…

— CA AK Mittal (@CAamanmittal) February 1, 2026

What is your Opinion. Do you think Charges of CA, CS and CMA’s are extraordinary, comparing the work they handle?