CA Exams | ICAI has submitted to SC that this is the best time to conduct exams

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India [ICAI] in its brief note submitted to the Supreme Court, has quoted since the number of Covid-19 cases is comparatively low and therefore it is in the best interests of the candidates if the examinations are held as per the schedule and not canceled or postponed.

The note is given below for reference:

ICAI has a statutory duty to hold Professional Examinations

Under Section 15(2)(b) of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, the ICAI has a statutory duty to hold the examinations. For the benefit of around 3.74 lakh candidates, the ICAI is trying to ensure that the examinations are held in July, 2021 with all mandated Covid-19 safety protocols in place.

The Chartered Accountants exams are professional examinations and ought not to be equated with CBSE or other State Board examinations for Classes X or XII. It is in the interest of the candidates aspiring to become Chartered Accountants, start their professional lives and earn livelihoods, that the examinations be held. The ICAI has no vested interest in holding or not holding the examinations. The only interest of the ICAI is to safeguard the interest of the aspiring Chartered Accountants, even while ensuring that the exams are held at the most appropriate and conducive time.

Most conducive time to hold examinations is now

The Covid-19 spread is now at a substantially low level, therefore this is the opportune moment to offer the aspiring Chartered Accountants to further their professional careers. As on date, the number of Covid-19 cases are comparatively low and thus it would be in the best interests of the candidates if the examinations are held as per the schedule and not cancelled or postponed.

Whenever the risk has been minimum, this Hon’ble Court has been pleased to allow examinations to be held, case in example being Class XII exams for Kerala and Bihar, which were held in April, 2021 and February, 2021.

Further, the 3rd wave of Covid-19 cases is expected only by September-October. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India are scheduled to hold examinations in August-September, 2021. Many candidates appear for 2 or more of these exams, hence the three Institutes hold the exams in a manner that the same do not overlap. Therefore, since covid is dynamic in nature, the ICAI has got this very narrow window to hold the exams in July, 2021.

The CA Exams are normally scheduled in May, but owing to the high number of cases at that time, the ICAI took a considered view to postpone the same, and after evaluating all factors, has now decided to hold the exams in July, 2021 when the number of Covid-19 cases is comparatively low.

CA Exams | ICAI has submitted to SC that this is the best time to conduct exams

CA Exams | ICAI has submitted to SC that this is the best time to conduct exams

CA Exams | ICAI has submitted to SC that this is the best time to conduct exams