Postpone CA exams 2024 to June after general elections: Aspirants urge ICAI

NEW DELHI: Several students have expressed disappointment over the revised schedule of CA May exams 2024 on social media platforms and requested the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAI) to postpone the CA Intermediate and Final exams 2024 to June after the Lok Sabha general elections 2024.

A large section of students, activists and academics have also expressed solidarity and said that the postponement of CA exams to June will help aspirants to fulfil their academic dreams and exercise their right to vote as an Indian citizen.

The ICAI while announcing the CA May exam dates for CA Foundation, Inter, and Final courses indicated that the schedule may be revised if it clashes with the general election dates. After the Election Commission (EC) announced that it will hold the 18th Lok Sabha elections from April 19 to June 1 in seven phases, the ICAI postponed the CA exams.

On March 19 evening, the institute issued a notification informing candidates about the rescheduled dates. As per the new dates, CA Final exams for group 1 will be conducted on May 2, 4, 8 and group 2 on May 10, 14, 16, on the other hand CA Inter exam for group 1 will be held on May 3, 5, 9 and group 2 on May 11, 15, 17. The International Taxation – Assessment Test (INTT – AT) will be administered on May 14 and 16.

‘Postpone CA exams’

Notably, the ICAI has postponed only the last dates of the CA Inter and Final exams. Request to postpone exam dates after the general elections flooded X and other social media platforms.

CA Anupam Sharma posted on X: “Better late than never .. ICAI still has a chance to go into the ground reality and start exam after election. ICAI revised exam schedule puts students in so much trouble in 190 Lok Sabha election constituencies where all major transport modes like government bus and private bus even private taxis will be taken over by election commission minimum 2 days before the election date i.e. all above activity will be start from 5 May morning and 11 May morning.. It means on 5 May & 11 May no public transport will be available for CA Students.”

“I request all CA students dependent on public transport plz arrange private transport for for 5 & 11 May papers. But also for the above noted students I am in doubt whether they will cast their vote and waste 1-2 hours after casting vote between the exam,” he added.

Request from a CA student

The All India Students Dental Association has voiced its support to the ICAI CA aspirants and shared a message from a CA student that read: “Even though casting vote is fundamental right of our democratic society, I don't think students would cast their votes as some may be staying near their institutes far away from their home or may have exam centre in different city..state.. and even if they stay in the same city, as we all know how CA students 'function'. (Like a machine). Especially during exam times, 99% of the students would prefer to stay home & cover as much as portions they can.”

“With many faculties along with some CA's posting on Twitter about the postponement, I personally don't think that students are at the state of giving exams. Sometimes its okay to consider your students mental health @theicai. Yes we are professional students and yes we are humans too, we know that we are expected to behave in particular manner and not get influenced by people around us. But when our teachers gives us hopes about the exam getting postponed its humanly to have a belief that exams would get postponed and have hope. We request you to consider both the points and consider the mental health of students. Hoping for some positive news. -A CA student,” the statement read.

“Unable to vote in this election due to exams #ICAI #icaiexams #caexams #caexam #ICAI Even UPSC postponed their exams ICAI HAS FAILED DEMOCRACY!!!!!” another CA aspirant posted on X.